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Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster is to preside over the 36th annual Cesar Awards next month, industry newspaper The Hollywood Reporter has said.

The Silence Of The Lambs star was raised partly in France and speaks the language perfectly.

She is the first foreign president of the French Oscars since Marcello Mastroianni in 1993.

French actor Antoine De Caunes will reprise his role as Master of Ceremonies.

Foster is no stranger to French cinema after starring in Eric Le Hung's 1977 film Moi, Fleur Bleue, Claude Chabrol's The Blood of Others in 1984 and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's A Very Long Engagement in 2004.

The ceremony, which will be held at the Chatelet Theater, takes place on 25 February.

Last year hard-hitting prison drama A Prophet won nine awards at the Cesar awards.

Jacques Audiard's film was named best movie at the ceremony, with additional prizes going to lead actor Tahar Rahim and the director himself.