Paris, November 6 – The french Academy today โฃannounced the election ofโฃ two new members: playwright โขand novelist Florian Zeller, 46, and film critic รric Neuhoff, 69. โคThe appointmentsโ fill vacancies left by the passing of historian Hรฉlรจne Carrรจre d’Encausse and senior civil servant Gabriel de Broglie, bringing theโ total number of “immortals” to 35 of a possible 40.
Founded in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the Acadรฉmieโ franรงaise is the official body responsible forโ regulating the French language. Its members, known โคas “immortals,” are tasked with maintaining the purity and eloquence of the language, authoring a dictionary, and establishing spelling rules. The election of Zeller and Neuhoff signals a continuation of this tradition, โฃadding contemporary voices to an institution steeped in history.Zeller succeeds Carrรจre d’Encausse, who died Augustโค 5, 2023, while Neuhoffโ replaces de Broglie, who passed away January 8,โฃ 2025.
Zeller,โ author of acclaimed plays โข The Father, The Mother, and The Son โข – several of which he adapted for โfilm โค- secured his position inโค the first round withโ 23 votes. He has โalso published five novels,โ including Artificial Snow and enjoyment. Neuhoff,โ aโ longtime film critic for Le figaro, was elected with 12 โvotes,โ adding his voice to the Academy after a career marked by novels such โas Cotton โCandy,โ The little French Girl, โคand A Crazy Good.
Four additional seats remain vacant within the Academy, including one previously held โby Jean-Denis Bredin, with announcements regarding those โvacancies pending. New academicians traditionally receive a sword and a coat ofโข darkโ blue or black cloth embroidered with green and gold olive branches as symbols of their office.