NEW YORK, NY.- FIAF (French Institute Alliance Française) is celebrating its annual Trophée des Arts Gala on October 29, 2008 at New York's historic and newly renovated Plaza Ballroom, honoring the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York Philippe de Montebello as well as Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman of the Management Board & CEO of Vivendi. During the evening an American Grammy-award winner will surprise the audience with an original performance. A black-tie benefit hosted by chairmen Phyllis Collins, Sarah Frank, Doug Morris, and Lorenzo D. Weisman, this elegant evening will feature cocktails, dinner, and live and silent auctions to raise funds to support FIAF's educational and cultural programs.

FIAF's Trophée des Arts will be presented to the French born Philippe de Montebello in tribute to his exceptional career and legacy of achievements as the longest-serving director of the Metropolitan Museum's 138-year history. He started there in 1963 as a curatorial assistant and has led the museum since 1977.

"Under Philippe de Montebello's leadership, the Metropolitan Museum has nearly doubled in size and has offered New Yorkers an incredible variety of art exhibitions from all over the world," explains Marie-Monique Steckel, President of FIAF."It is thus quite logical for FIAF to present him with the Trophée des Arts and to recognize him as one of the most eminent French cultural personalities in the United States."

The Trophée des Arts was created in 1992 and has since been bestowed upon French and American artists and cultural icons, including Christian Lacroix, Quincy Jones, Lauren Bacall, Louis Malle, Isabelle Huppert, Charlie Rose, and James Ivory.

FIAF will also recognize Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman of the Management Board & CEO of Vivendi, with the Pilier d'Or, for his generosity and commitment to the organization throughout the years.

Jean-Bernard Lévy is the dynamic force behind the French entertainment and communications group's expansion in the United States and worldwide. Vivendi is a world leader in digital entertainment with top market positions in recorded music and music publishing (Universal Music Group), television, cinema, telecoms and now video games with the merger of Vivendi Games and Activision into Activision Blizzard. With a presence in 80 countries and over 37,000 employees worldwide, Vivendi has built long-term business ties between France and America, delivering high-quality entertainment services to U.S. consumers and meeting the ever-growing communication needs of today's world. The Pilier d'Or recognizes a leading business figure, diplomat or philanthropist for outstanding contributions to the French-American Community.