Rolling off an unpredictable and crowded race, Xavier Giannoli’s period piece “Lost Illusions” and Leos Carax’s musical romance “Annette” scooped the top prizes at the 47th Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent to the Oscars, on Friday evening. “Lost Illusions,” which was leading the nominations, won seven awards, including best film and best male newcomer. “Annette,” which world premiered on opening night at the Cannes Film Festival, won five awards, including best director and original score for Ron Mael and Russell Mael from the rock band Sparks who performed live during the Cesar ceremony.
The in-person glitzy ceremony took place at the Olympia theater in Paris with prestigious guests including Adam Driver, who was nominated for his performance in “Annette,” and Cate Blanchett who received the honorary Cesar Award from the hands of Isabelle Huppert. Xavier Dolan also attended the ceremony and delivered a tearful homage to late French actor Gaspard Ulliel who was a close friend and had starred in his movie “It’s Only the End of the World.”
“The Father,” starring Anthony Hopkins, won best foreign film. In his speech, director Florian Zeller said it was a strange feeling, yet an honor to be a French director winning best foreign film at the Cesar Awards. The Oscar-winning film is an adaptation of his critically acclaimed play by the same name. Zeller said he had the desire to his directorial debut with “The Father” and shoot it in English so that he could have a chance of casting Sir Anthony Hopkins in the lead role.
Although Driver was beat by Benoit Magimel for his part in Emmanuelle Bercot’s “Living,” it was still a big night for “Annette” which he helped get made and co-produced. Being nominated was itself a feast as only two other American actors have been previously nominated at the Cesar Awards — Kristen Stewart for “Clouds of Sils Maria” and Adrien Brody for “The Pianist.”
Audrey Diwan’s Venice Golden Lion-winning “Happening” picked up the best female newcomer for Anamaria Vartolomei, while Valerie Lemercier won best actress for her music-filled performance inspired by Celine Dion in “Aline” which she also directed. Catherine Corsini’s timely social drama “La fracture” won best supporting actress for Aissatou Diallo Sagna. Arthur Harari’s WW2-set “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle” won best original screenplay.
Other top Cesar contenders included Julia Ducournau’s Cannes winner “Titane,” Jacques Audiard’s contemporary love drama “Paris, 13th District,” and Cedric Jimenez’s action-packed cop drama “Bac Nord,” and Yann Gozlan’s thriller “Boite noire.”
The Cesar Awards returned after two consecutive years of record-low ratings and scandal-ridden editions. Last year, actor Corine Masiero covered herself in fake blood and fully undressed in protest against the French government’s pandemic response. In 2020, Roman Polanski’s best director win sparked walkouts from several actors. This year, the stakes were high for Cesar organizers and their broadcast partner, Canal Plus, to revamp the ceremony’s image.
Playing it safe, organizers tapped Antoine De Caunes, a beloved TV host and journalist known for his irreverent humor, to emcee the event for 10th time.
Below is the full list of nominees, with winners updated live.
Best Film
“Aline,” Valerie Lemercier, produced by Edouard Weil, Alice Girard, Sidonie Dumas
“Annette,” Leos Carax, produced by Charles Gillibert
“Bac Nord,” Cedric Jimenez, produced by Hugo Selignac
“Happening,” Audrey Diwan, produced by Edouard Weil, Alice Girard
“La Fracture,” Catherine Corsini, produced by Elisabeth Perez
“Lost Illusions,” Xavier Giannoli, produced by Olivier Delbosc, Sidonie Dumas (WINNER)
“Onoda, 10,000 Nights in the Jungle,” Arthur Harari, produced by Nicolas Anthome, Lionel Guedj
Best Director
Valerie Lemercier, “Aline”
Leos Carax, “Annette” (WINNER)
Audrey Diwan, “Happening”
Xavier Giannoli, “Lost Illusions”
Arthur Harari, “Onoda, 10,000 Nights in the Jungle”
Julia Ducournau, “Titane”
Best Actress
Leila Bekhti, “The Restless”
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, “La fracture”
Laure Calamy, “Une femme du monde
Virginie Efira, “Benedeta”
Vicky Krieps, “Serre moi fort”
Valerie Lemercier, “Aline” (WINNER)
Lea Seydoux, “France”
Best Actor
Damien Bonnard, “The Restless”
Adam Driver, “Annette”
Gilles Lellouche, “Bac Nord”
Vincent Macaigne, “Medecin de nuit”
Benoit Magimel, “Living” (WINNER)
Pio Marmai, “La fracture”
Pierre Niney, “Boite noire”
Best Cinematography
Caroline Champetier, “Annette”
Christophe Beaucarne, “Lost Illusions” (WINNER)
Paul Guilhaume, “Paris, 13th District”
Tom Harari, “Onoda, 10,000 Nights in the Jungle”
Ruben Impens, “Titane”
Best Supporting Actress
Jeanne Balibar, “Lost Illusions”
Celine de France, “Lost Illusions”
Aissatou Diallo Sagna, “La fracture” (WINNER)
Adele Exarchopoulos, “Mandibules”
Danielle Fichaud, “Aline”
Best Supporting Actor
Francois Civil, “Bac Nord”
Xavier Dolan, “Lost Illusions”
Vincent Lacoste, “Lost Illusions” (WINNER)
Karin Leklou, “Bac Nord”
Sylvain Marcel, “Aline”
Best Female Newcomer
Noee Abita, “Slalom”
Salome Dewaels, “Lost Illusions”
Agathe Rousselle, “Titane”
Anamaria Vartolomei, “Happening” (WINNER)
Lucie Zhang, “Paris, 13th District”
Best Male Newcomer
Sandor Funtek, “Supremes”
Sami Outalbadi, “Une histoire d’amour et de desir”
Thimothee Robart, “Magnetic Beats”
Matika Samba, “Paris, 13th District”
Benjamin Voisin, “Lost Illusions”
Best First Film
“Gagarine,” Fanny Liatard, Jeremy Trouilh
“Magnetic Beats,” Vincent Mael Cardona (WINNER)
“La Nuee,” Just Philippot
“La panthere des neiges,” Marie Amiguet, Vincent Munier
“Slalom,” Charlene Favier
Best Foreign Film
“Compartment n. 6,” Juho Kuho Kuosmanen
“Drive My War,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi
“First Cow,” Kelly Reichardt
“The Worst Person in the World,” Joachim Trier
“Parallel Mothers,” Pedro Almodovar
“The Father,” Florian Zeller (WINNER)
Best Original Screenplay
Valerie Lemercier, Brigitte Buc, “Aline”
Leos Carax, Ron Mael, Russel Mael, “Annette”
Yann Gozlan, Simon Moutaïrou, Nicolas Bouvet-Levrard, “Boite Noire”
Catherine Corsini, Laurette Polmanss, Agnes Feuvre, “La fracture”
Arthur Harari, Vincent Poymiro, “Onoda, 10,000 Nights in the Jungle” (WINNER)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Yael Langmann, Yvan Attal, “Les choses humaines”
Audrey Diwan, Marcia Romano, “Happening”
Xavier Giannoli, Jacques Fieschi, “Lost Illusions” (WINNER)
Celine Sciamma, Lea Mysius, Jacques Audiard, “Paris, 13th District”
Mathieu Amalric, “Serre moi fort”
Best Animated Film
“Even Mice Belong in Heaven,” Denisa Grimmova, Jan Bubenicek
“The Summit of Gods,” Patrick Imbert (WINNER)
“La traversée,” Florence Miailhe
Best Documentary
“Animal,” Cyril Dion
“Bigger Than Us,” Flore Vasseur
“Debout les femmes!” Gilles Perret, Francois Ruffin
“Indes Galantes,” Philippe Beziat
“La panthere des neiges,” Marie Amiguet (WINNER)
Best Original Score
Ron Mael, Russell Mael, “Annette” (WINNER)
Guillaume Roussel, “Bac Nord
Philippe Rombi, “Boite Noire”
Rone, “Paris, 13th District”
Warren Ellis, Nick Cave, “La panthere des neiges”
Best Sound Editing
Olivier Mauvezin, Arnaud Rolland, Edouard Morin, Daniel Sobrino, “Aline
Erwan Kerzanet, Kaita Boutin, Mawence Dussere, Paul Haymans, Thomas Gauder, “Annette” (WINNER)
Nicolas Provost, Nicolas Bouvet-Levrard, Marc Doisne, “Boite Noire”
Francois Musy, Renaud Musy, Didier Lozahic, “Lost Illusions”
Mathieu Descamps, Pierre Bariaud, Samuel Aïchoun, “Magnetic Beats”
Best Editing
Nelly Quettier, “Annette” (WINNER)
Simon Jacquet, “Bac Nord”
Fredric Baillehaiche, La fracture”
Cyril Nakache, “Lost Illusions”
Best Costumes
Catherine Leterrier, “Aline”
Pascaline Chavanne, “Annette”
Madeline Fontaine, “Delicieux”
Thierry Deletre, “Eiffel”
Pierre-Jean Laroque, “Lost Illusions” (WINNER)
Best Set Design
Emmanuelle Duplay, “Aline”
Florian Sanson, “Annette”
Bertrand Seitz, “Delicieux”
Stephane Taillasson, “Eiffel”
Riton Dupire-Clement, “Lost Illusions” (WINNER)
Best Visual Effects
Sebastien Rame, “Aline”
Guillaume Pondard, “Annette” (WINNER)
Olivier Cauwet, “Eiffel”
Arnaud Fouquet, Julien Meesters, “Lost Illusions”
Martial Vallanchon, “Titane”