The biggest awards weekend of the year included the 42nd César Awards, France’s national equivalent to the Academy Awards. In the end if was Paul Verhoeven’s provocative thriller-think piece Elle that ruled, earning the Best Film prize as well as a statue for leading lady Isabelle Huppert. Huppert’s thunderously admired performance has been critical darling since the film premiered at the Cannes last spring. She is currently in contention at the Oscars for Best Actress – previously this cycle, she picked up prizes from the Golden Globes, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics.
France submitted Elle as its official Oscar entry for the Foreign-Language Film category, however the film failed the make the shortlist prior the nomination. While earning two top prizes, Elle only won the two out of its eleven César nominations. In move that may be seen as somewhat surprising, Quebecois wunderkind Xavier Dolan picked up the Best Director prize for It’s Only the End of the World, another film at the premiered at Cannes last spring and sparked mixed critical reception. It’s Only the End of the World nabbed three prizes but hasn’t yet been picked up for U.S. distribution despite a name cast that includes Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, Vincent Cassel (Black Swan) and Léa Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color).
Also of note, My Life as a Zucchini, current Oscar nominee in the Best Animated Feature category, picked up prizes for Animated Film and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Check out the full list of César Award winners below:
- BEST FILM: Elle
- BEST DIRECTOR: Xavier Dolan, It’s Only the End of the World
- BEST ACTOR: Gaspard Ulliel, It’s Only the End of the World
- BEST ACTRESS: Isabelle Huppert, Elle
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: James Thierree, Chocolat
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Deborah Lukumuena, Divines
- BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: The Aquatic Effect
- BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: My Life as a Zucchini
- BEST NEW ACTOR: Niels Schneider, Dark Inclusion
- BEST NEW ACTRESS: Oulaya Amamra, Divines
- BEST FIRST FILM: Divines – directed by Houda Benyamina
- BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: My Life as a Zucchini
- BEST DOCUMENTARY: Thanks Boss! – directed by Francois Ruffin
- BEST FOREIGN FILM: I, Daniel Blake (UK) – directed by Ken Loach
- BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: In the Forests of Siberia
- BEST SOUND: The Odyssey
- BEST EDITING: It’s Only the End of the World
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Frantz
- BEST COSTUMES: The Dancer
- BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM: Celiu Qui a Deux Ames
- BEST SHORT FILM (tie): Mamans; Vers la Tendresse
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