Crowned Best Film at the César Awards, Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard dominated the night with seven wins. Despite ongoing controversy, the filmmaker and his team now turn their focus to the Oscars, where the film has secured 13 nominations.
French director Jacques Audiard triumphed at the César Awards on Friday, overcoming controversy to take home seven awards for his musical Emilia Pérez, including Best Film and Best Director. Now, he sets his sights on the Oscars this Sunday.
“The joy of hiding, the fear of being discovered—thank you for finding me!” said the 72-year-old filmmaker, quoting British psychiatrist Donald Winnicott as he accepted his award from last year’s Best Director winner, Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall).
These wins feel like a form of redemption for Emilia Pérez, a bold and unconventional musical shot like an opera, entirely in Spanish. The film stars international names such as Zoë Saldaña and Selena Gomez, alongside Spanish trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón in the lead role. Gascón portrays a Mexican drug lord navigating a gender transition in this unique musical odyssey.
After earning critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival—where its actresses received a collective acting award—the film made history as the most-nominated non-English language production at the Oscars, with 13 nods. However, its awards momentum took a hit after resurfaced racist and Islamophobic tweets from Karla Sofía Gascón jeopardized its chances.
Jacques Audiard, who later distanced himself from Gascón, saw her and Zoë Saldaña nominated for Best Actress at the César Awards. Both attended the ceremony at the Olympia in Paris.
On stage, Audiard expressed his gratitude. "I loved working with you. I love you," said the director, who is now one of the most decorated filmmakers in César history, following wins for Rust and Bone, The Sisters Brothers, A Prophet, and The Beat That My Heart Skipped. The film’s composers, Camille and Clément Ducol, also received an award for Best Original Score.
"To All the Kind Ones"
This year’s most popular French box office hits—The Count of Monte Cristo and L’Amour Ouf, which amassed over 14 million tickets sold—were largely overlooked. Un p’tit truc en plus, a directorial debut by comedian Artus, was nominated for Best First Film but lost to Vingt Dieux.
The Count of Monte Cristo had to settle for technical awards, while lead actor Pierre Niney was edged out by Karim Leklou, who won Best Actor for his performance as a vulnerable man and adoptive father in Le Roman de Jim by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu.
Leklou dedicated his award to "all the kind ones, all the guys who usually don’t end up holding a César," bringing a rare moment of warmth to an evening that was officially dedicated "to Ukraine" by César president Catherine Deneuve, who wore a badge in Kyiv’s colors.
Leklou also acknowledged L’Amour Ouf, in which he plays a key role. The film, written and directed by Gilles Lellouche, walked away with just one César—for Best Supporting Actor, awarded to Alain Chabat.
On the Best Actress side, Hafsia Herzi, 38, won for her role as a prison guard in the Corsican thriller Borgo.
Hollywood glamour came courtesy of Julia Roberts, who attended the 50th César Awards ceremony. "Today, my life is a dream!" she declared, flashing her signature megawatt smile as she accepted her honorary award from Clive Owen, with whom she starred in Closer in 2005.
Before Roberts’ arrival, the ceremony had already highlighted fresh new talent. The Best Newcomer awards went to two rising stars, including former undocumented Guinean immigrant Abou Sangaré. He was granted legal residency in France following the success of The Story of Souleymane, in which he plays a bicycle delivery worker. This indie film, which attracted 600,000 viewers, took home four César Awards, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Nina Meurisse).
Reflecting on his journey to France, Sangaré, 23, took the stage and shared his experience: "I had almost no life left. I was just existing, not even considering myself human anymore. Thank you for welcoming me into humanity."
On the women’s side, agricultural student Maiwène Barthélémy won Best Newcomer for Vingt Dieux and proudly stated she was "honored to represent" the farming profession.
Key César Award Winners – 50th Edition
Best Film: Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
Best Director: Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
Best Actress: Hafsia Herzi – Borgo
Best Actor: Karim Leklou – Le Roman de Jim
Best Supporting Actress: Nina Meurisse – The Story of Souleymane
Best Supporting Actor: Alain Chabat – L’Amour Ouf
Best New Actress: Maiwène Barthélémy – Vingt Dieux
Best New Actor: Abou Sangaré – The Story of Souleymane
Best First Film: Vingt Dieux – Louise Courvoisier
Best Original Screenplay: Boris Lojkine & Delphine Agut – The Story of Souleymane
Best Foreign Film: The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer
Best Adaptation: Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
Best Animated Film: Flow, The Cat Who Was No Longer Afraid of Water – Gints Zilbalodis
With AFP
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