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César Award

César Award

The César Award is the national film award of France. It is delivered in the Nuit des César ceremony and was first awarded in 1976. The nominations are selected by the members of twelve categories of filmmaking professionals and supported by the French Ministry of Culture.[1] The nationally televised award ceremony is held in the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris each year in February. It is an initiative from the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma which was founded in 1975.

The César Award is considered the highest film honor in France, the French film industry's equivalent to the Molière Award for theatre, and the Victoires de la Musique for music. In cinema, it is the French equivalent to the Academy Award.

The award was created by Georges Cravenne, who was also the creator of the Molière Award for theatre. The name of the award comes from the sculptor César Baldaccini (1921–1998) who created it.

The 44th César Awards ceremony took place on 22 February 2019. Custody, directed by Xavier Legrand, won the award for Best Film.

César Award
44th César Awards
Awarded forAchievements in French cinema
CountryFrance
Presented byAcadémie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma
First awarded1976
Websiteacademie-cinema.org [7]

History

Josiane Balasko, Daniel Auteuil, Catherine Deneuve, and Karin Viard at the 2000 César Award Ceremony

Josiane Balasko, Daniel Auteuil, Catherine Deneuve, and Karin Viard at the 2000 César Award Ceremony

In 1974, Georges Cravenne founded the Academy of Arts and Techniques of Cinema that was, from the outset, intended to reward the achievements and the most remarkable film artwork, to have a French equivalent to the American Oscars. The first César Awards – also known as the "Night of Caesar" – were held on 3 April 1976 under the chairmanship of Jean Gabin who watched the ceremony from the front row seated in a wheelchair a few months before his death. The name of the award comes from the sculptor César, designer of the trophy awarded to the winners in each category. It is also an homage to the Raimu, the great French actor and performer of Marseille trilogy of Marcel Pagnol, in which Raimu played the character of César.

The César Awards replaced the Étoile de cristal, which was awarded from 1955 to 1975. Other prizes had been awarded to French cinema in the past. From 1934 to 1986, the Grand prix du cinéma français, established by film pioneer Louis Lumière, was given to one film a year. In the 1950s, the Victoire du cinéma français was awarded each June. Lacking popular enthusiasm compared to the Étoile de cristal, this award was discontinued after 1964.

At the inaugural César Awards, 13 awards were distributed. Today, there are 22 (in nine subcategories). Categories added in recent years include Most Promising Actor/Actress (Meilleur espoir), Best Documentary (Meilleur documentaire) and Best Animated Film (Meilleur film d'animation), while awards honoring the best film poster and best producer have been dropped, as they are now given at a sister ceremony, the Prix Daniel Toscan du Plantier.

Voting process

Voting for César Awards is conducted through two ballots by mail: the first to establish nominations per category (three to five, depending on the discipline), and the second to decide the winner.

Voters are professionals in the field, numbering about 4,000, divided into 12 colleges (actors, directors, writers, technicians, producers, distributors and international vendors, operators, agents artistic, technical industries, casting directors, press officers and members associates). The criteria for voting are: demonstrate a relatively consistent career in film and get a double sponsorship in the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma. Nominees or winners of the previous editions are exempt from these formalities.

To aid voters, the Académie identifies each year films released in France and provides a guide to the works and eligible professionals. A DVD set of French or primarily French productions produced during the year is sent in December with the catalog of films to the electors. After the nominations are revealed, at the end of January, special screenings of the nominated films are shown at the Le Balzac cinema in Paris, near the Champs-Élysées. Each year, a special lunch (Déjeuner des nommés aux César du cinéma) for nominees is held at the famous Fouquet's restaurant on the Champs-Élysées, a few weeks before the ceremony.

Categories

Merit awards

Special awards

  • Honorary Award - since 1976

  • César des Césars - between 1985 and 1995

  • Prix Daniel Toscan du Plantier - since 2008

  • Trophée César & Techniques - since 2011

  • Médaille d'Or - only in 2015

  • César & Techniques Special Award - only between 2015 and 2017

  • César & Techniques Innovation Award - since 2018

  • César du public - since 2018

Retired awards

  • Best Film from the European Union (2002–2004)

  • Best Poster (1986–1990)

  • Best Producer (1995–1996)

  • Best Writing (Adaptation or Original) (1976–2005)

  • Best French Language Film (1984–1986)

  • Best Documentary Short (1977–1991)

  • Best Fiction Short (1977–1991)

  • Best Animated Short (1977–1990)

Ceremonies

EditionDate[2]President(s)[3]Host(s)[4]Best Film
1st César Awards3 April 1976Jean GabinPierre TcherniaLe Vieux Fusil
2nd César Awards19 February 1977Lino VenturaMonsieur Klein
3rd César Awards4 February 1978Jeanne MoreauProvidence
4th César Awards3 February 1979Charles VanelPierre Tchernia and Jean-Claude BrialyL'Argent des autres
5th César Awards2 February 1980Jean MaraisPierre Tchernia and Peter UstinovTess
6th César Awards31 January 1981Yves MontandPierre TcherniaThe Last Metro
7th César Awards27 February 1982Orson WellesJacques Martin and Pierre TcherniaQuest for Fire
8th César Awards26 February 1983Catherine DeneuveJean-Claude BrialyLa Balance
9th César Awards3 March 1984Gene KellyLéon Zitrone(Tie) À nos amours
&
Le Bal
10th César Awards3 February 1985Simone SignoretPierre TcherniaMy New Partner
11th César Awards22 February 1986Madeleine Renaud and Jean-Louis BarraultMichel DruckerThree Men and a Cradle
12th César Awards7 March 1987Sean ConneryMichel Drucker and Pierre TcherniaThérèse
13th César Awards12 March 1988Miloš FormanMichel Drucker and Jane BirkinAu revoir les enfants
14th César Awards4 March 1989Peter UstinovPierre TcherniaCamille Claudel
15th César Awards4 March 1990Kirk DouglasÈve RuggiériToo Beautiful for You
16th César Awards9 March 1991Sophia LorenRichard BohringerCyrano de Bergerac
17th César Awards22 February 1992Michèle MorganFrédéric MitterrandTous les Matins du Monde
18th César Awards8 March 1993Marcello MastroianniSavage Nights
19th César Awards26 February 1994Gérard DepardieuFabrice Luchini and Clémentine CélariéSmoking / No Smoking
20th César Awards25 February 1995Alain DelonJean-Claude Brialy and Pierre TcherniaWild Reeds
21st César Awards3 February 1996Philippe NoiretAntoine de CaunesLa Haine
22nd César Awards8 February 1997Annie GirardotRidicule
23rd César Awards28 February 1998Juliette BinocheSame Old Song
24th César Awards6 March 1999Isabelle HuppertThe Dreamlife of Angels
25th César Awards19 February 2000Alain DelonAlain ChabatVenus Beauty Institute
26th César Awards24 February 2001Daniel AuteuilÉdouard BaerThe Taste of Others
27th César Awards2 March 2002Nathalie BayeAmélie
28th César Awards22 February 2003Géraldine PailhasThe Pianist
29th César Awards21 February 2004Fanny ArdantGad ElmalehThe Barbarian Invasions
30th César Awards26 February 2005Isabelle AdjaniGames of Love and Chance
31st César Awards25 February 2006Carole BouquetValérie LemercierThe Beat That My Heart Skipped
32nd César Awards24 February 2007Claude BrasseurLady Chatterley
33rd César Awards22 February 2008Jean RochefortAntoine de CaunesThe Secret of the Grain
34th César Awards27 February 2009Charlotte GainsbourgSéraphine
35th César Awards27 February 2010Marion CotillardValérie Lemercier and Gad ElmalehA Prophet
36th César Awards25 February 2011Jodie FosterAntoine de CaunesOf Gods and Men
37th César Awards24 February 2012Guillaume CanetThe Artist
38th César Awards22 February 2013Jamel DebbouzeAmour
39th César Awards28 February 2014François CluzetCécile de FranceMe, Myself and Mum
40th César Awards20 February 2015Dany BoonÉdouard BaerTimbuktu
41st César Awards26 February 2016Claude LelouchFlorence ForestiFatima
42nd César Awards24 February 2017Jérôme CommandeurElle
43rd César Awards2 March 2018Vanessa ParadisManu PayetBPM (Beats per Minute)
44th César Awards22 February 2019Kristin Scott ThomasKad MeradCustody

Trivia

Films which received five or more César Awards

FilmYearNoms.Wins
Cyrano de Bergerac19901310
The Last Metro19801210
A Prophet2009139
The Beat That My Heart Skipped2005108
All the World's Mornings1991117
Goodbye, Children198797
The Pianist2002107
Providence197787
Same Old Song1997127
Séraphine200897
Timbuktu201587
The Artist2012106
Thérèse1986106
Lady Chatterley200795
Queen Margot1994125
Camille Claudel1988125
Smoking/No Smoking199395
Too Beautiful For You1989115
A Very Long Engagement2004125
La Vie en Rose2007115
Amour2013105
Me, Myself and Mum2014105

Films which received 10 or more César Award nominations

FilmYearNoms.Wins
Amélie2001134
Cyrano de Bergerac19901310
Subway1985133
A Prophet2009139
Polisse2012132
Camille redouble2013130
See You Up There2018135
BPM (Beats per Minute)2018136
8 Women2002120
The Last Metro19801210
Tchao Pantin1984125
Camille Claudel1988125
Queen Margot1994125
Ridicule1996124
Same Old Song1997127
A Very Long Engagement2004125
The Minister2012123
All the World's Mornings1991117
Nelly and Mr. Arnaud1995112
A Secret2007111
À l'origine2009111
Of Gods and Men2010113
Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train1998113
Too Beautiful for You1989115
La Vie en Rose2007115
Marguerite2016114
Elle2017112
Frantz2017111
My Golden Days2016111
Public Enemy Number One2008103
The Beat That My Heart Skipped2005108
Clean Up1981100
The Pianist2002107
Thérèse1986106
Welcome2009100
The Artist2012106
Farewell, My Queen2013103
Amour2013105
Me, Myself and Mum2014105
Custody2019104
Saint Laurent2015101
Sink or Swim2019101
C'est la vie!2018100

Directors with two or more awards

DirectorNoms.Wins.
Roman Polanski44
Jacques Audiard73
Alain Resnais82
Bertrand Tavernier72
Jean-Jacques Annaud42
Claude Sautet42
Abdellatif Kechiche32

Actors with 7 or more nominations

Actor/ActressNoms.Wins
Gérard Depardieu172
Isabelle Huppert162
Catherine Deneuve142
Daniel Auteuil132
Nathalie Baye104
Catherine Frot102
Karin Viard102
Juliette Binoche101
Fabrice Luchini101
Miou-Miou101
Isabelle Adjani95
Dominique Blanc94
François Cluzet91
Michel Serrault83
Sandrine Kiberlain82
Emmanuelle Béart81
André Dussollier73
Marion Cotillard72
Charlotte Gainsbourg71
Jean-Pierre Marielle70

"Big Five" winners and nominees

Winners

  • The Last Metro (1980)

  1. Best Film: The Last Metro

  2. Best Director: François Truffaut

  3. Best Actor: Gérard Depardieu

  4. Best Actress: Catherine Deneuve

  5. Best Writing: Suzanne Schiffman and François Truffaut

  • Amour (2013)

  1. Best Film: Amour

  2. Best Director: Michael Haneke

  3. Best Actor: Jean-Louis Trintignant

  4. Best Actress: Emmanuelle Riva

  5. Best Writing: Michael Haneke

Nominees

Four awards won

  • Smoking/No Smoking (1993): Best Actress (Sabine Azéma)

  • Too Beautiful for You (1989): Best Actor (Gérard Depardieu)

Three awards won

  • Cyrano de Bergerac (1990): best Actress (Anne Brochet) and Writing (Jean-Claude Carrière and Jean-Paul Rappeneau)

  • Same Old Song (1997): best Actress (Sabine Azéma) and Director (Alain Resnais)

Most acting wins and nominations for a film

TotalWinsFilmActors
71PolisseActress: Marina Foïs and Karin Viard
Supporting Actor: Nicolas Duvauchelle, JoeyStarr and Frédéric Pierrot
Supporting Actress: Karole Rocher
Promising Actress Naidra Ayadi (won)
70Camille redoubleActress: Noémie Lvovsky
Supporting Actor: Samir Guesmi and Michel Vuillermoz
Supporting Actress: Judith Chemla and Yolande Moreau
Promising Actress Julia Faure and India Hair
53Same Old SongActor: André Dussollier (won)
Actress: Sabine Azéma
Supporting Actor: Jean-Pierre Bacri (won)
Supporting Actress: Agnès Jaoui (won) and Lambert Wilson
43Queen MargotActress: Isabelle Adjani (won)
Supporting Actor: Jean-Hugues Anglade (won)
Supporting Actress: Dominique Blanc and Virna Lisi (won)
42The Last MetroActor: Gérard Depardieu (won)
Actress: Catherine Deneuve (won)
Supporting Actor: Heinz Bennent
Supporting Actress: Andréa Ferréol
41ElleActress: Isabelle Huppert (won)
Supporting Actor: Laurent Lafitte
Supporting Actress: Anne Consigny
Promising Actor: Jonas Bloquet
41La Famille BélierActor: François Damiens
Actress: Karin Viard
Supporting Actor: Éric Elmosnino
Promising Actress: Louane Emera (won)
41Too Beautiful for YouActor: Gérard Depardieu
Actress: Josiane Balasko and Carole Bouquet (won)
Supporting Actor: Roland Blanche
40AmélieActress: Audrey Tautou
Supporting Actor: Jamel Debbouze and Rufus
Supporting Actress: Isabelle Nanty
32AmourActor: Jean-Louis Trintignant (won)
Actress: Emmanuelle Riva (won)
Supporting Actress: Isabelle Huppert
32What's in a NameActor: Patrick Bruel
Supporting Actor: Guillaume de Tonquédec (won)
Supporting Actress: Valérie Benguigui (won)
31Camille ClaudelActor: Gérard Depardieu
Actress: Isabelle Adjani (won)
Supporting Actor: Alain Cuny
31HippocrateActor: Vincent Lacoste
Supporting Actor: Reda Kateb (won)
Supporting Actress: Marianne Denicourt
31La Vie en roseActress: Marion Cotillard (won)
Supporting actor: Pascal Greggory
Supporting Actress: Sylvie Testud
31Yves Saint LaurentActor: Pierre Niney (won)
Supporting Actor: Guillaume Gallienne
Supporting Actress: Charlotte Le Bon
31It's Only the End of the WorldActor: Gaspard Ulliel (won)
Supporting Actor: Vincent Cassel
Supporting Actress: Nathalie Baye
30RidiculeActor: Charles Berling
Supporting Actor: Bernard Giraudeau and Jean Rochefort
30Saint LaurentActor: Gaspard Ulliel
Supporting Actor: Louis Garrel and Jérémie Renier

See also

References

[1]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"The César Ceremony" Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.org"Dates, les lieux et les diffuseurs" (PDF). Académie des César. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[3]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.org"Présidences de Cérémonie" (PDF). Académie des César. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.org"Maîtres de Cérémonie" (PDF). Académie des César. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.orgOfficial website
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.imdb.comCésar Award
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.orgacademie-cinema.org
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.org"The César Ceremony"
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[9]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgArchived
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.org"Dates, les lieux et les diffuseurs"
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.org"Présidences de Cérémonie"
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.org"Maîtres de Cérémonie"
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.academie-cinema.orgOfficial website
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.imdb.comCésar Award
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM
[15]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Sep 20, 2019, 5:08 AM