The Césars, France’s answer to the Oscars, is still reeling from the controversy ignited by the decision to invite Roman Polanski to act as president of the awards ceremony; now the nominations have been announced, two days after Polanski stepped down from the role.
Leading the field with 11 nods each are Elle, the rape-revenge drama starring Isabelle Huppert, and Frantz, a period romance directed by François Ozon. Behind them on nine nominations is Slack Bay (AKA Ma Loute), a surreal comedy from Bruno Dumont.
Elle, which sees nominations for Huppert and its Dutch director, Paul Verhoeven, has made considerable headway on the international festival and awards circuit, winning the best actress (drama) and best foreign film Golden Globes, as well as an Oscar nomination for best actress (though it failed to make the shortlist for best foreign film). Frantz, which chronicles the relationship between a German first world war widow and a mysterious Frenchman, has had a much quieter run, premiering at Venice (where Paula Beer won an acting award) and yet to be released in the US or UK.
Divines, from first-time director Houda Benyamina, has put up an impressive showing, scoring seven nominations including two for acting, as well as best director for Benyamina. Acclaimed for its portrayal of alienated suburban youth, Divines won the Camera d’Or at Cannes and was picked up by Netflix.
Six titles have made it into the best foreign language list, with Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake arguably the favourite over Oscar-nominated Toni Erdmann and Kenneth Lonergan’s grief drama Manchester by the Sea.
The winners will be revealed on 24 February in Paris. Alain Terzian, president of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, which administers the Césars, expressed his dismay over the Polanski controversy, saying the director was “one of the world’s most critically acclaimed film-makers, and that’s the only thing which we should look at: a consideration of artists and their accomplishments”. With Polanski wanted in the US over a 1977 statutory rape charge, his participation in the Césars had been opposed by a number of women’s groups, including Osez le Féminisme (Dare Feminism), which had described the invitation as “shameful”.
Full list of nominations
Best film
Divines
Elle
Frantz
The Innocents
Slack Bay
From the Land of the Moon
Victoria
Best director
Houda Benyamina (Divines)
Paul Verhoeven (Elle)
François Ozon (Frantz)
Anne Fontaine (The Innocents)
Xavier Dolan (It’s Only the End of the World)
Bruno Dumont (Slack Bay)
Nicole Garcia (From the Land of the Moon)
Best actress
Judith Chemla (A Woman’s Life)
Marion Cotillard (From the Land of the Moon)
Virginie Efira (Victoria)
Marina Fois (Faultless)
Isabelle Huppert (Elle)
Sidse Babett Knudsen (150 Milligrams)
Best actor
François Cluzet (Irreplaceable)
Pierre Deladonchamps (The Son of John)
Nicolas Duvauchelle (A Decent Man)
Fabrice Luchini (Slack Bay)
Omar Sy (Chocolat)
Gaspard Ulliel (It’s Only the End of the World)
Best supporting actress
Nathalie Baye (It’s Only the End of the World)
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (Slack Bay)
Anne Consigny (Elle)
Déborah Lukumuena (Divines)
Mélanie Thierry (The Dancer)
Best supporting actor
Gabriel Arcand (The Son of John)
Vincent Cassel (It’s Only the End of the World)
Vincent Lacoste (Victoria)
Laurent Lafitte (Elle)
Melvil Poupaud (Victoria)
James Thiérrée (Chocolat)
Best new actress
Oulaya Amamra (Divines)
Paula Beer (Frantz)
Lily-Rose Depp (The Dancer)
Noémie Merlant (Heaven Will Wait)
Raph (Slack Bay)
Best new actor
Jonas Bloquet (Elle)
Damien Bonnard (Staying Vertical)
Corentin Fila (Being 17)
Kacey Mottet Klein (Being 17)
Niels Schneider (Dark Inclusion)
Best foreign film
Aquarius
Graduation
The Unknown Girl
Manchester By the Sea
I, Daniel Blake
Toni Erdmann
Best original screenplay
Divines
The Acquatic Effect
The Innocents
Slack Bay
Victoria
Best adapted screenplay
Elle
150 Milligrams
Frantz
My Life As a Courgette
From the Land of the Moon
Heal the Living
Best documentary
Dernières Nouvelles du Cosmos
Fire at Sea
Thanks Boss!
Swagger
Journey Through French Cinema
Best first film
The Fabulous Patars
The Dancer
Dark Inclusion
Divines
Rosalie Blum
Best original score
Chocolat
In the Forests of Siberia
Elle
Frantz
My Life As a Courgette
Best sound
Chocolat
Elle
Frantz
From the Land of the Moon
The Odyssey
Best editing
Divines
Elle
Frantz
It’s Only the End of the World
From the Land of the Moon
Best cinematography
Elle
Frantz
The Innocents
Slack Bay
From the Land of the Moon
Best costumes
The Dancer
Frantz
From the Land of the Moon
Slack Bay
A Woman’s Life
Best animated film
The Girl Without Hands
My Life As a Courgette
The Red Turtle
Best animated short
Cafe Froid
Celui Qui a Deux Ames
Journal Animé
Peripheria
Best short
After Suzanne
Au Bruit des Clochettes
Chasse Royale
Mamans
Vers la Tendresse
