Jacques Audiard's Oscar-nominated film "Emilia Perez" was named best French film of the year at the 50th César Awards on Friday night (February 28), taking home seven awards out of 12 nominations.

The director of the thriller, set in Mexico, won the jury prize and the shared best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival last May, and can now also boast the best director and adapted screenplay prizes in Paris. The production beat the competition in the categories of cinematography, original music, visual effects and sound. Since its premiere in August 2014, the film has sold around 1.2 million tickets at Pathé's French box office.
Stars Carla Sofia Gascon and Zoe Saldana - both nominated for best actress in Paris - joined Audiard ahead of Sunday's Oscars ceremony in Hollywood, where "Emilia Perez" is up for 13 awards. Gascon, Saldana and Odiard are all Oscar nominees.
Sean Baker, whose film "Anora" is nominated in the best international film category, was also in attendance. Karim Lecloux was named Best Actor for Arnault and Jean-Marie Larrieu's The Story of Jim, and Hafsia Herzi won Best Actress for her role in Stephane Demostier's Borgo.

Best Animated Feature went to Oscar nominee "Flow" and Jonathan Glaser's "Zone of Interest" won the Best International Film award. Last year, it took home the Oscar for Best International Feature Film and premiered at Cannes in 2023.
The French Academy paid tribute to the late actors Alain Delon and Michel Blanc. The speeches avoided politics and the presenters stuck to light banter - a notable change from last year's ceremony, where Judith Godréche gave a heartfelt speech about sexual assault in the industry, centred on the #MeToo movement.
The César awards are presented by 5,000 members of the French Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Technology, which oversees the French equivalent of the Oscars and Bafta. | BGNES