There were several films in the AFFFF 2022 in competition at the Césars. Find out which films were nominated and which ones won the César in each category by reading on.
The 2022 Césars ceremony took place from 8.55pm on Friday night, French time, at the Olympia in Paris (so early Saturday morning Australian time).
“Lost Illusions“, the opening night film of AFFFFF 2022, dominated with 15 nominations and was the clear favourite for 2022. “Aline” which was in the 2021 festival program received 10 nominations at the 2022 Césars.

In addition, Australian actress and producer Cate Blanchett received a César d’honneur for her career and commitments. The Académie des Césars said that her career and personality are “absolutely remarkable”. The César d’Honneur was presented to her by Isabelle Huppert. And you have to watch this clip to see the memorable moment when Cate tells the audience “Tais Toi”.
Quelle émotion 🥺
Les larmes de Cate Blanchett, très très émue sur la scène des #César2022 pic.twitter.com/rF6IFd5NXH
— CANAL+ (@canalplus) February 25, 2022
The 47th edition of the Césars ceremony, dedicated to Gaspard Ulliel, who died on 19 January following a skiing accident, opened with images of the actor from the films in which he acted. The ceremony also paid tribute to “the man who, from the end of the 1950s, reconciled all the genres of cinema”: Jean-Paul Belmondo, who died on 6 September 2021.
Without further ado, discover the nominations and the winners! Films/people in bold are part of the Alliance Française French Film Festival programme this year. Those in italics were part of the Alliance Française French Film Festival programme last year or were part of other film festivals or have already been released.
César for Best Film 2022
Les films nommés pour le César du Meilleur film étaient:
- Aline (this film was part of the 2021 festival and is currently in cinemas)
- Annette
- Bac Nord (The Stronghold)
- L’événement (Happening)
- La Fracture (The Divide) – currently at the Mardi Gras Film Festival
- “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions)
- Onoda, 10 000 nuits dans la jungle
The winner: This César was presented by Danièle Thompson, president of the ceremony. It was awarded to “Lost Illusions”, directed by Xavier Giannoli.
César for Best Director
The directors nominated for the Best Director César were:
- Valérie Lemercier for “Aline”
- Leos Carax for “Annette”
- Cédric Jimenez for “Bac Nord” (The Stronghold)
- Audrey Diwan for “L’événement” (Happening)
- Xavier Giannoli for “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions)
- Arthur Harari for “Onoda, 10 000 nuits dans la jungle”
- *Julia Ducournau for “Titane” – this film was released at the end of last year
The winner: The César for Best Director went to Leos Carax for “Annette”.
César for Best Actress
The actresses nominated for the César for Best Actress were:
- Leïla Bekhti, “Les Intranquilles” (The Restless)
- Valéria Bruni Tedeschi, “La Fracture” (The Divide) – currently showing at Mardi Gras festival
- Virginie Efira, “Benedetta” – currently in cinemas
- Vicky Krieps, “Serre moi fort” (Hold Me Tight)
- Valérie Lemercier “Aline”
The winner: The César was awarded to Valérie Lemercier for her role in “Aline”, the second actress to win this award for a film she herself directed. This film was part of the programme of the 2021 Alliance Française French Film Festival. It is currently in cinemas. Omary Sy presented the César to Valérie Lemercier.

César for Best Actor
The actors nominated for the César for Best Actor were:
- Damien Bonnard, “Les Intranquilles” (The Restless)
- Adam Driver, “Annette”
- Gilles Lellouche, “Bac Nord” (The Stronghold)
- Vincent Macaigne, “Médecin de nuit” (A Night Doctor)
- Benoît Magimel, « De son vivant» (Peaceful)
- Pio Marmaï, « La Fracture» (The Divide)- currently showing at Mardi Gras Film Festival
- Pierre Niney, « Boîte noire» (Black Box) – read our review of this 2021 festival film here
The winner: César for Best Actor was awarded to Benoît Magimel for his role in “De son vivant” (Peaceful), a first for the actor.

César for Best Supporting Actress
The actresses nominated for the César for Best Supporting Actress were:
- Jeanne Balibar, “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions)
- Cécile de France, “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions)
- Aissatou Diallo Sagna, “La Fracture” (The Divide) – this film is currently playing at the Mardi Gras Film Festival
- Adèle Exarchopoulos for “Mandibules” – this film was part of last year’s festival programme
- Danielle Fichaud, for “Aline” – this film was part of last year’s festival programme and is currently in cinemas
The winner: This César was awarded to Aïssatou Diallo Sagna for her role in La Fracture (The Divide). She is not an actress by profession, but a nurse’s aide. This film is part of the Mardi Gras film festival programme.

César for Best Supporting Actor
The actors nominated for the César for Best Supporting Actor were:
- François Civil, “Bac Nord” (The Stronghold)
- Xavier Dolan, “Illusions perdues”
- Vincent Lacoste, “Illusions perdues“
- Karim Leklou, “Bac Nord”
- Sylvain Marcel, “Aline”
The winner: this César was awarded to Vincent Lacoste for “Lost Illusions”. Another award for a film from AFFFF 2022 in competition at the Césars.

César for Most Promising Actress
The actresses nominated for the César for Most Promising Actress were:
- Noée Abita, “Slalom”
- Salomé Dewaels, “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions)
- Agathe Rousselle, “Titane” – this film was released in cinemas in late 2021
- Anamaria Vartolomei, “L’événement” (Happening)
- Lucie Zhang, “Les Olympiades” (Paris, 13th District)
The winner: The César was awarded to Anamaria Vartolomei for her role in “L’Evénement” (Happening). This means another award for another film from the AFFFF 2022 programme in competition at the Césars.

César for Best New Male Artist
The actors nominated for the César for Best New Male Artist were:
- Sandor Funtek, “Suprêmes”
- Sami Outalbali, “Une histoire d’amour et de désir” (A Tale of Love and Desire) – read our review of this film here
- Timotée Robart, “Les magnétiques” (Magnetic Beats)
- Makita Samba, “Les Olympiades” (Paris, 13th district)
- Benjamin Voisin, “Illusions perdues“
The winner: The César was awarded to Benjamin Voisin for his role in “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions). Another prize for the opening night film of AFFFF 2022 in competition at the Césars!

César for Best Original Screenplay
The films nominated for the César for Best Original Screenplay were:
- Aline
- Annette
- Boîte Noire
- La Fracture (The Divide) – at the Mardi Gras Film Festival
- Onoda, 10 000 nuits dans la jungle (Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle)
The winner: This César was awarded to Arthur Harari and Vincent Poymiro for “Onoda, 10 000 nuits dans la jungle” (Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle).
César for the Best Adaptation
The films nominated for the César for Best Adaptation were:
- Les choses humaines (The Accusation)
- L’événement (Happening)
- Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions)
- Les Olympiades (Paris, 13th district)
- Serre-moi fort (Hold me tight)
The winner: The César was awarded to Xavier Giannoli and Jacques Fieschi for Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions).
César for Best Costume Design
The films nominated for the César for Best Costumer Design were:
- Aline
- Annette
- Délicieux (Delicious) – part of the 2021 festival and released late last year
- Eiffel – part of the 2021 festival and released late last year
- Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions)
The winner: The César was awarded to Pierre-Jean Larroque for “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions). Another prize for the opening night film of the AFFFF 2022 in competition at the Césars.

César for Best Set Design
The films nominated for the César for Best Set Design were:
- Aline
- Annette
- Délicieux (Delicious)
- Eiffel
- Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions)
The winner: The César was awarded to Riton Dupire-Clément for “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions).
César for Best Cinematography
The films nominated for the César for Best Cinematography were:
- Annette
- Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions)
- Les Olympiades (Paris, 13th district)
- Onoda, 10 000 nuits dans la jungle (Onoda, 10 000 nights in the jungle)
- Titane
The winner: this César was awarded to Christophe Beaucarne for “Illusions perdues” (Lost Illusions).
César for Best Editing
The films nominated for the César for Best Editing were:
- Annette
- Bac Nord (The Stronghold)
- Boîte Noire (Black Box)
- La Fracture (The Divide)
- Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions)’
The winner: This César was awarded to Nelly Quettier for “Annette”
César for Best Visual Effects
The films nominated for the César for Best Visual Effects (this is the first year this César exists) were:
- Aline
- Annette
- Eiffel
- Illusions Perdues (Lost Illusions)
- Titane
The winner: The first César for Best Visual Effects was awarded to Guillaume Pondard for “Annette“.

Credit: Getty Images
César for Best Sound
The films nominated for the César for Best Sound were:
- Aline
- Annette
- Boîte noire (Black Box)
- Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions)
- Les magnétiques (Magnetic Beats)
The winner: This César, which was presented by Nicolas Maury, was awarded to Erwan Kerzanet, Katia Boutin, Maxence Dussère, Paul Heymans and Thomas Gauder for “Annette“.

Credit: Getty Images
César for Best Original Score
The films nominated for the César for Best Original Score were:
- Annette
- Bac Nord (The Stronghold)
- Boîte Noire (Black Box)
- Les Olympiades (Paris, 13th district)
- La Panthère des Neiges (The Velvet Queen)
The winner: this César was awarded to Ron Mael and Russell Mael for the group Sparks for “Annette“.
César for Best First Feature Film
The films nominated for the César for Best First Feature Film were:
- Gagarine – part of the 2021 AFFFF program
- Les Magnétiques (Magnetic Beats)
- La Nuée
- La Panthère des neiges (The Velvet Queen)
- Slalom
The winner: the César was awarded to the film “Les Magnétiques” (Magnetic Beats), directed by Vincent Maël Cardona.
César for the Best Animated Film
The films nominated for the César for the Best Animated Film were:
- Même les souris vont au Paradis (Even mice belong in Heaven)
- Le Sommet des dieux (The summit of the Gods)
- La Traversée (The Crossing)
The winner: this César was awarded to Patrick Imbert for “Le Sommet des dieux” (The summit of the Gods)
César for the Best Animated Short Film
The films nominated for the César for Best Animated Short Film were:
- Empty Places
- Folie Douce, Folie Dure (Mild Madness, Lasting Lunacy)
- Le Monde en soi (The world within)
- Précieux (Precious)
The winner: this César is awarded to “Folie douce, folie dure” (Mild Madness, Lasting Lunacy) directed by Marine Laclotte.
César for Best Foreign Film
The films nominated for the César for Best Foreign Film were:
- “Compartiment n°6
- Drive My Car
- First Cow
- Julie (en 12 chapitres)
- La Loi de Téhéran
- Madres Paralelas
- The Father
The winner: this César was awarded to “The Father” and was presented by Emma Mackey.
César for the Best Fiction Short Film
The short films nominated for the César for the Best Fiction Short Film were:
- L’Âge tendre (Tender Age)
- Le Départ (The Departure)
- Des Gens bien
- Les Mauvais garçons (One and Thousand Nights)
- Soldat Noir (Black Soldier)
The winner: the César was awarded to “Les Mauvais Garçons” (One and Thousand Nights), directed by Elie Girard.
César for the Best Documentary Short Film
The short documentaries nominated for the César for the Best Documentary Short Film were:
- America
- Les Antilopes (Antelopes)
- La Fin des rois (The end of Kings)
- Maalbeek
The winner: the César was awarded to “Maalbeek” directed by Ismaël Joffroy Chandoutis.
César for the Best Documentary film
The documentary films nominated for the César for Best Documentary film were:
- Animal
- Bigger Than Us
- Debout les femmes (Those Who Care)
- Indes galantes (Gallant Indies)
- La Panthère des neiges (The Velvet Queen)
The winner: this César was awarded to “La Panthère des neiges” (The Velvet Queen) directed by Marie Amiguet and Vincent Munier. This documentary film is one of the AFFFF 2022 films in competition at the Césars.
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AFFFF 2022 films in competition at the Césars that won awards
The AFFFF 2022 films that won the Césars are:
Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions) – this film from the AFFF 2022 opening night sweeps seven awards.
La Panthère des neiges (The Velvet Queen)- was awarded Best Documentary Film at the Césars.
L’Evénement (Happening) – Anamaria Vartolomei won the César for Best Emerging Actress for her role in the film
AFFFF 2022 film Les Olympiades (Paris, 13th district) was nominated for 5 Césars but wasn’t awarded any in the end.
Discover the AFFFF 2022 programme here.
Which AFFFF 2022 films in competition at the Césars you will see?