César 2025: a 50th edition under the sign of exception

The major event in French cinema is fast approaching. The 50th César Awards ceremony will be held on February 28, 2025, on the legendary stage of the Olympia, broadcast live on Canal+. As every year, the Académie des César will honor the films, directors, and talents who have marked the cinematic year.

This edition already promises to be memorable with Catherine Deneuve as president of the ceremony and the presentation of Honorary César Awards to Julia Roberts and Costa-Gavras.

Among the big surprises this year, **The Count of Monte Cristo**, directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, dominates the nominations with 14 selections, closely followed by **L'Amour Ouf** by Gilles Lellouche (13 nominations) and **Emilia Pérez** by Jacques Audiard (12 nominations).

The flagship categories

🎭 Best Film:
- *The Count of Monte Cristo* – Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière
- *Emilia Perez* – Jacques Audiard
- *With fanfare* – Emmanuel Courcol
- *The Story of Souleymane* – Boris Lojkine
- *Mercy* – Alain Guiraudie

🎬 Best achievement:
- Gilles Lellouche – *Love Wow*
- Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière – *The Count of Monte Cristo*
- Jacques Audiard – *Emilia Pérez*
- Boris Lojkine – *The Story of Souleymane*
- Alain Guiraudie – *Mercy*

🌟 Best Actress:
- Adèle Exarchopoulos – *Love Wow*
- Karla Sofía Gascón – *Emilia Pérez*
- Hafsia Herzi – *Borgo*
- Zoe Saldana – *Emilia Pérez*
- Hélène Vincent – *When Autumn Comes*

🎭 Best Actor:
- François Civil – *Love Phew*
- Benjamin Lavernhe – *With fanfare*
- Karim Leklou – *Jim’s Novel*
- Pierre Niney – *The Count of Monte Cristo*
- Tahar Rahim – *Mr. Aznavour*

A track record that lives up to expectations

French cinema once again stands out for its diversity and excellence. This year, the categories reward ambitious films with varied styles, ranging from grandiose literary adaptations to intimate tales and visual daring. **The Count of Monte Cristo** seems to be the clear favorite, but the competition remains tight with **The Love Bug** and **Emilia Pérez**, who have won over critics and viewers alike.

🎬 **Most nominated films:**
- *The Count of Monte Cristo* – 14 nominations
- *Love Wow* – 13 nominations
- *Emilia Pérez* – 12 nominations
- *The Story of Souleymane* – 8 nominations
- *Mercy* – 8 nominations
- *With fanfare* – 7 nominations

While predictions are rife, the February 28th ceremony still has its share of surprises in store. Who will walk away with the precious statuette? The answer will be revealed in a few weeks!