Thursday, January 29, 2026-Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague is dominating the nominations for the 51st César Awards, France’s most prestigious film honors, leading the field with 10 nominations ahead of the ceremony scheduled for late February in Paris.
The black‑and‑white feature a tribute to the French New Wave and the making of Jean‑Luc Godard’s Breathless has been recognized in major categories including Best Film, Best Director, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, and Editing, marking a historic achievement for an American‑helmed production at the French awards. The film’s strong showing reflects its critical acclaim and cross‑cultural appeal following its premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Behind Nouvelle Vague in the nomination race are several strong contenders from French cinema, with films like L’attachement, Dossier 137, and L’inconnu de la Grande Arche each earning eight nominations. These titles spanning family drama, crime procedural, and historical storytelling underscore a wide range of cinematic talent recognized this year by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma.
Notable acting nods include top performers such as Leïla Bekhti, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Léa Drucker, and Isabelle Huppert in the Best Actress category, as well as Claes Bang, Bastien Bouillon, Laurent Lafitte, Pio Marmaï, and Benjamin Voisin among Best Actor nominees.
The César nominations also highlight remarkable career milestones: Isabelle Huppert has earned her 17th nomination, setting a record in the acting categories. As anticipation builds for the awards night in Paris, industry observers see the strong international presence of Nouvelle Vague as a sign of growing global integration in cinema, even as the film was notably overlooked in other major awards earlier in the season.
With nominees spanning veteran stars and rising talent alike, this year’s César Awards are shaping up to be a celebration of both French filmmaking excellence and cross‑border artistic achievement.
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