The 50th César Awards were held on February 28, 2025, at the renowned Olympia theater in Paris, marking half a century of celebrating French cinema. This year’s ceremony, presided over by the iconic actress Catherine Deneuve, was full of glamour, entertainment, and surprising controversies.
Among the highlights of the night was Jacques Audiard's film Emilia Perez, which bagged seven awards, including the coveted Best Film and Best Director. Audiard, addressing the audience after receiving his awards, humorously paraphrased British psychiatrist Donald Winnicott, saying, "The pleasure of hiding, the terror of not being discovered, thank you for finding me!" After dominating the French film scene, Audiard is set to gear up for the Oscars with confidence.
Despite its box office success, the evening also had its share of disappointments. The feel-good comedy Un P'tit truc en plus, directed by Artus, was expected to secure accolades considering its impressive achievement of over 10.8 million admissions across France, making it the most viewed film of 2024. Many had anticipated it would at least win the César for Best First Film. Instead, it ended up with only one nomination, which was lost to Vingt Dieux, another surprise success of the year.
Artus, who was unable to attend the ceremony due to his one-man show tour, expressed both pride and disappointment over the nomination. He stated, "I find it great for the whole team; it’s recognition from peers, which is cool," but he voiced regret, wishing more of his actors had been acknowledged for their performances.
At the ceremony, the entire cast of Un P'tit truc en plus, including Alice Belaïdi and Sofian Ribes, was present. Instead of prominent seating, they were positioned at the rear of the venue, near the emergency exits. This placement did not sit well with social media users, who criticized the decision. One viewer remarked, "Y'a que moi que ça choque les acteurs de un P'tit truc en plus au fond?" drawing attention to the perceived disrespect. Another tweeted cynically, "Les acteurs d'un petit truc en plus, relégués au fond de la salle, même pas un siège pour s'asseoir mais 'maximum de respect' hein?" This sentiment reflects the overall disappointment within the community and fans of the film.
Jean-Pascal Zadi, the evening’s host and himself awarded at previous ceremonies, offered praise, saying, "On vous aime les gars, on vous adore, on vous kiffe!" when referring to the cast's work on Un P'tit truc en plus. Zadi's comments provided some emotional relief amid the criticisms, but they did little to diminish the backlash on social media.
Other notable winners included Hafsia Herzi, who took home the César for Best Actress for her role as a prison warder in the Corsican thriller Borgo. The Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts added glamour to the event and earned accolades for her extensive career. Upon receiving her award, Roberts proclaimed, "Today, my life is a dream!" to the delight of the audience.
While Vingt Dieux and its star Maïwène Barthélémy received much praise, including Best First Film and Best Breakthrough Female Revelation, Un P'tit truc en plus left the ceremony without any trophies, save for the recognition it received leading up to this point. The film still holds significance with large audiences, reinforcing Artus's reputation as an influential filmmaker.
Compounding the disappointment for Artus was the stark reality of Vingt Dieux sweeping the awards and the awards night being overshadowed by the controversies, including the placement of certain teams and unexpected nods to films like Emilia Perez with its own controversial undertones. The contentious issues surrounding awards nominations have long been tackled, and this ceremony was no exception.
Overall, the 50th César Awards stand as both a celebration of achievements and a complex examination of the state of cinema today. The unexpected placements and the public reactions bring light to the dynamics of recognition within the film industry, particularly for films and talents who resonate strongly with audiences. The night served as both applause for achievements and as groundwork for future dialogues on fairness and spotlight.