Césars on the move

Nisrin Erradi, left, in Adam, is among the nominees for Best Newcomer Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival

France’s answer to the Oscars - the Césars - will be delayed from its traditional February date until 12 March so that organisers can safely plan for a live event which will also be televised directly on Canal Plus.

The French Academy of Arts and Sciences have said that the ceremony for the 46th edition will “offer a moment of celebration and support for films, and more generally, culture. The ceremony will pay homage to all those who have released their films in 2020 in spite of the uncertainties and obstacles; to cinemas that did everything they could to welcome loyal moviegoers and, in particular, to all the artists and crew members who have suffered from this situation.”

Marina Fois will preside over this year’s César awards ceremony in Paris Photo: Fred Leveugle/Charlette Studio

France currently is coping with a second wave of the pandemic with cinemas due to reopen on 15 December after having been closed for 90 days.

Award-winning actor Marina Fois will host the ceremony which the organisers underline will follow Government health guidelines. Fois has spanned both arthouse and commercial productions among them [film id= 33253]Sink or Swim[/film] (Le Grand Bain) by Gilles Lellouche, Antoine Raimbault’s Conviction and Laurent Cantet’s The Workshop (L’Atelier). She has been nominated for best actress César three times including for Polisse by Maïwenn in 2011.

The Académie have also announced the contenders for best female newcomer comprising: Noée Abita in Slalom; Najla Ben Abdallah fin Un fils Aïcha Ben Miled in Arab Blues (Un divan à Tunis); Nisrin Erradi in [film id= 35392]Adam[/film]; India Hair in Poissonsexe; Liv Henneguier in Douze mille; Annabelle Lengronne in Working Girls (Filles de joie); Pauline Parigot in Frères d’arme; Julia Piaton in Love Affairs (Les choses qu’on dit, les choses qu’on fait); Camille Rutherford in Felicità; Lauréna Thellier in K contraire and Anamaria Vartolomei in Just Kids.

For best male newcomer the nominees are: Abdel Bendaher in Ibrahim; Lucas Englander in Les Apparences; Sandor Funtek in K contraire; Thomas Guy in Man Up! (Un vrai bonhomme); Guang Huo in Nuit venue; Félix Lefebvre in Summer of 85 ( Été 85); Nils Othenin-Girard in Man Up! (Un vrai bonhomme); Jules Porier in Madre; Bastien Ughetto for Adieu les cons; Benjamin Voisin in Summer of 85 (Été 85); Alexandre Wetter in Miss and Jean-Pascal Zadi in Tout simplement noir.