Césars 2026 Updating Live: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ Wins Best International Film

The 51st edition of France‘s top Césars awards is underway in the storied L’Olympia concert hall in central Paris this evening and Deadline is following the event live.

In early prizes, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another won Best International Film, beating The Secret Agent, Black Dog, Sirāt and Sentimental Value.

Richard Linklater’s ode to the French New Wave Nouvelle Vague went into the evening as the frontrunner, with nominations in 10 categories including best director, film, original screenplay and cinematography.

Other frontrunners include Carine Tardieu’s family drama The Ties That Bind Us, Dominik Moll’s Case 137 and Stéphane Demoustier’s The Great Arch with eight nominations each. There is also buzz around Hafsia Herzi’s The Little Sister and Thierry Khifla’s The Richest Woman In The World, with seven and six nominations each.

Lead presenter Benjamin Lavernhe, known internationally for his roles in The Marching Band and Jean du Barry, kicked off evening with a high energy The Mask-themed musical number in honor of Jim Carrey, who receives the honorary Cesar this evening.

Benjamin Lavernhe performs during the 51st Cesar Film Awards at L’Olympia

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Carrey follows in the footsteps of recent honorees Julia Roberts (2025), Christopher Nolan (2024), David Fincher (2023) Cate Blanchett (2022), Robert Redford (2019) and George Clooney (2017).

Call My Agent! star Camille Cottin, in her role of ceremony president, opened the awards with a satirical speech on her plan to make cinema “great again”, finishing on a note celebrating French cinema as “national treasure” and the wider power of cinema.

“Culture is often the first to be attacked, because it is a weapon against authoritarianism. We want to dedicate this ceremony to all peoples who fight for their freedoms at the risk of their lives,” she said.

Keep checking in for updates:

Best Original Screenplay
Franck Dubosc, Sarah Kaminsky, How To Make A Killing

Best Screenplay Adaptation
Carine Tardieu, Raphaële Moussafir, Agnès Feuvre for The Ties That Bind

Best Supporting Actress
Vimala Pons, The Ties That Bind Us

Best Supporting Actor
Pierre Lottin, The Stranger

Best Female Acting Hope
Nadia Melliti, The Little Sister

Best Male Acting Hope
Théodore Pellerin, Nino

Best First Film
Nino, directed by Pauline Loqués

Best International Film
One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Best documentary
Whispers in the Woods, directed by Vincent Munier

Best Animated Feature
Arco by Ugo Bienvenu

Best Cinematography
David Chambille for Nouvelle Vague

Best Original Music
Arnaud Toulon, Arco

Best Editing
Catherine Schwartz, Nouvelle Vague

Best Sound
Romain Cadilhac, Marc Namblard, Olivier Touche, Olivier Goinard for Whispers in the Wood

Best Costumes
Pascaline Chavanne for Nouvelle Vague

Best Production Design
Catherine Cosme for The Great Arch

Best Special Effects
Lise Fischer for The Great Arch

Best Live Action Short Film
Mort d’un Acteur directed by Ambroise Rateau

Best Animated Short Film
Fille de l’eau by Sandra Desmazières

Best Short Documentary
Au bain des dames by Margaux Fournier