As the 2025 César Awards approach, the 50th ceremony is set for February 28 at L’Olympia in Paris, broadcast live on Canal+ and myCANAL. Nominations will be unveiled on January 29, following voting starting January 2. A total of 25 awards will be presented, including 24 determined by votes. Notable attendees include Catherine Deneuve as host and Julia Roberts as a recipient of an Honorary César, with tributes to prominent figures in French cinema.
As we count down to the 2025 César Awards, let’s delve into what we know about this prestigious event celebrating a year of French cinema, including key dates and details.
Details on the 2025 César Ceremony: Date and Venue
The 50th César ceremony is scheduled for February 28, 2025. Viewers can catch the live broadcast on Canal+, streaming from the iconic L’Olympia hall in Paris. For those who prefer digital access, the event will also be available on myCANAL.
2025 Nominations: When Will the Nominees Be Announced?
The voting process will commence on January 2, 2025, with the complete list of nominees unveiled a month later on January 29, 2025. This announcement will reveal nominees across various categories, including the highly sought-after Best Film and Best Director awards.
Last year, Thomas Cailley’s “Le règne animal” led the pack with 12 nominations, closely followed by Justine Triet’s “Anatomie d’une chute” and Jeanne Herry’s “Je verrai toujours vos visages,” which received 11 and 9 nominations, respectively.
Where to Find the Complete César Calendar
The César Academy’s official site offers a comprehensive agenda for all 2025 events. Key dates include:
Learn more: https://www.academie-cinema.org/agenda/
Understanding the César Awards: How Many Are Presented?
A total of 25 César awards will be distributed during the ceremony, with 24 determined by voting. The Honorary César is a special award selected by the Academy itself.
The categories include Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Female Hope, Best Male Hope, Best First Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Foreign Film, Best Animated Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Short Film, Best Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Costumes, Best Sets, Best Original Music, Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, along with the Honorary César.
Since 2019, there has also been a César awarded by high school students, where over 1,800 students vote on the seven films nominated for Best Film. Additionally, the Daniel Toscan du Plantier Prize honors a producer each year, while two technical César awards, the César & Techniques trophy and the César & Techniques Innovation Prize, are presented a few weeks prior to the ceremony.
Notably, the category for visual effects was introduced in 2022, along with the return of the best documentary short film category, which had been absent since 1991. Each year, three types of short films are recognized: fiction, animation, and documentary.
What Films Are Pre-Nominated for 2025?
The pre-nominations for the César Awards typically begin with short films, followed by the Revelations, which highlight the best female and male hopes.
Recently, the pre-nominations for each category have been announced:
The 24 pre-nominated fiction short films for the 2025 ceremony
The 12 pre-nominated animated short films for the 2025 ceremony
The 12 pre-nominated documentary short films for the 2025 ceremony
Many of these short films can be watched for free on various television channel platforms such as Arte and Canal+. Arte has recently released 15 short films, with additional pre-nominated films for the 2024 César available on Canal+ and Canal+ OCS.
The program + De Courts on December 22, 2024, will focus on the César 2025 short films, featuring broadcasts of “A Short Trip,” “Malgré la nuit,” and “Mémoires du bois.”
Who Will Host the Ceremony?
The identity of the presenters for this year’s ceremony remains under wraps, but we do know that the esteemed Catherine Deneuve will preside over the event.
Additionally, Julia Roberts is set to receive an Honorary César, alongside Costa Gavras, while Cédric Klapisch has been appointed as the director for this milestone 50th César Ceremony. ‘Cédric Klapisch will bring his creative vision and storytelling sense to the 50th Ceremony.‘
Honoring Notable Personalities
As with previous ceremonies, a tribute will be paid to those who have passed away this year, including a special acknowledgment for Alain Delon.
Other notable French figures expected to be honored include Michel Blanc, Anouk Aimée, Margaret Menegoz, Laurent Cantet, and Jean-Charles Tacchella.
Mark your calendars – the 50th César ceremony will be a night to remember on February 28, 2025!