2025 César Ceremony: A Triumph for Emilia Pérez, Disappointment for The Count of Monte Cristo

The 50th César ceremony, held at the Olympia in Paris on February 28, 2025, crowned Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard’s musical epic, which won seven awards, including Best Film and Best Director. The film, which explores the gender transition of a Mexican drug trafficker, managed to prevail despite the controversies that have surrounded its release. Nominated 12 times, it also took home awards for Best Original Score, Best Adaptation, as well as in technical categories like Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

On the other hand, The Count of Monte Cristo, the evening’s heavy favorite with 14 nominations, only won two awards: Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. This was a disappointment after the film’s massive success in theaters, where it attracted over nine million viewers.

The Exceptional Journey of Abou Sangaré

L’Histoire de Souleymane, a poignant drama by Boris Lojkine about a Guinean asylum seeker, was also highlighted during the ceremony. The film won several awards, including Best Male Newcomer for Abou Sangaré. This actor, a former undocumented immigrant who gained legal status in January 2025, delivered a moving speech, paying tribute to solidarity and humanity. He dedicated his award to all those who, like him, have gone through extreme life challenges.

Surprises of the Evening: Karim Leklou and Hafsia Herzi

The Best Actor and Best Actress awards were won by Karim Leklou and Hafsia Herzi, who both created a surprise by beating favorites like Pierre Niney and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Karim Leklou was recognized for his nuanced performance in Le Roman de Jim, while Hafsia Herzi, who was awarded for her role in Borgo, expressed her gratitude for the honor after 15 years in the industry, emphasizing the human journey she experienced during the film.

A Ceremony with a Message: Culture and Solidarity

From the opening, the ceremony’s president, Catherine Deneuve, dedicated the evening to Ukraine. Speeches also addressed social concerns, such as cuts to cultural funding. Actress Josiane Balasko and actor Vincent Macaigne took the stage to denounce these threats and call for European solidarity in the face of current political challenges.

Honorary César: Julia Roberts and Costa-Gavras Recognized

The ceremony also paid tribute to major figures in cinema. Julia Roberts received an Honorary César for her exceptional career, stating that the award was primarily a tribute to all the teams that had worked alongside her. Costa-Gavras, the iconic director, was also honored for his contribution to cinema, expressing his gratitude toward France, the country that has enriched his artistic journey.

Complete 2025 César Awards Winners

• Best Film: Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard
• Best Actress: Hafsia Herzi (Borgo)
• Best Actor: Karim Leklou (Le Roman de Jim)
• Best Director: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
• Best Supporting Actress: Nina Meurisse (L’Histoire de Souleymane)
• Best Supporting Actor: Alain Chabat (L’Amour ouf)
• Best Female Newcomer: Maïwene Barthèlemy (Vingt Dieux)
• Best Male Newcomer: Abou Sangaré (L’Histoire de Souleymane)
• Best First Film: Vingt Dieux by Louise Courvoisier
• Best Foreign Film: The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer
• Best Editing: Xavier Sirven (L’Histoire de Souleymane)
• Best Cinematography: Paul Guilhaume (Emilia Pérez)
• Best Original Screenplay: Boris Lojkine and Delphine Agut (L’Histoire de Souleymane)
• Best Adaptation: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
• Best Original Score: Clément Ducol and Camille (Emilia Pérez)
• Best Sound: Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta (Emilia Pérez)
• Best Costume Design: Thierry Delettre (The Count of Monte Cristo)
• Best Production Design: Stéphane Taillasson (The Count of Monte Cristo)
• Best Visual Effects: Cédric Fayolle (Emilia Pérez)
• Best Animated Short Film: Beurk !, by Loïc Espuche
• Best Documentary Short Film: Les Fiancées du Sud, by Elena López Riera
• Best Fiction Short Film: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Silent, by Nebojša Slijepčević
• Best Animated Film: Flow, the Cat Who Wasn’t Afraid of Water, by Gints Zilbalodis
• Best Documentary Film: La Ferme des Bertrand, by Gilles Perret