The Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent to the Oscar, were handed out in Paris on Friday night [25] with Of Gods And Men taking the best film prize.

Xavier Beauvois’ film (pictured), which is notably absent from the Oscar group for best foreign film despite being France’s entry for the category, also took the best cinematography and best supporting actor awards, the latter for Michael Lonsdale.

Best director went to Roman Polanski for The Ghost Writer which also took the editing, score and adapted screenplay trophies. Best actress was Sara Forestier for Le Nom Des Gens which was also honored for its original screenplay by Baya Kasmi and Michel Leclerc. The best actor nod went to Eric Elmosino for Gainsbourg (Vie Héroïque). That film also took the best first film prize for director Joann Sfar and top sound honors.

Best supporting actress went to Anne Alvaro for Bertrand Blier’s Le Bruit Des Glacons while most promising newcomer (female) went to Leila Bekhti for Tout Ce Qui Brille. Most promising newcomer (male) went to Edgar Ramirez for Olivier Assayas’ Carlos. Costume honors went to Caroline de Vivaise for Bertrand Tavernier’s La Princesse De Montpensier. Best art direction was reserved for Hugues Tissandier with Luc Besson’s Adele Blanc-Sec.

Sylvain Chomet’s Oscar-nominated L’Illusioniste was named best animated film. Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud’s Oceans was best documentary. Logorama by François Alaux, Hervé de Crécy and Ludovic Houplain was named best short film.

Finally, David Fincher’s Oscar contender The Social Network was voted best foreign film from amongt a field that also included Christopher Nolan’s Inception and Clint Eastwood’s Invictus.

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