France’s Cesar Awards Nominations: Richard Linklater’s ‘Nouvelle Vague’ Leads the 2026 Race

Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague,” a love letter to the French cinematic movement known as the New Wave, is leading the race at the Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent to the Oscars, with 10 nominations.

The movie, which world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, previously won a raft prizes at the Lumiere Awards.

Other strong Cesar contenders include Carine Tardieu’s “L’attachement;” Dominik Moll’s “Case 137,” which is set during France’s yellow vests protests; and Stéphane Demoustier’s “The Great Arch,” a historical drama starring Claes Bang.

The best actress category looks fiercely competitive with Isabelle Huppert vying for a Cesar Award for her colorful performance in “The Richest Woman in the World,” a film loosely based on the 2010 Bettencourt Affair involving the heiress to the L’Oreal empire; alongside Leila Bekhti for “Once Upon My Mother” and Lea Drucker for “Case 137.”

As previously announced, French star Camille Cottin (“Call My Agent“) will host the ceremony on Feb. 27 at the Olympia theater in Paris, where Jim Carrey will receive the honorary Cesar Award, succeeding Julia Roberts.

Nominations for the 51st Cesar Awards are: