The César Award is the national film award of France. It is delivered in the Nuit des César ceremony and was first awarded in 1976. The nominations are selected by the members of twelve categories of filmmaking professionals and supported by the French Ministry of Culture. The nationally televised award ceremony is held in the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris each year in February. It is an initiative from the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma which was founded in 1975.
The 31st César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best films of 2005 in France and took place on 25 February 2006 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Carole Bouquet and hosted by Valérie Lemercier. The Beat That My Heart Skipped won the award for Best Film.
The 3rd César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1977 and took place on 4 February 1978 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Jeanne Moreau and hosted by Pierre Tchernia for the third time. Providence won the award for Best Film.
The 4th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1978 and took place on 3 February 1979 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Charles Vanel and hosted by Pierre Tchernia and Jean-Claude Brialy. L'Argent des autres won the award for Best Film.
The 6th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1980 and took place on 31 January 1981 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Yves Montand and hosted by Pierre Tchernia. The Last Metro won the award for Best Film.
The 13th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1987 and took place on 12 March 1988 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Miloš Forman and hosted by Michel Drucker and Jane Birkin. Au revoir les enfants won the award for Best Film.
The 21st César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1995 and took place on 3 February 1996 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Philippe Noiret and hosted by Antoine de Caunes. La Haine won the award for Best Film.
The 33rd César Awards ceremony was presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma to honour the best films of 2007 in France. It was held on 22 February 2008 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Jean Rochefort and hosted by Antoine de Caunes. The Secret of the Grain won the award for Best Film.
The 22nd César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1996 and took place on 8 February 1997 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Annie Girardot and hosted by Antoine de Caunes. Ridicule won the award for Best Film.
The 23rd César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1997 and took place on 28 February 1998 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Juliette Binoche and hosted by Antoine de Caunes. Same Old Song won the award for Best Film.
The 24th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1998 and took place on 6 March 1999 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Isabelle Huppert and hosted by Antoine de Caunes. The Dreamlife of Angels won the award for Best Film.
The 25th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best films of 1999 in France and took place on 19 February 2000 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Alain Delon and hosted by Alain Chabat. Venus Beauty Institute won the award for Best Film.
The 26th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best films of 2000 in France and took place on 24 February 2001 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Daniel Auteuil and hosted by Édouard Baer. The Taste of Others won the award for Best Film.
The 34th César Awards ceremony was presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma to honour its selection of the best films of 2008 on 27 February 2009. Canal+ broadcast the event, which took place again at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France. The nominations for the Awards were announced on 23 January. The ceremony was chaired by Charlotte Gainsbourg and hosted by Antoine de Caunes. Séraphine won the award for Best Film.
The 36th César Awards ceremony was presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma in Paris, France to honour its selection of the best French films of 2010 on 25 February 2011. The ceremony was chaired by Jodie Foster and hosted by Antoine de Caunes. The audience gave a standing ovation to Olivia de Havilland, their "special honored guest".
The 40th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best films of 2014 in France and took place on 20 February 2015 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by actor-director Dany Boon, with actor Édouard Baer acting as master of ceremonies for the second time.
The 41st César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, was held on 26 February 2016, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to honour the best French films of 2015. The ceremony was presided by Claude Lelouch, with Florence Foresti hosting the ceremony for the first time.
The 42nd César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, was held on 24 February 2017, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris to honour the best French films of 2016. Jérôme Commandeur hosted the César Awards ceremony for the first time.
The 43rd César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, took place on 2 March 2018, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris to honour the best French films of 2017.
The 44th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, took place on 22 February 2019, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris to honour the best French films of 2018. Kristin Scott Thomas presided, and Kad Merad was the host. The ceremony was dedicated to Charles Aznavour, who died the previous October.
