Richard Linklater’s film Nouvelle Vague has secured a leading position at the 2026 César Awards, garnering an impressive total of 10 nominations. This French-language, black-and-white film offers an in-depth exploration of the creation of Jean-Luc Godard’s iconic 1960 film, Breathless. The official list of nominees was announced by the Académie des César on March 15, 2026.
Following closely behind Nouvelle Vague are three other French films, each receiving 8 nominations: L’Attachement, Dossier 137, and L’Inconnu de la Grande Arche. All four films are contenders for the prestigious Best Film award, alongside Jafar Panahi’s acclaimed movie, It Was Just an Accident.
In the Best Director category, nominees include Carine Tardieu for L’Attachement, Dominik Moll for Dossier 137, Stéphane Demoustier for L’Inconnu de la Grande Arche, Richard Linklater for Nouvelle Vague, and Hafsia Herzi for La Petite Dernière. Linklater’s film also received nominations for sound, cinematography, editing, costume and production design, as well as visual effects.
The competition is strong in the Best Actress category, featuring Leila Bekhti for Ma Mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi for L’Attachement, Léa Drucker for Dossier 137, Isabelle Huppert for La Femme la plus riche du monde, and Mélanie Thierry for La Chambre de Mariana. In the Best Actor category, the nominees include Claes Bang for L’Inconnu de la Grande Arche, Bastien Bouillon for Partir un jour, Laurent Lafitte for La Femme la plus riche du monde, Pio Marmaï for L’Attachement, and Benjamin Voisin for L’Étranger.
The Best Foreign Film category features a diverse selection of films, including The Secret Agent from Brazil, Black Dog from China, Sirāt from Spain, Sentimental Value from Norway, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.
The winners of the 51st César Awards will be revealed during a ceremony set to take place in Paris on February 26, 2026. This year’s nominations highlight the vibrant landscape of French cinema and the international recognition of its filmmakers.
