Emilia Pérez takes over the Lumières prizes, awarded by the international press

Jacques Audiard will be able to make room on his trophy shelf. His musical drama Emilia Perez on a drug trafficker undergoing a gender transition dominated the charts at the 30th Enlightenment ceremony, organized this Monday by the international press. Emilia Perez received six of its five nominations and was crowned in the categories of best film, best direction, best screenplay, best actress (Karla Sofía Gascón) and best music (Camille and Clément Ducol).

This raid recalls that already accomplished by the film at the Golden Globes, at the European Film Awards – the Oscars of European cinema. Jacques Audiard sets new records in the history of the Lumières awards since he wins the title of best film for the third time (after 2006 and 2019) and that of best direction for the fourth time (after 2010, 2013 and 2019).

Enough to reassure the naturally anxious filmmaker as two important stages loom. The Oscars will announce their nominations this Thursday. Emilia Perez can expect between ten and eleven citations. It would then become the most nominated non-English language film of the ceremony. Next Wednesday, January 29, it will be the turn of the Césars to announce the works eligible for a statuette on February 28.

A Caesar barometer

Made up of nearly 90 international journalists based in Paris, the Academy of Lights, founded in 1995 by the British reporter Edward Behr and the French producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier, often prefigures the trends that will manifest themselves at the Césars.

Another winner of the European Film Awards to also be rewarded, the undocumented actor Abou Sangare elected best actor for The Story of Souleymane by Boris Lojkine. Immerse yourself in the world of work of young farmers, Twenty gods by Louise Courvoisier won two trophies (best first film and male revelation with Clément Faveau). Dahomey by Mati Diop is crowned best documentary. Flow, the cat who was no longer afraid of water by Latvian Gints Zilbalodis is crowned best animated film and The seeds of the wild fig tree by Mohammad Rasoulof best international co-production. Also on the list The Kingdom by Julien Colonna with the female revelation prize awarded to Ghjuvanna Benedetti.

Competing in three categories, the box office heavyweight Le Comte de Monte Cristo by Alexandre de la Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte won the trophy for best image. Competing in four categories, When autumn comes by François Ozon and The Ghosts by Jonathan Millet on the hunt for Syrian war criminals hidden in Europe left empty-handed. Nothing either for the comedy phenomenon on disability A little something extra who had not received any nominations.

AWARDS – 30th CEREMONY OF LIGHTS

BEST MOVIE
Emilia Perez by Jacques Audiard

BEST DIRECTION
Jacques Audiard for Emilia Perez

BEST SCENARIO
Jacques Audiard for Emilia Perez

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Dahomey by Mati Diop

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Flow, the cat who was no longer afraid of water de Gynts Zillodis

BEST ACTRESS
Karla Sofía Gascón pour Emilia Perez

BEST ACTOR
Abou Sangare for The Story of Souleymane

FEMININE REVELATION
Joan Benedetti for The Kingdom

MASCULINE REVELATION
Clément Faveau for Twenty gods

BEST FIRST FILM
Twenty gods by Louise Courvoisier

BEST INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION
Wild Fig Tree Seeds by Mohammad Rasoulof

BEST PICTURE
Nicolas Bolduc for The Comte de Monte Cristo

BEST MUSIC
Camille and Clément Ducol for Emilia Perez