2012 Cesar Awards Name "The Artist" Best Film

First given out in 1975, the César Award is the national film award of France. Some even think of the César Award as the French equivalent of the American Academy Awards (Oscars). The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, and the award ceremony is held in Paris each February.  The name of the award comes from the late sculptor César Baldaccini, and the trophies are actual sculptures of the artist

The 37th Cesar Awards were presented on Friday, February 24, 2012.  The French film, The Artist, which is poised to win big at the 84th Academy Awards tonight, won 6 of the 10 categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Film."  Also of note, Roman Polanski shares a screenwriting award.

The 37th César Award winners:

FILM
"The Artist," Michel Hazanavicius

DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"

ACTOR
Omar Sy, "Intouchables"

ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michel Blanc, "The Minister"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Carmen Maura, "Service Entrance"

NEWCOMER, ACTOR
Gregory Gadebois, "Angele et Tony"

NEWCOMER, ACTRESS
Naidra Ayadi, "Poliss"
Clotilde Hesme, "Angele et Tony"

FIRST FILM
Sylvain Estibal, "When Pigs Have Wings"

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Pierre Schoeller, "The Minister"

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski, "Carnage"

FOREIGN FILM
"A Separation," Asghar Farhadi

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillaume Schiffman, "The Artist"

ANIMATED FILM
"The Rabbi's Cat," Joann Sfar, Antoine Delesvaux

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"Tous au Larzac," Christian Rouaud

MUSIC
Ludovic Bource, "The Artist"

BEST SOUND
Olivier Hespel, Julie Brenta and Jean-Pierre Laforce, “The Minister” (L'Exercice de l'État)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Laurence Bennett, “The Artist”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Anaïs Romand, “House of Tolerance” (L'Apollonide: Souvenirs de la maison close)

BEST SHORT FILM
L'Accordeur

BEST EDITING
Laure Gardette and Yann Dedet, “Poliss”