Awards & Winners

César Award for Best Debut

César Award

The César Award for Best Debut was an award given out at the annual César Awards between 1982 and 1999. In 2000 it was renamed the César Award for Best Debut in Fiction, and again renamed in 2006 as the César Award for the Best First Film. Below are listed the winners in these categories from 1982 to the present day.

Check all the winners of César Award for Best Debut presented under César Award since 1982 .


Bruno Nahon, Cyril Mennegun

Honored for : Louise Wimmer

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alice Winocour Augustine
Isabelle Madelaine Augustine
Emilie Tisne Augustine
Hugo Gélin Comme des frères
Danièle Delorme Comme des frères
Laetitia Galitzine Comme des frères
Cyril Mennegun Louise Wimmer
Bruno Nahon Louise Wimmer
Alain Attal Populaire
Régis Roinsard Populaire
Rachid Djaidani Hold Back
Anne-Dominique Toussaint Hold Back

Sylvain Estibal, Franck Chorot

Honored for : When Pigs Have Wings

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Delphine Coulin 17 Girls
Denis Freyd 17 Girls
Muriel Coulin 17 Girls
Alix Delaporte Angèle Et Tony
Hélène Cases Angèle Et Tony
Sylvain Estibal When Pigs Have Wings
Franck Chorot When Pigs Have Wings
David Foenkinos Delicacy
Xavier Rigault Delicacy
Marc-Antoine Robert Delicacy
Stéphane Foenkinos Delicacy
Eva Ionesco My Little Princess
François Marquis My Little Princess

Joann Sfar, Didier Lupfer, Marc du Pontavice

Honored for : Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joann Sfar Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life
Marc du Pontavice Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life
Didier Lupfer Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life
Pascal Chaumeil Heartbreaker
Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky Heartbreaker
Yann Zenou Heartbreaker
Laurent Zeitoun Heartbreaker
Fabrice Gobert Simon Werner a Disparu
Marc-Antoine Robert Simon Werner a Disparu
Xavier Rigault Simon Werner a Disparu
Pascal Elbé Tête de Turc
Patrick Godeau Tête de Turc
Géraldine Nakache All That Glitters
Hervé Mimran All That Glitters
Farid Lahouassa All That Glitters
Aissa Djabri All That Glitters

Riad Sattouf, Anne-Dominique Toussaint

Honored for : The French Kissers

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Riad Sattouf The French Kissers
Anne-Dominique Toussaint The French Kissers
Philippe Liégeois Silent Voice
Léa Fehner Silent Voice
Jean-Michel Rey Silent Voice
Michael Gentile Espion(s)
Nicolas Saada Espion(s)
Pierre Kubel La première étoile
Lucien Jean-Baptiste La première étoile
Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar La première étoile
Philippe Godeau One for the Road

Philippe Claudel, Yves Marmion

Honored for : I've Loved You So Long

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Philippe Claudel I've Loved You So Long
Yves Marmion I've Loved You So Long
Ursula Meier Home
Denis Freyd Home
Denis Delcampe Home
Elena Tatti Home
Thierry Spicher Home
Lyes Salem Masquerades
Isabelle Madelaine Masquerades
Fred Cavayé Anything for Her
Eric Jehelmann Anything for Her
Marc Missonnier Anything for Her
Olivier Delbosc Anything for Her
Pierre Schöller Versailles
Philippe Martin Versailles
Géraldine Michelot Versailles

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marjane Satrapi Persepolis
Vincent Paronnaud Persepolis
Xavier Rigault Persepolis
Marc-Antoine Robert Persepolis
Anne Le Ny Those Who Remain
Lola Doillon Et toi, t'es sur qui ?
Céline Sciamma Water Lilies
Mia Hansen-Løve All is Forgiven

Isabelle Mergault, Jean-Louis Livi

Honored for : Je Vous Trouve Très Beau

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Isabelle Mergault Je Vous Trouve Très Beau
Jean-Louis Livi Je Vous Trouve Très Beau
Géla Babluani Tzameti
Gabriel Le Bomin Les fragments d'Antonin
Roschdy Zem Bad Faith
Maïwenn Besco Pardonnez-moi

Hubert Sauper

Honored for : Darwin's Nightmare

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hubert Sauper Darwin's Nightmare
Jérôme Salle Anthony Zimmer
Antony Cordier Cold Showers
Luc Jacquet March of the Penguins
Karin Albou Little Jerusalem

Gilles Porte, Yolande Moreau

Honored for : When the Sea Rises

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gilles Porte When the Sea Rises
Yolande Moreau When the Sea Rises
Éléonore Faucher A Common Thread
Christophe Barratier The Chorus
Yann Moix Podium
Jean-Marc Moutout Work Hard, Play Hard

Julie Bertucelli

Honored for : Since Otar Left

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Julie Bertucelli Since Otar Left
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi It's Easier for a Camel...
Sylvain Chomet The Triplets of Belleville
Michel Boujenah Father and Sons
Gilles Marchand Qui A Tue Bambi ?

Zabou Breitman

Honored for : Beautiful Memories

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Zabou Breitman Beautiful Memories
Delphine Gleize Carnage
Claude Duty Hypnotized and Hysterical
Ivan Calbérac Irène
Guillaume Canet Whatever You Say

Danis Tanovi?

Honored for : No Man's Land

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Danis Tanovi? No Man's Land
Artus de Penguern Gregoire Moulin vs. Humanity
Jacques Cluzaud Winged Migration
Michel Debats Winged Migration
Jacques Perrin Winged Migration
Yvan Attal My Wife is an Actress
Christian Carion Une hirondelle a fait le printemps

Laurent Cantet

Honored for : Human Resources

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Laurent Cantet Human Resources
Fabrice Genestal The Squale
Jean-Pierre Sinapi Uneasy Riders
Frédéric Schoendoerffer Crime Scenes
Roch Stéphanik Stand By

Emmanuel Finkiel

Honored for : Voyages

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Emmanuel Finkiel Voyages
Sólveig Anspach Chin Up!
Thomas Vincent Karnaval
Danièle Thompson Season's Beatings
Benoît Mariage The Carriers Are Waiting

Bruno Podalydès

Honored for : Only God Sees Me

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bruno Podalydès Only God Sees Me
Olivier Ducastel Jeanne and the Perfect Guy
Jacques Martineau Jeanne and the Perfect Guy
Jacques Nolot Hinterland
Erick Zonca The Dreamlife of Angels
Christophe Ruggia The Kid from Chaâba

Alain Chabat

Honored for : Didier

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alain Chabat Didier
Dominique Cabrera The Other Shore
Bruno Dumont The Life of Jesus
Bernie Bonvoisin Les démons de Jésus
Alain Berliner My Life in Pink

Sandrine Veysset

Honored for : Will It Snow For Christmas?

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sandrine Veysset Y'aura-t-il de la neige à Noël?
Albert Dupontel Bernie
Pascal Bonitzer Encore
Gilles Mimouni The Apartment
Claude Nuridsany Microcosmos
Marie Pérennou Microcosmos

Bernard Campan, Didier Bourdon

Honored for : Les Trois Frères

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Bernard Campan Les Trois Frères
Didier Bourdon Les Trois Frères
Laetitia Masson To have (or not)
Karim Dridi Pigalle
Christine Carrière Rosine
Patrick Dell'Isola Inner City
Jean-François Richet Inner City

Jacques Audiard

Honored for : See How They Fall

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jacques Audiard See How They Fall
Yves Angelo Colonel Chabert
Martine Dugowson Mina Tannenbaum
Marion Vernoux Nobody Loves Me
Pascale Ferran Coming to Terms with the Dead

Tran Anh Hung

Honored for : The Scent of Green Papaya

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tran Anh Hung The Scent of Green Papaya
Pierre Salvadori Cible émouvante
Agnès Merlet Son of the Shark
Laurence Ferreira Barbosa Normal People Are Nothing Special
Mathieu Kassovitz Cafe au Lait

Cyril Collard

Honored for : Savage Nights

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Cyril Collard Savage Nights
Arnaud Desplechin The Sentinel
Jean Poiret Le zèbre
Xavier Beauvois Nord
Cédric Klapisch Riens du tout

Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Honored for : Delicatessen

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marc Caro Delicatessen
Jean-Pierre Jeunet Delicatessen
Olivier Schatzky Fortune Express
Bernard Giraudeau L'autre
Manuel Sanchez Les arcandiers
Patrick Bouchitey Cold Moon

Christian Vincent

Honored for : La Discrète

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Christian Vincent La Discrète
Férid Boughedir Asfour Stah
Aleksandr Adabashyan Mado, poste restante
Brigitte Roüan Overseas
Nicole Garcia Every Other Weekend

Éric Rochant

Honored for : Love Without Pity

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Éric Rochant Love Without Pity
John Lvoff La Salle de bain
Michel Sibra La soule
Patricia Mazuy Thick Skinned
Patrice Ambard Suivez cet avion
Pierre-Henry Salfati Tolerance

Étienne Chatiliez

Honored for : Life Is a Long Quiet River

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Étienne Chatiliez Life Is a Long Quiet River
Bruno Nuytten Camille Claudel
Claire Denis Chocolat
François Dupeyron A Strange Place to Meet

Serge Meynard

Honored for : L'oeil au beur(re) noir

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Serge Meynard L'oeil au beur(re) noir
Liria Bégéja Avril brisé
Jacques Santi Flag
Geneviève Lefebvre Le jupon rouge
Suzanne Schiffman Le moine et la sorcière

Régis Wargnier

Honored for : La femme de ma vie

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Régis Wargnier La femme de ma vie
Thomas Gilou Black Mic Mac
Gérard Krawczyk I Hate Actors
Claire Devers Noir et Blanc

Mehdi Charef

Honored for : Le thé au harem d'Archimède

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mehdi Charef Le thé au harem d'Archimède
Arthur Joffé Harem
Virginie Thévenet La Nuit porte-jarretelles
Pierre Jolivet Strictement personnel

Richard Dembo

Honored for : Dangerous Moves

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Richard Dembo Dangerous Moves
Leos Carax Boy Meets Girl
Michel Blanc Marche à l'ombre
Ariel Zeitoun Memories, Memories

Euzhan Palcy

Honored for : Sugar Cane Alley

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Euzhan Palcy Sugar Cane Alley
Bernard Favre The Trail
Luc Besson Le Dernier Combat
Aline Issermann The Destiny of Juliette

Romain Goupil

Honored for : Half a Life

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Romain Goupil Half a Life
Christopher Frank Josepha
Frédéric Mitterrand From Somalia with Love
Jean-Claude Missiaen Tir groupé

Jean-Jacques Beineix

Honored for : Diva

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jean-Jacques Beineix Diva
Jean-Pierre Sentier The Gardener
Juliet Berto Snow
Jean-Henri Roger Snow
Nicolas Ribowski Dead Certain