Xavier Beauvois’ “Des hommes et des dieux,” (Of Gods and Men) took the top prize for Best Film but Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer,” lead the Cesar Awards aka the French Oscars with 4 wins including Best Director for Roman Polanski, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score and Best Editing. “Of Gods and Men,” which was also France’s official entry to 2011 Oscar and “Gainsbourg” tied for 3 awards. “Of Gods and Men took the awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Cinematography; and “Gainsbourg” received the awards for Best Actor, Best Sound and Best First Film.

The 2011 Cesar Award winners:

Best Film
Des hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men), Xavier Beauvois

Best First Film
Gainsbourg (vie héroïque), Joann Sfar

Best Animation Film
L’Illusionniste (The Illusionist), Sylvain Chomet

Best Director
Roman Polanski for The Ghost Writer

Best Actress
Sara Forestier in Le nom des gens (The Names of Love), Michel Leclerc

Best Supporting Actress
Anne Alvaro in Le bruit des glaçons (The Clink of Ice)

Best Female Newcomer
Leïla Bekhti in Tout ce qui brille, Géraldine Nakache and Hervé Mimran

Best Actor
Eric Elmosnino in Gainsbourg (vie héroïque), Joann Sfar

Best Supporting Actor
Michael Lonsdale in Des hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men), Xavier Beauvois

Best Male Newcomer
Edgar Ramírez in Carlos, le film, Olivier Assayas

Best Original Screenplay
Baya Kasmi and Michel Leclerc, Le Nom des Gens

Best Adapted Screenplay
Robert Harris and Roman Polanski, The Ghost Writer

Best Foreign Film
The Social Network, David Fincher

Best Documentary
Océans (Oceans), Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud

Best Short Film
Logorama, François Alaux, Hervé de Crécy, and Ludovic Houplain

Best Costume Design
La Princesse de Montpensier

Best Art Direction
Les Aventures Extraordinaires d’Adele Blanc-sec

Best Editing
The Ghost Writer

Best Cinematography
Des hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men)

Best Original Music
The Ghost Writer

César d’Honneur:
Quentin Tarantino