The César Award (the French Oscar) has honored the Best First Feature Film since 1982.
It is interesting to examine the socio-political backgrounds of those films, the extent to which the directors of those debuts have fulfilled their initial promises, in what contexts, and under what conditions.
Moreover, how many of those directors have traveled the global film festival circuit, and whether or not their films played well in countries other than those in which they were made.
I am hesitant to write this, but how many directors were seduced by the American industry and have gone Hollywood.
Prizes in Chronological Order:
Diva (1982)
Half a Life (1983)
Sugar Cane Alley (1984)
Dangerous Moves (1985)
Tea in the Harem (1986)
The Woman of My Life (1987)
L’Œil au beur(re) noir (1988)
Life Is a Long Quiet River (1989)
Love Without Pity (1990)
La Discrète (1991)
Delicatessen (1992)
Savage Nights (1993)
The Scent of Green Papaya (1994)
See How They Fall (1995)
The Three Brothers (1996)
Will It Snow for Christmas? (1997)
Didier (1998)
Only God Sees Me (1999)
Voyages (2000)
Human Resources (2001)
No Man’s Land (2002)
Beautiful Memories (2003)
Since Otar Left (2004)
When the Sea Rises (2005)
Darwin’s Nightmare (2006)
You Are So Beautiful (2007)
Persepolis (2008)
I’ve Loved You So Long (2009)
The French Kissers (2010)
Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2011)
When Pigs Have Wings (2012)Louise Wimmer (2013)
Me, Myself and Mum (2014)
Love at First Fight (2015)
Mustang (2016)
Divines (2017)
Bloody Milk (2018)