Last Updated on 19 February 2025 by frenchflicks
As the Academy Awards approach, all eyes are on “Emilia Pérez,” Jacques Audiard’s latest film, which has earned an impressive 13 nominations, including Best Picture. This makes it a perfect time to look back at every French film that has ever been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
While French cinema has been celebrated worldwide, only a handful of films have managed to break into the Oscars’ most prestigious category – Best Picture. Some were full French productions, while others were international co-productions that still carried strong French creative influence.
Grand Illusion (1937) – The First Foreign-Language Best Picture Nominee
Directed by Jean Renoir, “La Grande Illusion” (“Grand Illusion”) made history as the first foreign-language film to ever be nominated for Best Picture. A powerful anti-war film set during World War I, it explored themes of class divisions and the futility of war. While it did not win, its nomination was a groundbreaking moment for international cinema. The film was entirely a French production and remains one of the most acclaimed films in the country’s history.
Z (1969) – A Political Thriller with an International Impact
Costa-Gavras’ “Z” is a politically charged thriller that became one of the few foreign-language films to earn a Best Picture nomination. A co-production between France and Algeria, “Z” was a scathing critique of political corruption, inspired by real events in Greece. Despite its limited budget, the film was a massive success and won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The fact that it was also recognized in the Best Picture category demonstrated its universal impact.
The Artist (2011) – The First (and Only) French-Language Best Picture Winner
“The Artist,” directed by Michel Hazanavicius, is a unique case. A silent, black-and-white film that paid homage to Hollywood’s golden age, it was a co-production between France, Belgium but and the US set in Los Angeles. While it had a French director, lead actors (Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo), and producers, it was not shot in France. Nonetheless, it was widely seen as a French victory when it became the first and only French coproduction to win the Best Picture Oscar in 2012.
Emilia Pérez (2024) – France’s Best Chance in Years?
Fast forward to 2024, and “Emilia Pérez” has taken the awards season by storm with 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Directed by Jacques Audiard (“A Prophet,” “Dheepan”), the film produced by Netflix is a musical crime drama featuring Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Karla Sofía Gascón.
Can “Emilia Pérez” Win Best Picture?
With so many nominations, the chances of “Emilia Pérez” winning multiple awards are high, but Best Picture remains a tough challenge. The Academy has historically been reluctant to award the top prize to non-English films, with “Parasite” (2019) being a rare exception. While “Emilia Pérez” has generated strong buzz, it faces stiff competition from major Hollywood productions.
Recent Controversy Surrounding “Emilia Pérez”
The film’s success has not been without controversy. Some critics and audiences have debated the representation of transgender characters in the story. While many see this as a groundbreaking step for representation, others argue about the industry’s broader treatment of trans narratives.
But one of the main points of contention revolves around past tweets from one of its lead actresses, Karla Sofía Gascón. Some of her older social media posts about Chinese immigrants, Black Lives Matter and Islam resurfaced, sparking debate and criticism from various groups. While some argue that the backlash is overblown, others believe it could affect the film’s chances at the Oscars.
Additionally, the film has faced criticism regarding its portrayal of Mexico and the Latin American experience. Some viewers, particularly those from Mexico, have argued that “Emilia Pérez” presents an oversimplified or even stereotypical depiction of the country’s social and political landscape. This has led to discussions about how European filmmakers interpret and represent Latin American cultures in global cinema. Despite these controversies, the film remains a strong contender in multiple categories and continues to draw significant attention from both critics and audiences.
When are the 2025 Oscars happening?
The 97th Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. Pacific Time) and will be broadcast live on ABC. For the first time, the event will also be streamed live on Hulu. Conan O’Brien is set to host the ceremony.
Leading the nominations this year is “Emilia Pérez” with 13 nods, followed by “The Brutalist” and “Wicked,” each receiving 10 nominations.
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