Quebec's Monia Chokri wins Cesar for best foreign film, apologizes to Oppenheimer's Christopher Nolan
Quebec's Monia Chokri, director of Simple comme Sylvain, won a César Award for Best Foreign Film on Friday, beating Christoper Nolan's Oppenheimer.
Picking up her trophy on stage at the 48th César Awards ceremony for French cinema, Chokri said, "I'm so sorry Mr. Nolan."
"Thank you to the Academy, thank you to the members for voting for this little Quebec film made with so much love. Thank you to the French public who went to see the film, you're the reason we make films. Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival for putting the spotlight on the film," the Quebec filmmaker said in her acceptance speech.
The film had been selected for the prestigious Cannes festival in the "Un Certain Regard" section.
Thanking her Quebec producers, her actors -- Magalie Lépine-Blondeau and Pierre-Yves Cardinal, also in the audience for the ceremony -- she said, "I can say today that the life I have is greater than the one I dreamed of."
In addition to Nolan's Oppenheimer, the Quebec film was up against Marco Bellocchio's L'enlèvement, Aki Kaurismaki's Les feuilles mortes, and Wim Wenders' Perfect Days in the Best Foreign Film category.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 23, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.