The 47th Césars ceremony takes place this Friday, February 25, 2022. Change of scenery for this edition, after the Salle Pleyel, it is on the stage of the Olympia that the statuettes will be presented. What does not change, however, is the presence of Périgord Arnaud Vialle among the voters. For twenty years, the operator of the Le Rex cinema in Sarlat has been part of the Académie des Césars.
To vote, he can watch all the films eligible for the awards. “Towards the end of November, we receive 150 to 200 films that have been released during the year. In December, we have to make a first list”, explains Arnaud. The choices of this first round determine the name of the nominees. Arnaud and all the voters of the academy then elect, during a second round, the winners of each statuette.
So, these 150 to 200 films of the year 2021, has he seen them all? “No, I’m not going to lie, admits Arnaud Vialle. I had not seen Onoda, 10,000 nights in the jungle, The intranquilles, or Night doctor. After the announcement of the list of nominees, I did some catching up to be able to judge the nominated films in all biases.”
– DAVID NIVIERE
A ceremony too Parisian?
“It’s in between, it’s very Parisian, there are a lot of press officers, producers, casting directors. Besides, the ceremony is less and less watched, the big public does not recognize itself too much”, considers the Périgord. Although he is a member of the Academy of Caesars, Arnaud Vialle has never been invited to the ceremony in Paris. Anyway: “I know people in my profession who have been there, it’s very strict, you can’t take your phone out, and it lasts a long time, it’s too long!”.
A particularly difficult choice this year?
After two years impacted by the Covid and periods of closure, 2021 was a very good year with many films whose release had been postponed. “In the category of the best films, there are very great films, it was difficult to make a choice”.
Arnaud’s choice
For best actress, Arnaud Vialle voted for Virginie Efira for her role in the film Benedetta. “She is an actress who has risen in film after film, she has an incredible range of acting. Last year she had already been nominated for Adieu les cons, but she had not received it. I think that she deserves a reward, she gives herself body and soul in her roles”, explains the Périgord.
More difficult to choose in men. “All deserve it, all the actors are great in all the films. I voted for Damien Bonnard. He is remarkable and I wanted the film Les Intranquilles to have at least one award.