Agnes Jaoui, a beloved French actor, screenwriter and filmmaker, will receive an honorary Cesar Award during its 49th edition, which will be held at Olympia Concert Hall on Feb. 23.
Jaoui formed a duo with the late Jean-Pierre Bacri for over three decades, collaborating on a number of films that were both critical and commercial hits. This included “The Taste of Others,” which won two Cesar Awards and was nominated for a best foreign-language Oscar in 2001, as well as the Cannes competition entry “Look at Me” in 2004. She’s also had a successful solo career, starring in the popular series “En therapie” and films including “La vie de ma mere,” which won a prize at Angouleme Festival, and Noé Debré’s “A Nice Jewish Boy,” which has just been acquired for U.S. distribution.
Jaoui and Bacri’s track record also included Cesar awards for the screenplays of Alain Resnais’ “Smoking/No Smoking” and “Un Air de Famille” directed by Cédric Klapisch. Jaoui won a Cesar for best supporting actress in 1998 for her role in Resnais’ “On connait la chanson.”
Celebrated for her sharp spirit and humor, Jaoui remains the female artist who has won the most Cesar prizes, with a total of six statuettes. A progressive filmmaker, Jaoui has also been politically and socially engaged throughout her career. She was personally affected by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, where two members of her family were killed and five others were kidnapped.
Recent Honorary Cesar Recipients include David Fincher, Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford. The 49th ceremony of the Cesar Awards will be broadcast on Canal+. Nominations will be unveiled on Jan. 23.
