François Ozon’s The Stranger and Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague Win Big at France’s Lumière Awards – Complete Winners List
François Ozon’s black-and-white adaptation of Albert Camus’s The Stranger clinched the Best Film award at France’s 31st Lumière Awards held in Paris on Sunday evening. This film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last September, was considered a strong contender, receiving nominations in six categories. Benjamin Voisin was awarded Best Actor for his portrayal of Meursault, the novel’s nihilistic protagonist.
Manuel Dacosse, previously recognized for his cinematography in Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s Evolution, secured the Best Cinematography award for The Stranger. Though filmed in color, the final product was presented in black and white.
The Lumière Awards, often regarded as France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes, focus on French-language cinema and are determined by voting members of the international press, representing 36 countries.
Richard Linklater was celebrated as Best Director for Nouvelle Vague, while Guillaume Marbeck received the Best Male Revelation award for his portrayal of Jean-Luc Godard in the tribute to the French New Wave.
Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent, a coproduction among Brazil’s CinemaScópio, France’s mk2 Productions, Germany’s One Two Films, and the Netherlands’ Lemming Film, won Best International Coproduction. This accolade continues a successful streak for the film, which recently garnered Best Non-English Language Film and Best Actor for Wagner Moura at the Golden Globes.
Ugo Bienvenu’s Arco, a notable entry in this awards season, won Best Animated Feature. This recognition follows its success at the European Film Awards in Berlin, where it was honored as Best European Animated Feature Film.
The Lumière Awards ceremony took place amid Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous in Paris, attracting approximately 120 journalists from 40 different territories.
Full List of 2026 Lumière Winners
Best Film
The Stranger, François Ozon
Best Director
Richard Linklater for Nouvelle Vague
Best Screenplay
Stéphane Demoustier for The Great Arch
Best Documentary
Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk, Sepideh Farsi
Best Animation
Arco, Ugo Bienvenu
Best Actress
Léa Drucker for Case 137
Best Actor
Benjamin Voisin for The Stranger
Female Revelation
Nadia Melliti for The Little Sister
Male Revelation
Guillaume Marbeck for Nouvelle Vague
Best First Film
Nino, Pauline Loquès
Best International Coproduction
The Secret Agent, Kleber Mendonça Filho
Cinematography
Manuel Dacosse for The Stranger
Best Music
Warren Ellis, Dom La Nena, and Rosemary Standley for Whispers in the Woods
