Lumière Awards 2026: Complete list of nominees explored 

The nominations for the 31st Lumière Awards have been officially announced amid the French awards season. The Lumière Awards are often described as France's edition of the Golden Globes. The Lumière Awards are voted on by international journalists mainly based in Paris and across the world.

This year's nominations list features celebrated auteurs, international figures working in French, and other rising artists. The Lumière Awards 2026 nominations are being led by François Ozon's The Stranger, which is an adaptation of Albert Camus's 1942 novella. The black and white film premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival. It tops the list with six mentions.

François Ozon recently stated:

"As for working in the American system, I think it is difficult, especially for the French. There are some female directors right now who have done very well. But Coralie Fargeat shot The Substance in France, remember, and I think with English money, no? When you are used to working in the French system with final cut, the American way can be hard. I came close to working in Hollywood but there was not a lot of imagination in what I was being offered: after Swimming Pool, I was sent many scripts of erotic thrillers."

The Stranger is followed by Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague. It is a tribute to the French New Wave. The film has five nominations. Dominik Moll's thriller Case 137 and Stéphane Demoustier's historical drama The Great Arch follow with four nominations each.

The upcoming 2026 Lumière Awards ceremony will take place on January 18, 2026, at the Arab World Institute in Paris. As in previous years, the awards are voted on by members of the international press from 36 countries.

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Complete list of nominees at the 2026 Lumière Awards

Best film at the 2026 Lumière Awards

Case 137, Dominik Moll

The Stranger, François Ozon

The Great Arch, Stéphane Demoustier

Mektoub My Love: Canto Due, Abdellatif Kechiche

Nouvelle Vague, Richard Linklater

Best direction

Stéphane Demoustier: The Great Arch

Abdellatif Kechiche: Mektoub My Love: Canto Due

Richard Linklater: Nouvelle Vague

Dominik Moll: Case 137

François Ozon: The Stranger

Best screenplay

Stéphane Demoustier: The Great Arch

Holly Gent, Vince Palmo, Michèle Halberstadt: Nouvelle Vague

Pauline Loquès: Nino

Dominik Moll, Gilles Marchand: Case 137

François Ozon: The Stranger

Best documentary

Whispers in the Woods: Vincent Munier

Tell Her That I Love Her: Romane Bohringer

Lumière!, The Adventure Continues: Thierry Frémaux

Sarkozy – Gaddafi: the Scandal of Scandals: Yannick Kergoat

Put Your Soul On Your Hand and Walk: Sepideh Farsi

Best animation

Amélie Or The Character of Rain: Liane Cho Han and Maïlys Vallade

Arco: Ugo Bienvenu

My Life In Versailles: Nathaniel H’Limi and Clémence Madeleine Perdrillat

A Magnificent Life: Sylvain Chomet

A Boat In The Garden: Jean François Laguionie

Best actress

Léa Drucker: Case 137

Jodie Foster: A Private Life

Isabelle Huppert: The Richest Woman In The World

Vicky Krieps: Love Me Tender

Mélanie Thierry: Mariana’s Room

Best actor

Swann Arlaud: La Condition

Claes Bang: The Great Arch

Laurent Lafitte: The Richest Woman In The World

Alexis Manenti: The Mohican

Benjamin Voisin: The Stranger

Female revelation

Manon Clavel: Kika

Bella Kim: Winter in Sokcho

Nadia Melliti: The Little Sister

Jessica Pennington: Mektoub My Love: Canto Due

Anja Verderosa: Trial by Fire

Male revelation

Idir Azougli: Meteors

Younès Boucif: La Petite Cuisine De Mehdi

Guillaume Marbeck: Nouvelle Vague

Théodore Pellerin: Nino

Eloy Pohu: Enzo

Best first film

The Girl in the Snow: Louise Hémon

Little Jaffna: Lawrence Valin

Nino: Pauline Loquès

Block Pass: Antoine Chevrollier

That Summer in Paris: Valentine Cadic

Best international coproduction

The Secret Agent: Kleber Mendonça Filho

Afternoons of Solitude: Albert Serra

It Was Just An Accident: Jafar Panahi

Sentimental Value: Joachim Trier

The Voice of Hind Rajab: Kaouther Ben Hania

Cinematography

Marine Atlan: The Girl in the Snow

David Chambille: Nouvelle Vague

Manu Dacosse: The Stranger

Pascal Lagriffoul: La Condition

Vincent Munier, Antoine Lavorel, Laurent Joffrion: Whispers in the Woods

Best music

Fatima Al Qadiri: The Stranger

Amine Bouhafa: The Little Sister

Warren Ellis, Dom La Nena, Rosemary Standley: Whispers in the Woods

ROB: Vie Privée

Arnaud Toulon: Arco

For further updates, fans can keep an eye on the official Lumière Awards pages.

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