AWARDS

‘The Artist’ Takes Top French Prize

At the César Awards.

Tonight in Paris, Oscar-favorite The Artist won six Césars (from 10 nominations), including Best Film, Best Director for Michel Hazanavicius, and Best Actress for Bérénice Bejo. Surprisingly, Golden Globe winner Jean Dujardin—a favorite for the Best Actor prize at Sunday night's Oscars and winner of the top actor prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival for his role as silent film star George Valentin—did not take the Best Actor award at the Paris ceremony. The French academy instead gave the trophy to Omar Sy, the first black actor to win the prize, for his role in the smash-hit buddy comedy Intouchables. Sy's prize was the only win of the night (from nine nominations) for Intouchables, the third best-attended film at French theaters since World War II.