'Anatomy of a Fall' big winner at France's César film awards

The legal drama "Anatomy of a Fall" triumphed at the French César film awards in Paris on Friday evening - German actress Sandra Hueller won the award for best actress, reported dpa.

The film, by French director Justine Triet, took home a total of six prizes, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Sandra Hueller was rewarded for her performance as a German writer who is suspected of murdering her husband. Hueller said that she felt very honoured to win the prize, especially as a foreigner. The 45-year-old is considered a favourite for an Oscar when the prizes are awarded on March 10.

The honorary César was awarded to the British-American director Christopher Nolan. This was an "incredible honour" for him, he said, adding that has always been impressed by France's love of cinema.

French actress and filmmaker Agnès Jaoui, who has won the most César awards to date with six trophies, received another honorary César.

The presentation of the French film awards took place against the backdrop of new sexual abuse scandals. At the beginning of February, actress Judith Godrèche (who starred in "The 15 Year old Girl") filed a lawsuit against directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon for sexual abuse of minors. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1986 and 1992.

The 51-year-old took the floor at the César Gala. In a moving speech, she warned against the excesses of cinema, an art that she said sometimes covers up the "illegal" trafficking of young girls. Earlier this year France was rocked by misogynistic comments and recent claims of sexual assault levelled against Gérard Depardieu.

Césars, named after the sculptor César Baldaccini, are the French version of the Oscar film awards, and were founded in 1976.