The Cesar Awards 2020 caused controversy as Roman Polanski wins Best Director prompting mass walkouts of the ceremony.

Polanski, who has been a convicted sex offender since 1978, has lived in exile in France since fleeing the United States. His recent film, An Officer and a Spy, earned him the top individual award at he Parisian film awards and sparked another heated debate around his inclusion.

Despite his victory, Polanksi was not in attendance at the ceremony after stating beforehand that he feared a “lynching” should he attend. “Activists are threatening me with a public lynching. Some have called for demonstrations, others are planning to make it a platform,” he told Agence France Presse earlier this week. “This promises to look more like a symposium than a celebration of cinema designed to reward its greatest talents.”

Women’s activist groups were staged outside the venue in protest of Polanski’s inclusion among the nominees and, when his name was announced as the winner, French actress Adèle Haenel led the walkouts in disgust.

Adèle Haenel walks out of the 2020 César Awards in Paris after Roman Polanksi wins Best Director. pic.twitter.com/JgT0ql7jKd — Far Out Magazine (@FarOutMag) February 29, 2020

Adèle Haenel after Polanski's victory: “Bravo la pédophilie” pic.twitter.com/l2BKY5y6dk — Far Out Magazine (@FarOutMag) February 29, 2020

For the first time since its creation 45 years ago, the awards ceremony did not celebrate a Cesar honoree. According to some sources, Brad Pitt was reportedly approached to receive the career tribute but declined.

Elsewehre in the awards evening, Les Misérables won best picture, Anais Demoustier claimed best actress, Roschdy Zem and more.

See the full list, below.

The Cesar Awards 2020 full winners

BEST FILM

Les Misérables, dir: Ladj Ly

BEST DIRECTOR

Roman Polanski – An Officer And A Spy

BEST ACTRESS

Anais Demoustier – Alice Et Le Maire

BEST ACTOR

Roschdy Zem – Roubaix, Une Lumière

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Swann Arlaud – Grace A Dieu

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Fanny Ardant – La Belle Epoque

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Dan Levy – I Lost My Body

BEST FOREIGN FILM

Parasite, dir: Bong Joon Ho

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Claire Mathon – Portrait De La Jeune Fille En Feu

BEST EDITING

Flora Volpelière – Les Misérables

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Nicolas Bedos – La Belle Epoque

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Roman Polanski, Robert Harris – An Officer And A Spy

BEST SOUND

Nicolas Cantin, Thomas Desjonquières, Raphael Moutarde, Olivier Goinard, Randy Thom – Le Chant De Loup

AUDIENCE PRIZE

Les Misérables, dir: Ladj Ly

BEST SHORT FILM

Pile Poil, dir: Lauriane Escaffre, Yvonnick Muller

BEST DOCUMENTARY

M, dir: Yolande Zauberman

BEST FIRST FILM

Papicha, dir: Mounia Meddour

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

I Lost My Body, dir: Jérémy Clapin

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

La Nuit Des Sacs Plastiques, dir: Gabriel Harel

BEST FEMALE NEWCOMER

Lyna Khoudri – Papicha

BEST COSTUMES

Pascaline Chavanne – An Officer And A Spy

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Stéphane Rozenbaum – La Belle Epoque

BEST MALE NEWCOMER

Alexis Manenti – Les Misérables