The Césars, France’s answer to the Oscars, is still reeling from the controversy ignited by the decision to invite Roman Polanski to act as president of the awards ceremony; now the nominations have been announced, two days after Polanski stepped down from the role.

Leading the field with 11 nods each are Elle, the rape-revenge drama starring Isabelle Huppert, and Frantz, a period romance directed by François Ozon. Behind them on nine nominations is Slack Bay (AKA Ma Loute), a surreal comedy from Bruno Dumont.

Elle, which sees nominations for Huppert and its Dutch director, Paul Verhoeven, has made considerable headway on the international festival and awards circuit, winning the best actress (drama) and best foreign film Golden Globes, as well as an Oscar nomination for best actress (though it failed to make the shortlist for best foreign film). Frantz, which chronicles the relationship between a German first world war widow and a mysterious Frenchman, has had a much quieter run, premiering at Venice (where Paula Beer won an acting award) and yet to be released in the US or UK.

Divines, from first-time director Houda Benyamina, has put up an impressive showing, scoring seven nominations including two for acting, as well as best director for Benyamina. Acclaimed for its portrayal of alienated suburban youth, Divines won the Camera d’Or at Cannes and was picked up by Netflix.

Six titles have made it into the best foreign language list, with Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winner I, Daniel Blake arguably the favourite over Oscar-nominated Toni Erdmann and Kenneth Lonergan’s grief drama Manchester by the Sea.

The winners will be revealed on 24 February in Paris. Alain Terzian, president of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, which administers the Césars, expressed his dismay over the Polanski controversy, saying the director was “one of the world’s most critically acclaimed film-makers, and that’s the only thing which we should look at: a consideration of artists and their accomplishments”. With Polanski wanted in the US over a 1977 statutory rape charge, his participation in the Césars had been opposed by a number of women’s groups, including Osez le Féminisme (Dare Feminism), which had described the invitation as “shameful”.

Full list of nominations

Best film

Divines

Elle

Frantz

The Innocents

Slack Bay

From the Land of the Moon

Victoria

Best director

Houda Benyamina (Divines)

Paul Verhoeven (Elle)

François Ozon (Frantz)

Anne Fontaine (The Innocents)

Xavier Dolan (It’s Only the End of the World)

Bruno Dumont (Slack Bay)

Nicole Garcia (From the Land of the Moon)

Best actress

Judith Chemla (A Woman’s Life)

Marion Cotillard (From the Land of the Moon)

Virginie Efira (Victoria)

Marina Fois (Faultless)

Isabelle Huppert (Elle)

Sidse Babett Knudsen (150 Milligrams)

Best actor

François Cluzet (Irreplaceable)

Pierre Deladonchamps (The Son of John)

Nicolas Duvauchelle (A Decent Man)

Fabrice Luchini (Slack Bay)

Omar Sy (Chocolat)

Gaspard Ulliel (It’s Only the End of the World)

Best supporting actress

Nathalie Baye (It’s Only the End of the World)

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (Slack Bay)

Anne Consigny (Elle)

Déborah Lukumuena (Divines)

Mélanie Thierry (The Dancer)

Best supporting actor

Gabriel Arcand (The Son of John)

Vincent Cassel (It’s Only the End of the World)

Vincent Lacoste (Victoria)

Laurent Lafitte (Elle)

Melvil Poupaud (Victoria)

James Thiérrée (Chocolat)

Best new actress

Oulaya Amamra (Divines)

Paula Beer (Frantz)

Lily-Rose Depp (The Dancer)

Noémie Merlant (Heaven Will Wait)

Raph (Slack Bay)

Best new actor

Jonas Bloquet (Elle)

Damien Bonnard (Staying Vertical)

Corentin Fila (Being 17)

Kacey Mottet Klein (Being 17)

Niels Schneider (Dark Inclusion)

Best foreign film

Aquarius

Graduation

The Unknown Girl

Manchester By the Sea

I, Daniel Blake

Toni Erdmann

Best original screenplay

Divines

The Acquatic Effect

The Innocents

Slack Bay

Victoria

Best adapted screenplay

Elle

150 Milligrams

Frantz

My Life As a Courgette

From the Land of the Moon

Heal the Living

Best documentary

Dernières Nouvelles du Cosmos

Fire at Sea

Thanks Boss!

Swagger

Journey Through French Cinema

Best first film

The Fabulous Patars

The Dancer

Dark Inclusion

Divines

Rosalie Blum

Best original score

Chocolat

In the Forests of Siberia

Elle

Frantz

My Life As a Courgette

Best sound

Chocolat

Elle

Frantz

From the Land of the Moon

The Odyssey

Best editing

Divines

Elle

Frantz

It’s Only the End of the World

From the Land of the Moon

Best cinematography

Elle

Frantz

The Innocents

Slack Bay

From the Land of the Moon

Best costumes

The Dancer

Frantz

From the Land of the Moon

Slack Bay

A Woman’s Life

Best animated film

The Girl Without Hands

My Life As a Courgette

The Red Turtle

Best animated short

Cafe Froid

Celui Qui a Deux Ames

Journal Animé

Peripheria

Best short

After Suzanne

Au Bruit des Clochettes

Chasse Royale

Mamans

Vers la Tendresse

