The French Critics Union has awarded Abdellatif Kechiche's La Graine Et Le Mulet with its top prize for best French film. The film took several prizes in Venice last year and was also honored with the prestigious Louis Delluc Prize in France in late 2007. It is nominated for three Cesar Awards including Best Film and Best Director.

The prize for best foreign film went to Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's Oscar-winning The Lives Of Others while the trophy for best first French film went to the Oscar-nominated Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud.

Best short film honours went to Taxi Wala by Lola Frederich.

Created in 2005, the prize for best DVD went to Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth from Wild Side Editions.

The awards were handed out Monday evening in Paris.