Just days before the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces its awards for the best movies of the year, France's César Awards were presented in Paris.

Xavier Beauvois's Of God's and Men (Des homes et des adieux) won the best picture prize from the French Académie des Arts et Techniques de Cinéma. The film's Michael Lonsdale also won a César award, named best supporting actor for his role in the film, which screened at the 2010 New York FIlm Festival after debuting in Cannes.

Roman Polanski won the best director prize for “The Ghost Writer” and the film also won the prize for best adapted screenplay.

In the best foreign film category, the prize went to an American film that will be vying for Oscars on Sunday in Hollywood. The winner was David Fincher's The Social Network.

More winners:

Best Film
Of Gods and Men (Des hommes et des dieux), directed by Xavier Beauvois

Best Director
Roman Polanski for The Ghost Writer

Best Actress
Sara Forestier in The Names of Love (Le nom des gens)

Best Supporting Actress
Anne Alvaro in The Clink of Ice (Le bruit des glaçons)

Best Female Newcomer
Leïla Bekhti in Tout ce qui brille

Best Actor
Eric Elmosnino in Gainsbourg (vie héroïque)

Best Supporting Actor
Michael Lonsdale in Of Gods and Men (Des hommes et des dieux),

Best Male Newcomer
Edgar Ramírez in Carlos

Best Original Screenplay
Baya Kasmi and Michel Leclerc, The Names of Love (Le nom des gens)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Robert Harris and Roman Polanski, The Ghost Writer

Best Foreign Film
The Social Network, directed by David Fincher

Best Documentary
Oceans, directed by Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud