Two black actors received the Best Newcomer awards on Friday at France's most prestigious film awards, the Cesar Awards – the country's equivalent to the Oscars. 

The ceremony took place at the historic venue of the Olympia in Paris, following social distancing measures and with only nominees in attendance.

Jean-Pascal Zadi, 40, was given the Best Male Newcomer trophy after his role as lead actor in the comedy Tout Simplement Noir ("Simply Black"), which he also wrote and co-directed. 

READ MORE 

Doctor recalls Italy's first COVID-19 case

China's Two Sessions at a glance

How did 'nudge theory' do during COVID-19?

Fathia Youssouf, 14, won the Best Female Newcomer award for her astounding role in Mignonnes ("Cuties"), in which she plays a young girl from a Senegalese background growing up in Paris amid a complicated family situation and the desire to grow up quickly to escape it. 

The film stirred up controversy after it aired on Netflix last year, as some critics interpreted the highly sexualized dancing featuring in the film as promoting children as sexual objects.

The eligibility rules for the newcomer category were changed this year to include actors under 18.

This year represented something of a chance for redemption for the iconic film ceremony. Last year's awards were hit by criticisms after the best director win for Roman Polanski – accused of multiple sexual assaults and the rape of a 13-year-old girl – which led to the resignation of long-term César Academy president Alain Terzian and the entire board of governors.

But many denounced the fact that despite the change in leadership and the triumph of black actors at the awards, black creatives are still underrepresented behind the scenes. There are zero black members among the board and general assembly of the César Academy.

Activism and protest

This year's ceremony was also the focus of protest over the months-long shutdown of cinemas and cultural sites in France, which has hit the industry hard. The country has seen mounting protests in recent days, with several theaters occupied by activists and students.

Actress Corinne Masiero voiced the frustration of hundreds of activists and industry workers by stripping naked on the stage of the Cesars with the words "No culture, no future" written across her front as she presented the costume award.

Despite the fact that many businesses, including retails, have reopened in France, cinemas are expected to remain closed until October.

"My children can go to Zara but not the cinema... it's incomprehensible," said Stephane Demoustier, who won best screenplay for The Girl With a Bracelet.

"The minister hasn't done nothing... Madame Bachelot, you released a book with your recipe for pasta and gorgonzola," joked the ceremony presenter Marina Fois, addressing Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot.  

"What we miss is what unites us, the emotions that we experience together."

Despite criticisms, Bachelot sent a message of hope to the industry before entering the Olympia on Friday. "We are in the process of building with the industry the conditions for the reopening of cinemas," she said.

"We're going to see films again, the public is going to be there, the artists are going to be there – really," she added.