André Cavens Award

{{Infobox award

| name = André Cavens Award

| awarded_for = Excellence in cinematic achievement

| presenter = Belgian Film Critics Association

| year = 1976

| holder = Night Call and Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat (2024)

| website =

}}

The André Cavens Award ({{langx|fr|Prix André-Cavens}}) is an accolade presented annually by the Belgian Film Critics Association (UCC), an organization of film critics from publications based in Brussels. The André Cavens Award was introduced in 1976 by the organizing committee to honor cinematic achievement in Belgium.{{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/breve-cinema-le-fils-des-dardenne-prix-cavens-en-attend_t-20021221-Z0MMDW.html|title="Le fils" des Dardenne prix Cavens|journal=Le Soir|date=December 21, 2002|page=34|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}} The name of the award comes from film director André Cavens.

The most awarded filmmakers are Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne with five awards, followed by Jaco Van Dormael, Joachim Lafosse, and Fien Troch with three. Other multiple winners are Jean-Jacques Andrien, André Delvaux, and Lukas Dhont with two awards each. As of 2024, Night Call and Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat are the most recent winners ex aequo.

Winners

=1970s=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" width="50"| Year

! scope="col" width="300"| English title

! scope="col" width="300"| Original title

! scope="col" width="300"| Director(s)

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align="center"| 1976

| The Son of Amir Is Dead

| Le Fils d'Amr est mort

| Jean-Jacques Andrien

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://www.lesfilmsdeladreve.be/spip.php?page=biographie&id_rubrique=44&titre_mot=Jean-Jacques%20Andrien&lang=fr|title=Jean Jacques Andrien|publisher=Les Films de la Drève|accessdate=October 30, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1977

| In the Name of the Führer

| In naam van de Fuehrer

| Lydia Chagoll

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/un-colloque-international-a-bruxelles-histoire-et-memoi_t-19921116-Z061VR.html|title=Un colloque international à Bruxelles|journal=Le Soir|first=Michel|last=Bailly|date=November 16, 1992|page=10|accessdate=October 30, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1978

| colspan="2"| Les Rendez-vous d'Anna

| Chantal Akerman

| align="center"| {{cite journal|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/grif_0770-6081_1978_num_23_1_2148|title=Les rendez-vous d'Anna|journal=Les Cahiers du GRIF|date=1978|page=146|doi=10.3406/grif.1978.2148|accessdate=January 5, 2021|language=French|last1=Akerman|first1=Chantal|volume=23}}

align="center"| 1979

| Woman Between Wolf and Dog

| Een vrouw tussen hond en wolf

| André Delvaux

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://eprints.ucm.es/8147/1/T30498.pdf|title=El realismo mágico en la obra cinematográfica de André Delvaux|page=252|type=PDF|year=2008|publisher=UCM.es|accessdate=October 30, 2012|language=es|archive-date=March 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323205747/http://eprints.ucm.es/8147/1/T30498.pdf|url-status=dead}}

=1980s=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" width="50"| Year

! scope="col" width="300"| English title

! scope="col" width="300"| Original title

! scope="col" width="300"| Director(s)

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align="center"| 1980

| My Name Is Anna Magnani

| Io sono Anna Magnani

| Chris Vermorcken

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://www.cinergie.be/webzine/chris_vermorcken |title=Chris Vermorcken |date=August 1, 1999 |publisher=Cinergie.be |access-date=October 30, 2012 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225071755/http://www.cinergie.be/webzine/chris_vermorcken |archive-date=December 25, 2013 }}

align="center"| 1981

| colspan="2"| Le Grand Paysage d'Alexis Droeven

| Jean-Jacques Andrien

| align="center"|

align="center"| 1982

| colspan="2"| Le Lit

| Marion Hänsel

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/marion-hansel-met-en-scene-titre-la-detresse-et-l-encha_t-20070321-00A160.html|title=Marion Hänsel met en scène la détresse et l'enchantement|journal=Le Soir|first=Fabienne|last=Bradfer|date=March 21, 2007|page=2|accessdate=October 30, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1983

| colspan="2"| Brussels by Night

| Marc Didden

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://www.cinergie.be/film/brussels_by_night|title=Brussels by night (Marc Didden)|publisher=Cinergie.be|accessdate=October 30, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1985

| colspan="2"| Permeke

| Patrick Conrad and Henri Storck

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://schrijversgewijs.be/schrijvers/conrad-patrick/|title=Conrad, Patrick|publisher=Schrijversgewijs.be|accessdate=October 30, 2012|language=nl}}

align="center"| 1986

| The van Paemel Family

| Het gezin van Paemel

| Paul Cammermans

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://www.bibliotheek.nl/pagina/9571.cyriel-buysse-erfenis.html|title=Het gezin Van Paemel|publisher=Bibliotheek.nl|accessdate=October 30, 2012|language=nl|archive-date=December 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225092816/http://www.bibliotheek.nl/pagina/9571.cyriel-buysse-erfenis.html|url-status=dead}}

align="center"| 1987

| Wedding in Galilee

| Urs al-Jalil

| Michel Khleifi

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/noce-en-galilee-de-michel-khleifi-un-enjeu-de-multiples_t-19901002-Z0350J.html|title="Noce en Galilée", de Michel Khleifi, un enjeu de multiples défis et si on s'arrêtait... |journal=Le Soir|first=Fabienne|last=Bradfer|date=October 2, 1990|page=18|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1988

| The Abyss

| L'Œuvre au noir

| André Delvaux

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/babette-invitee_t-19881219-Z016YM.html|title=Babette invitée au festin de l'U.C.C.|journal=Le Soir|first=Fernand|last=Denis|date=December 19, 1988|page=23|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1989

| colspan="2"| Wait Until Spring, Bandini

| Dominique Deruddere

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://www.debloedbruiloft.be/ndl/crew.htm |title=Dominique Deruddere |publisher=Bloedbruiloft |access-date=December 13, 2013 |language=nl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401204636/http://www.debloedbruiloft.be/ndl/crew.htm |archive-date=April 1, 2007 }}

=1990s=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" width="50"| Year

! scope="col" width="300"| English title

! scope="col" width="300"| Original title

! scope="col" width="300"| Director(s)

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align="center"| 1990

| colspan="2"| Monsieur

| Jean-Philippe Toussaint

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/m/les-primes-de-l-union-de-la-critique-monsieur-s-offre-u_t-19901221-Z03F5H.html|title="Monsieur" s'offre un Cavens 1990|journal=Le Soir|first=Luc|last=Honorez|date=December 21, 1990|page=11|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1991

| Toto the Hero

| Toto le Héros

| Jaco Van Dormael

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/toto-le-heros_t-19920905-Z05RY5.html|title=Toto le Héros|journal=Le Soir|date=September 5, 1992|page=12|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1992

| Man Bites Dog

| C'est arrivé près de chez vous

| Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel and Benoît Poelvoorde

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/des-prix_t-19921215-Z065H7.html|title=Le Cavens à "C'est arrivé..."|journal=Le Soir|date=December 15, 1992|page=10|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1993

| colspan="2"| Just Friends

| Marc-Henri Wajnberg

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/pourquoi-pas_t-19931223-Z07MCC.html|title=Le Prix Cavens à "Just Friends"|journal=Le Soir|date=December 23, 1993|page=12|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1994

| The Sexual Life of the Belgians

| La Vie sexuelle des Belges 1950–1978

| Jan Bucquoy

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/-farinelli-_t-19941219-Z08WMQ.html|title=Jan Bucquoy, prix Cavens|journal=Le Soir|date=December 19, 1994|page=9|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1995

| colspan="2"| Manneken Pis

| Frank Van Passel

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/les-laureats_t-19951221-Z0AFRU.html|title=Les finalistes du prix UCC |journal=Le Soir|date=December 21, 1995|page=11|accessdate=October 27, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1996

| colspan="2"| La Promesse

| Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

| align="center"|

align="center"| 1997

| Gabriel's Dream

| Le rêve de Gabriel

| Anne Lévy-Morelle

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/cinema_t-19971220-Z0EMHH.html|title=Le prix Cavens à Anne Lévy-Morelle pour "Le Rêve de Gabriel"|journal=Le Soir|date=December 20, 1997|page=10|accessdate=October 29, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1998

| colspan="2"| Rosie

| Patrice Toye

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/breves-culture_t-19981226-Z0G640.html|title=Le prix Cavens à "Rosie"|journal=Le Soir|date=December 26, 1998|page=10|accessdate=October 26, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 1999

| colspan="2"| Rosetta

| Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

| align="center"|

=2000s=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" width="50"| Year

! scope="col" width="300"| English title

! scope="col" width="300"| Original title

! scope="col" width="300"| Director(s)

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align="center"| 2000

| colspan="2"| Lijmen/Het Been

| Robbe De Hert

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://ccrn.calendar.lu/ccrn_newsletter.asp?ccrn=44897&m=10&y=2009&typus=0&flex=1 |title=Lijmen / Het been |publisher=CCRN |access-date=December 13, 2013 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105085008/http://ccrn.calendar.lu/ccrn_newsletter.asp?ccrn=44897&m=10&y=2009&typus=0&flex=1 |archive-date=January 5, 2017 }}

align="center"| 2001

| No Man's Land

| Ničija zemlja

| Danis Tanović

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://lci.tf1.fr/cinema/news/no-man-s-land-des-recompenses-et-des-bonus-4974729.html|title=No Man's Land : Des Recompenses Et Des Bonus|publisher=TF1|date=August 21, 2008|access-date=October 29, 2012|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019025104/http://lci.tf1.fr/cinema/news/no-man-s-land-des-recompenses-et-des-bonus-4974729.html|archive-date=2012-10-19|url-status=dead}}

align="center"| 2002

| The Son

| Le Fils

| Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/divers/article/96010/l-annee-du-fils.html|title=L'année du "Fils"|journal=La Libre Belgique|date=December 21, 2002|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

rowspan="3" align="center"| 2003

| On the Run

| Cavale

| rowspan="3"| Lucas Belvaux

| rowspan="3" align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/divers/article/146657/en-forme-en-panne.html|title=En forme en panne|journal=La Libre Belgique|date=December 19, 2003|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

An Amazing Couple

| Un couple épatant

After Life

| Après la vie

align="center"| 2004

| Gilles' Wife

| La Femme de Gilles

| Frédéric Fonteyne

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/cinema-la-femme-de-gilles-prix-cavens-2004_t-20041223-Z0Q3WZ.html|title="La femme de Gilles", prix Cavens 2004|journal=Le Soir|date=December 23, 2004|page=27|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2005

| colspan="2"| L'Enfant

| Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/le-coreen-exposant-exposant-bin-jip-exposant-exposant-a_t-20060109-0045DT.html|title=Le prix André Cavens à "L'enfant"|journal=Le Soir|first=Vincent|last=Quittelier|date=January 9, 2006|page=38|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2006

| The Only One

| Vidange perdue

| Geoffrey Enthoven

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/divers/article/321913/les-finalistes-du-grand-prix-de-l-ucc-sont-connus.html|title=Les finalistes du Grand Prix de l'UCC sont connus|work=La Libre Belgique|date=December 21, 2006|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2007

| Private Property

| Nue propriété

| Joachim Lafosse

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/divers/article/390963/breves.html|title=Le Prix Cavens va à "Nue propriété"|work=La Libre Belgique|date=December 20, 2007|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2008

| colspan="2"| Eldorado

| Bouli Lanners

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/cinema/article/473851/le-grand-prix-de-l-ucc-a-hunger.html|title=Le grand prix de l'UCC à "Hunger"|work=La Libre Belgique|date=January 12, 2009|accessdate=October 26, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2009

| colspan="2"| Unspoken

| Fien Troch

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/cinema/article/550671/unspoken-meilleur-film-belge-selon-l-ucc.html|title="Unspoken", meilleur film belge selon l'UCC|work=La Libre Belgique|date=December 21, 2009|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

=2010s=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" width="50"| Year

! scope="col" width="300"| English title

! scope="col" width="300"| Original title

! scope="col" width="300"| Director(s)

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align="center"| 2010

| colspan="2"| Mr. Nobody

| Jaco Van Dormael

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/grand-prix-de-l-8217-ucc-2011-cinema-marche-de-l-8217-a_t-20101227-016G5X.html|title=Grand Prix de l'UCC 2011|journal=Le Soir|first=Philippe|last=Manche|date=December 27, 2010|page=31|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2011

| Bullhead

| Rundskop

| Michaël R. Roskam

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/divers/article/708599/breves.html|title="Rundskop", meilleur film belge 2011 pour l'UCC|work=La Libre Belgique|date=December 23, 2011|accessdate=October 28, 2012|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2012

| Our Children

| À perdre la raison

| Joachim Lafosse

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://www.lavenir.net/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20121219_00246640|title="À perdre la raison", le film inspiré de l'affaire Lhermitte, reçoit le Prix Cavens|work=L'Avenir|publisher=Corelio|date=December 19, 2012|accessdate=December 20, 2012|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219043855/http://www.lavenir.net/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20121219_00246640|archive-date=December 19, 2013|url-status=dead}}

align="center"| 2013

| colspan="2"| Kid

| Fien Troch

| align="center"| {{cite news|url=http://focus.levif.be/culture/cinema/le-prix-cavens-decerne-a-kid-de-fien-troch/article-normal-11918.html|title=Le prix Cavens décerné à Kid de Fien Troch|work=Le Vif|date=December 19, 2013|accessdate=December 24, 2013|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2014

| Two Days, One Night

| Deux jours, une nuit

| Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

| align="center"| {{cite web|first=Charles|last=De Clercq|url=http://www.cinecure.be/La-preselection-de-l-UCC-et-le|title=La présélection de l'UCC et le prix Cavens|work=Cinécure|date=December 19, 2014|accessdate=December 23, 2014|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2015

| The Brand New Testament

| Le Tout Nouveau Testament

| Jaco Van Dormael

| align="center"| {{cite web|first=Charles|last=De Clercq|url=http://www.cinecure.be/La-preselection-de-l-UCC-et-le-924|title=La présélection de l'UCC et le prix Cavens|work=Cinécure|date=December 18, 2015|accessdate=December 26, 2015|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2016

| After Love

| L'Économie du couple

| Joachim Lafosse

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=http://www.7sur7.be/7s7/fr/1528/Cinema/article/detail/3036652/2016/12/21/Le-film-L-economie-du-couple-recoit-le-Prix-Cavens-2016.dhtml|title=Le film "L'économie du couple" reçoit le Prix Cavens 2016|work=7sur7|publisher=De Persgroep|date=December 21, 2016|accessdate=December 23, 2016|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2017

| colspan="2"| Home

| Fien Troch

| align="center"| {{cite web|title=«Home» reçoit le Prix Cavens 2017|url=http://www.cinevox.be/fr/home-recoit-prix-cavens-2017/|website=Cinevox|accessdate=December 23, 2017|date=December 22, 2017|language=fr}}

align="center"| 2018

| colspan="2"| Girl

| Lukas Dhont

| align="center"| {{cite web |title=L'UCC décerne le prix Cavens à GIRL de Lukas Dhont et a annoncé les 5 finalistes pour le Grand Prix 2019 |url=https://www.cinopsis.be/potins/lucc-decerne-le-prix-cavens-a-girl-de-lukas-dhont-et-a-annonce-les-cinq-finalistes-pour-le-grand-prix-2019/ |website=Cinopsis |accessdate=25 December 2018 |language=fr |date=21 December 2018}}

align="center"| 2019

| Our Mothers

| Nuestras madres

| César Díaz

| align="center"| {{cite web |title=Le Prix Cavens 2019 attribué au film "Nuestras Madres" de César Diaz|url=https://www.rtbf.be/culture/cinema/belge/detail_le-prix-cavens-2019-attribue-au-film-nuestras-madres-de-cesar-diaz?id=10391815|publisher=RTBF|date=19 December 2019|accessdate=27 March 2020 |language=fr}}

=2020s=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col" width="50"| Year

! scope="col" width="300"| English title

! scope="col" width="300"| Original title

! scope="col" width="300"| Director(s)

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align="center"| 2020

| colspan="2"| Adoration

| Fabrice Du Welz

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=https://www.cinevox.be/fr/adoration-prix-andre-cavens-2020/|title='Adoration' Prix André Cavens 2020|work=Cinevox|date=December 28, 2020|accessdate=December 30, 2020|language=French}}

align="center"| 2021

| Playground

| Un monde

| Laura Wandel

| align="center"| {{cite web|first=Eric|last=Van Cutsem|url=https://www.cinopsis.be/potins/la-selection-2021-de-lucc/amp/|title=La sélection 2021 de l'UCC|work=Cinopsis|date=19 December 2021|accessdate=19 December 2021|language=French}}

align="center"| 2022

| colspan="2"| Close

| Lukas Dhont

| align="center"| {{cite web |title= 'Close' remporte le prix du meilleur film belge de l'année |url= https://www.lesoir.be/484333/article/2022-12-20/close-remporte-le-prix-du-meilleur-film-belge-de-lannee |website=Le Soir |accessdate=20 December 2022 |language=fr |date=21 December 2022}}

align="center"| 2023

| Love According to Dalva

| Dalva

| Emmanuelle Nicot

| align="center"| {{cite web |title='Dalva' wint de Andre Cavens-prijs|url=https://fastforwardfilm.be/?p=25854 |website=Fast Forward |access-date=19 March 2024 |language=Dutch}}

rowspan="2" align="center"| 2024

| Night Call

| La nuit se traîne

| Michiel Blanchart

| rowspan="2" align="center"| {{cite web |title=Le Prix Cavens attribué ex aequo à 'La nuit se traîne' et 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat'|url=https://www.dhnet.be/dernieres-depeches/2024/12/19/le-prix-cavens-attribue-ex-aequo-a-la-nuit-se-traine-et-soundtrack-to-a-coup-detat-Z54ZH3MFZBEMVP5WI5MXAVGANI/ |website=La Dernière Heure |date=19 December 2024 |access-date=19 December 2024 |language=fr}}

colspan="2"| Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat

| Johan Grimonprez

Multiple winners

Eight directors or co-directors have won the award multiple times. Three of them ({{double dagger|alt=Grand Prix nominee}}) have also received a nomination for the Grand Prix.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" | Number of wins

! scope="col" | Director(s)

! scope="col" | Films

5

| Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne {{double dagger|alt=Grand Prix nominee}}

| La Promesse (1996),
Rosetta (1999),
The Son (2002),
L'Enfant (2005),
Two Days, One Night (2014)

rowspan="3" | 3

| Jaco Van Dormael

| Toto the Hero (1991),
Mr. Nobody (2010),
The Brand New Testament (2015)

Joachim Lafosse

| Private Property (2007),
Our Children (2012),
After Love (2016)

Fien Troch

| Unspoken (2009),
Kid (2013),
Home (2017)

rowspan="3" | 2

| Jean-Jacques Andrien

| The Son of Amir Is Dead (1976),
Le Grand Paysage d'Alexis Droeven (1981)

André Delvaux

| Woman Between Wolf and Dog (1979),
The Abyss (1988)

Lukas Dhont {{double dagger|alt=Grand Prix nominee}}

| Girl (2018),
Close (2022)

References

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}