Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard among Cesar Awards nominees

PanARMENIAN.Net - France's Cesar Awards has announced nominees who are up for competitions this year. Following the Wednesday, January 28 announcement by the Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences, it is revealed that Kristen Stewart is up for Best Supporting Actress trophy following her appearance in Olivier Assayas-directed "Clouds of Sils Maria", AceShowbiz reports.

Stewart is the first American actress who lands a nomination at the awards show in thirty years. The last U.S. actress who nabbed a nomination is Julia Migenes for the 1984 film "Carmen". Adrien Brody, meanwhile, is the last American actor who received a nomination, and eventually won, Best Actor Trophy for his role as a Jewish pianist in 2002's WWII flick "The Pianist".

Another "Sils Maria" star, Juliette Binoche, is vying for Best Actress gong. She is facing competitions from Marion Cotillard ("Two Days, One Night") and Catherine Deneuve ("Dans La Cour") as well as other actresses.

The biggest nominee at the awards event is "Saint Laurent". The Bertrand Bonello-directed drama about the famed designer, which stars Gaspard Ulliel and Jeremie Renier among others, is nominated in 10 categories including Best Film and Best Director. "Les Combattants", meanwhile, is trailing behind with nine nominations and Oscar-nominated "Timbuktu" with eight.

Winners at the Cesar Awards will be announced in a ceremony which is taking place on February 20 at Chatelet Theatre in Paris. Sean Penn will receive an honorary Cesar and there will be a tribute to director Alain Renais.