"The Artist" won big at the Cesar Awards on Friday, picking up six awards at the French equivalent of the Oscars.
The black and white silent film won best picture, best actress and best director at the annual ceremony.
However, star Jean Dujardin, considered a favorite for a best actor award at next Sunday's Oscars, lost the acting prize to Omar Sy for "Intouchables."
Though "The Artist" is better known stateside, "Intouchables," is a feel-good comedy that has shattered box office records in France. Sy plays a nurse who cares for a rich quadriplegic.
Also read: C'est Magnifique! 'Untouchable' Challenging Box Office Records in France
His co-star Berenice Bejo was luckier. Nominated in the best actress category, Bejo beat out contenders such as Leïla Bekhti ("La Source Des Femmes") and Karin Viard ("Polisse") for her performance as a wide-eyed ingenue during the dawn of the sound era.
The picture was shot in Hollywood, but starred French actors and was directed by French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius.
Hazanavicius won the best director award.
In the supporting categories, Michel Blanc won an award for his performance in the political drama "The Minister" and Carmen Maura was honored for her work in the Gallic comedy "Service Entrance."
Roman Polanski, who has made France his home since fleeing the United States on sexual abuse charges over three decades ago, picked up an award for adapted screenplay for "Carnage." He shared the award with playwright Yasmina Reza.
Here's a full list of winners:
FILM
"The Artist," Michel Hazanavicius
DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
ACTOR
Omar Sy, "Intouchables"
ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michel Blanc, "The Minister"
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Carmen Maura, "Service Entrance"
NEWCOMER, ACTOR
Gregory Gadebois, "Angele et Tony"
NEWCOMER, ACTRESS
Naidra Ayadi, "Polisse"
Clotilde Hesme, "Angele et Tony"
FIRST FILM
Sylvain Estibal, "When Pigs Have Wings"
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Pierre Schoeller, "The Minister"
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski, "Carnage"
FOREIGN FILM
"A Separation," Asghar Farhadi
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillaume Schiffman, "The Artist"
ANIMATED FILM
"The Rabbi's Cat," Joann Sfar, Antoine Delesvaux
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"Tous au Larzac," Christian Rouaud
MUSIC
Ludovic Bource, "The Artist"