François Ozon’s The Stranger is emerging as a frontrunner in France’s awards season, leading the nominations for the 31st Lumières Awards. Often regarded as France’s answer to the Golden Globes, the Lumières Awards are decided by international journalists from 36 countries and are presented at a ceremony held roughly a month after the nominations are announced. In addition to Ozon’s film, Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague and Jodie Foster’s Private Life also earned nominations, signaling a strong start to the French awards cycle. These early nods highlight the Lumières’ global reach and set an ambitious pace for the year’s French cinema awards season.