The ex-boss of Arte, Véronique Cayla, and the co-director of "Intouchables", Eric Toledano, are almost guaranteed to become the next presidents of the César.

They will succeed Alain Terzian, who has headed this much-criticized institution since 2003 and who resigned last February.

A tandem formed by the former boss of Arte and the CNC, Véronique Cayla, and the filmmaker Éric Toledano will be the sole candidate for the presidency of the César.

This is what the interim president of this flagship institution of French cinema, in crisis for nearly a year, told AFP on Monday.

These two personalities are "very respected" in the world of cinema and "very different", underlined Margaret Menegoz, who confirmed information from

Le Figaro

. 

An online election

Véronique Cayla, 70, has held senior management positions in television and cinema (at the head of the National Cinema Center, then Arte, which she left this summer).

Éric Toledano, 49, is a filmmaker and author of successful films made with Olivier Nakache, including

Intouchables

,

Le sens de la fête

or

Hors Norms

.

Their election is almost assured since they are the only candidates.

The general assembly, which has just been renewed in an attempt to respond to criticisms of opacity and self-awareness, will be held online.

No quorum is required for the election of the new presidency.

Cataclysm last February

Since 2003, the Académie des César has been chaired by producer Alain Terzian.

He had resigned, along with all of the old management, in February.

The institution, which awards the most prestigious French cinema prizes each year, was then in the midst of a storm.

The crisis had peaked a few days later when Roman Polanski, targeted by accusations of rape, won the César for best director for his film

J'accuse

.

The filmmaker was not present during the ceremony to receive his prize, but the sensational departure of actress Adèle Haenel had marked the evening.

Last week, Polanski announced that he would not be attending Tuesday's general meeting.

The director continues to be part of it, to the chagrin of feminists, as a "historic member".