The 12th César Awards ceremony, presented by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma, honoured the best French films of 1986 and took place on 7 March 1987 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. The ceremony was chaired by Sean Connery and hosted by Michel Drucker and Pierre Tchernia. Thérèse won the award for Best Film.

Winners and nominees

The winners are highlighted in bold: Miou-Miou, for Tenue de soirée Jean-Louis Trintignant, for La Femme de ma vie Jean Carmet, for Les Fugitifs Claude Piéplu, for Le Paltoquet Julie Delpy, for Mauvais sang Marianne Basler, for Rosa la rose, fille publique