Nominees and winner are selected via a run-off voting by all the members of the Académie, within a group of 16 actresses previously shortlisted by the Révélations Committee.
For example, the César du meilleur espoir féminin of 2010 was awarded on 27 February 2010 for a performance in a film released between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2009.
But in order to "facilitate" the nomination vote, the Révélations Committee of the Académie, consisting of casting directors, establishes and proposes a list of a maximum of 16 actresses.
Since 2007, all young actresses who have worked on French feature-length films or primarily French-language productions are eligible for the list.
The short film, unveiled at a gala dinner which is organised in honour of the "Révélations", is also later screened at select cinemas in France.