11/12/2023 - The film by Justine Triet has dominated proceedings with six wins; other winners include The Promised Land, How to Have Sex, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood and Robot Dreams

Anatomy of a Fall producer David Thion, director Justine Triet and producer Marie-Ange Luciani with their awards ( European Film Academy)

Keeping up the virtually unbroken tradition established in 2016 with the sweeping triumph of Toni Erdmann[+see also: filmreview trailer Q&A: Maren Ade filmprofile], the 36th edition of the European Film Awards, held on 9 December in Berlin, once again witnessed one film stealing the limelight and emerging as the undisputed victor of the night. Interestingly enough, it was another title starring Sandra Hller that dominated the ceremony on this occasion. Anatomy of a Fall[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Justine Triet filmprofile], the latest Palme d'Or winner by French filmmaker Justine Triet, scooped all of the awards for which it was nominated: European Film, Director, Screenwriter (for Triet and her co-writer Arthur Harari) and Actress (in recognition of Hllers captivating lead performance). In addition to the previously announced Excellence Award for European Editing (see the news) and the European University Film Award, Triet's gripping courtroom drama walked away with a total of six statuettes. This victory also marks the third time in the awards' history that a movie directed by a woman has received the top prize, following the triumphs of Maren Ade in 2016 and Jasmila bani in 2020.

In an unexpected snub, the two films that led the nominations this year, Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (winner of the Cannes Grand Jury Prize) and Aki Kaurismki's Fallen Leaves[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (recipient of the Cannes Jury Prize), were left empty-handed in the main categories. While Glazers harrowing portrait of the life of a Nazi official and his family next to the Auschwitz concentration camp received one of the Excellence Awards for European Sound (thanks to the work of Johnnie Burn and Tarn Willers), it ultimately went home without cashing in on any of the five major awards that it had been nominated for. Similarly, Kaurismki's tender romance was completely overlooked in the main categories, along with the migration dramas Green Border[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] and Me Captain[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile], directed by Agnieszka Holland and Matteo Garrone, respectively, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to great acclaim but failed to secure any accolades at the ceremony.

When collecting the coveted Award for European Film, Justine Triet took the opportunity to acknowledge the precious people who are working with me in the shadows, inviting casting director Cynthia Arra and editor Laurent Snchal (recipient of the Excellence Award for European Editing) to join her on stage. She then handed over the microphone to her producer, David Thion, who seized the moment to raise awareness of the impending vote in the European Parliament regarding the proposal to ban geo-blocking technology in Europe. If things change, there is a major threat to cultural diversity in Europe. It could pose a real danger for European sales agents, distributors and producers. [] They are crucial to preserving the way we make films and maintain cultural diversity in Europe, claimed Thion.

The European Film Awards returned to a traditional in-person format in Berlin for the first time since 2019, welcoming over 1,000 international guests. Live-streamed across Europe, the ceremony was hosted by German journalist and actress Britta Steffenhagen, who maintained a light-hearted and humorous tone throughout the gala. However, the event was not without some touching moments and offered a space for reflection on the current state of the world and the arts.

As mentioned above, one of the evening's most celebrated figures was German actress Sandra Hller, who was nominated for not one, but two remarkable performances in The Zone of Interest and Anatomy of a Fall, with the latter earning her Best European Actress. Acting does not happen somewhere in space; it is constantly informed by what is happening in the world at that moment. Yet I'm aware that our thoughts can and will shape the world. [] I would love to be silent with you for a few moments and kindly ask you to strongly, vividly, imagine peace, Hller requested of the audience, who joined her for a minutes silence. Rounding off the acting categories, Danish star Mads Mikkelsen remotely accepted the Best European Actor Award for his captivating turn in the period drama The Promised Land[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] by Nikolaj Arcel, which also received the technical gongs for European Cinematography and Costume Design.

In addition to the Excellence Awards for the different filmmaking crafts, which were revealed a few weeks ago, the other laureates of the 36th European Film Awards included How to Have Sex[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Molly Manning Walker filmprofile], the directorial debut by British helmer Molly Manning Walker (winner of Un Certain Regard at Cannes this year), which received the European Discovery Prix FIPRESCI, and the Sundance sensation and 2024 LUX Audience Award finalist Smoke Sauna Sisterhood[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Anna Hints filmprofile] by Anna Hints, who got the audience chanting after claiming the Award for Best European Documentary. Scrapper[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] by the UKs Charlotte Regan earned the European Young Audience Award, while Robot Dreams[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] by Spanish director Pablo Berger was recognised as Best European Animated Feature Film. Finally, Hardly Working by the Austrian collective Total Refusal emerged as the Best European Short Film of the year. As in previous editions, some of these categories were introduced during the ceremony via a series of clips featuring local groups of young people discussing the nominated films.

As previously announced, the European Achievement in World Cinema Award was presented to Spanish director Isabel Coixet. In her acceptance speech, the Barcelona-born filmmaker, boasting a sizeable filmography that includes feature films, series and documentaries produced and shot all over the globe (The Secret Life of Words[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Isabel Coixet filmprofile], Map of the Sounds of Tokyo[+see also: trailer filmprofile], Endless Night[+see also: filmreview trailer makingof interview: Isabel Coixet filmprofile], The Bookshop[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile]), stated: I have made films all around the world because very early in my career, I learned that behind a camera there are no borders, there are no passports, there are no flags and there are no limits. I wish the world could be like this. Coixet's latest work, Un amor[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Isabel Coixet filmprofile], premiered at the San Sebastin Film Festival and stars Laia Costa (known for her role in Victoria[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Sebastian Schipper filmprofile]), who had the honour of presenting her with the award at the gala.

Hungarian master Bla Tarr got a standing ovation from the audience as he accepted the Honorary Award of the Academy President and Board. The radical auteur behind masterpieces such as Werckmeister Harmonies, Stntang and The Turin Horse[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Bla Tarr filmprofile] took a moment to address the newer generation of aspiring filmmakers: They have to find their own language; they have to be themselves; they have to fuck up the film industry But the most important thing is that they have to be free. All of us have to be free. Lastly, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon British actress Vanessa Redgrave. While she was unable to attend the ceremony in person, her presence was felt through a video recorded at her home. In a touching moment, her daughter Joely Richardson handed her the statuette, and both appeared visibly moved. The acknowledgement of Redgrave's distinguished career, which takes in iconic performances such as her role in Michelangelo Antonionis Blow Up, served as a well-deserved tribute to her numerous contributions to the world of cinema.

Here is the full list of winners:

European FilmAnatomy of a Fall[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Justine Triet filmprofile] - Justine Triet (France)

European Documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Anna Hints filmprofile] - Anna Hints (Estonia/France/Iceland)

European DirectorJustine Triet - Anatomy of a Fall

European ActressSandra Hller - Anatomy of a Fall

European Actor Mads Mikkelsen - The Promised Land[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (Denmark/Germany/Sweden)

European Screenwriter Justine Triet & Arthur Harari - Anatomy of a Fall

European Discovery Prix FIPRESCI How To Have Sex[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Molly Manning Walker filmprofile] - Molly Manning Walker (UK/Greece/Belgium)

European Animated Feature FilmRobot Dreams[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] - Pablo Berger (Spain/France)

European Short FilmHardly Working - Total Refusal (Susanna Flock, Robin Klengel, Leonhard Mllner, Michael Stumpf) (Austria)

European Young Audience Award Scrapper[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] - Charlotte Regan (UK)

European Cinematography Rasmus Videbk - The Promised Land

European Editing Laurent Snchal - Anatomy of a Fall

European Production Design Emita Frigato - La Chimera[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (Italy/Switzerland/France)

European Costume Design Kicki Ilander - The Promised Land

European Make-up & Hair Ana Lpez-Puigcerver, Beln Lpez-Puigcerver, David Mart, Montse Riberker - Society of the Snow[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: JA Bayona filmprofile] (Spain/USA)

European Original Score Markus Binder - Club Zero[+see also: filmreview trailer interview: Jessica Hausner filmprofile] (Austria/UK/Germany/France/Denmark)

European Sound Johnnie Burn & Tarn Willers - The Zone of Interest[+see also: filmreview trailer filmprofile] (UK/Poland/USA)

European Visual Effects Flix Bergs, Laura Pedro - Society of the Snow

European University Film AwardAnatomy of a Fall - Justine Triet

Eurimages Co-Production AwardUljana Kim

European Sustainability Award Prix Film4Climate Gler Sabanc

European Achievement in World Cinema Award Isabel Coixet

Honorary Award of the Academy President and Board Bla Tarr

European Lifetime Achievement Award Vanessa Redgrave

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Anatomy of a Fall triumphs at the European Film Awards - Cineuropa