We bring you all the winners from the 26th European Film Awards
The stars were out in force in Berlin last night, the cold and snow doing little to hamper their spirits as the 26th European Film Awards returned to their home city, after the 2012 ceremony in Malta.
Catherine Deneuve took to the red carpet in a sweeping leopard print gown, to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Although she said before the ceremony that the title of her award left something to be desired; “To achieve life is to mean that you are dead. It’s not an award you give to someone who is still alive”. However, as the assembled audience rose to their feet to honour the actress, after European Film Academy President Wim Wenders paid tribute to her, naming her a “Queen of European cinema if, indeed, we had Royalty”. Deneuve has starred in over 100 films over five decaudes, and on accepting her award she said she found the dedication very touching and moving, and “I feel more European than ever”.
Spanish film maker Pedro Almodovar – whose most recent film I’M SO EXCITED was also nominated for an award – was honoured with European Achivement in World Cinema, and used his acceptance speech to thank many of the artists he has worked with in his career, and rail against the lack of funding given to the arts in his native country. As well as this, Almodovar hinted that we may see a collaboration between him and actress Noomi Rapace in the future, as he turned to the actress and told her “I want to be your director”.
The big winner on the night was Paolo Sorrentino’s THE GREAT BEAUTY which was honoured for European Film, European Director, European Actor and European Editor. Sadly, Sorrentino was not in Berlin for the ceremony, being as he was sitting on the Jury for the Marrakech Film Festival.
Elsewhere, this year’s Palme D’Or winner at Cannes, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR, lost out in each category it was nominated for, Susanne Bier’s LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED took home the newly created European Comedy Award and Joshua Oppenheimer’s challenging look at former Indonesian death squad leaders, THE ACT OF KILLING, took home European Documentary. In his speech, Oppenheimer reminded the audience in Berlin that those who worked on the film could face heavy punishment in Indonesia if their anonymity was compromised.
Irish co-production CALL GIRL was nominated for the European Discovery award, but lost out to the critically acclaimed German film OH BOY, which already swept the board at the German Film Awards in April.
Awards were presented by Noomi Rapace, Diane Kruger and the wonderful Kristin Scott Thomas, and music on the night was provided by Dutch actress and singer, Carice Van Houten.
Hosted by German comedienne Anke Engelke at Berlin’s Festspiele arts centre, the 26th European Film Awards ceremony was broadcast live in 15 countries and streamed online.
The Winners
European Film: THE GREAT BEAUTY
European Director: Paolo Sorrentino (THE GREAT BEAUTY)
European Actress: Veerle Baetens (THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN)
European Actor: Toni Servillo (THE GREAT BEAUTY)
European Screenwriter: François Ozon (IN THE HOUSE)
European Comedy: LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
European Documentary: THE ACT OF KILLING
European Animated Feature: THE CONGRESS
European Short Film: DEATH OF A SHADOW
European Discovery: Jan Ole Gerster (OH BOY)
European Cinematographer: Asaf Sudry (FILL THE VOID)
European Editor: Cristiano Travaglioli (THE GREAT BEAUTY)
European Production Designer: Sarah Greenwood (ANNA KARENINA)
European Costume Designer: Paco Delgado (BLANCANIEVES)
European Composer: Ennio Morricone (THE BEST OFFER)
European Sound Designer: Matz Müller & Erik Mischijew (PARADISE: FAITH)
European Co-Production Award: Ada Solomon
European Achievement in World Cinema: Pedro Almodóvar
Lifetime Achievement Award: Catherine Deneuve
People’s Choice Award: THE GILDED CAGE
Words: Brogen Hayes