The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the most important is the Best Film. They are restricted to European cinema and European producers, directors and actors. The awards were officially also called the "Felix Awards" until 1997, in reference to the former award's trophy statuette, which was replaced by a feminine statuette.

European Film Awards
Current: 37th European Film Awards
Awarded forExcellence in European cinematic achievements
LocationEurope
Presented byEuropean Film Academy
First awarded1988
Last awarded2023
Websitewww.europeanfilmawards.eu

Since 1997, the European Film Awards have been held in early- to mid-December. Hosting duties have alternated between Berlin, Germany in odd-numbered years and other European cities in even-numbered years. The 33rd European Film Awards were held on 12 December 2020 as a virtual ceremony. In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian films were excluded from the 2022 European Film Awards.[1]

Awarding procedures

edit

Feature films participating in the European Film Awards must be European feature-length fiction films intended for normal theatrical release which must have had their first official screening (be it at a festival or at a regular cinema) after 1 July of the year before. Based on a selection of approximately 40 films recommended for a nomination, the members of the European Film Academy vote for the nominations in the main categories,[2] which are announced in early November at the Seville European Film Festival. Based on the nominations, the members of the European Film Academy then vote for the winners which are announced at the European Film Awards Ceremony in early December.

Controversies

edit

The European Film Academy (EFA) Awards' Best Film winner, Melancholia became the third Lars von Trier film to win EFA's top award, following Breaking the Waves (1996) and Dancer in the Dark (2000) – this despite the fact that the filmmaker became embroiled in a nasty controversy after making jokes about Jews and Adolf Hitler at that year's Cannes Film Festival.[3]

Eligibility

edit

The criteria[4] whereby a film qualifies as European are based upon the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, Appendix II, issued by the Council of Europe. This definition might be extended for Israeli and Palestinian works and nationalities. A cinematographic work qualifies as European if it achieves at least 16 points (out of 21).

The European Film Academy uses a lower minimum of 13 points.

European elements Weighting Points
Creative group
Director 4
Script writer 3
Composer 1
Performing group
First role 3
Second role 2
Third role 1
Technical craft group
Head of Department – cinematography 1
Head of Department – sound 1
Head of Department – picture editing 1
Head of Department – production or costume design 1
Studio or shooting location 1
VFX or CGI location 1
Post-production location 1

Host cities

edit
Year Date Venue City Presenter Director
1st (1988)[C] 1 Dec. 1988 Theater des Westens    West Berlin Jan Niklas, Désirée Nosbusch Robin Bextor
2nd (1989)[C] 25 Nov. 1989 Théâtre des Champs-Elysées   Paris Fernando Rey, Agnès Soral
3rd (1990)[C] 2 Dec. 1990 Royal Concert Hall   Glasgow Sheena McDonald, Melvyn Bragg
4th (1991) 1 Dec. 1991 Babelsberg   Potsdam Désirée Nosbusch-Becker, Johannes Willms
5th (1992) 25 Nov. 1992 Babelsberg   Potsdam Senta Berger, Ben Kingsley
6th (1993) 4 Dec. 1993 Babelsberg   Potsdam Fanny Ardant
7th (1994) 27 Nov. 1994 Spiegelzelt   Berlin -
8th (1995) 12 Nov. 1995 Bar jeder Vernunft   Berlin -
9th (1996) 8 Nov. 1996 Blue Tent in Lützowplatz   Berlin -
10th (1997) 7 Dec. 1997 Flughafen Tempelhof   Berlin Tania Bryer
11th (1998) 4 Dec. 1998 Old Vic Theatre   London Mel Smith, Carole Bouquet
12th (1999) 4 Dec. 1999 Schiller Theater   Berlin Mel Smith, Carole Bouquet
13th (2000) 2 Dec. 2000 Chaillot National Theatre   Paris Rupert Everett, Antoine de Caunes
14th (2001) 1 Dec. 2001 Tempodrom   Berlin Mel Smith
15th (2002) 7 Dec. 2002 Rome Opera House   Rome Asia Argento, Mel Smith
16th (2003) 6 Dec. 2003 Treptow Arena   Berlin Heino Ferch
17th (2004) 11 Dec. 2004 Forum Convention Center   Barcelona Maria de Medeiros, Juanjo Puigcorbé Manuel Huerga
18th (2005) 3 Dec. 2005 Treptow Arena   Berlin Heino Ferch Pepe Danquart
19th (2006) 2 Dec. 2006 EXPO XXI Center   Warsaw Maciej Stuhr, Sophie Marceau Volker Weicker
20th (2007) 1 Dec. 2007 Treptow Arena   Berlin Jan Josef Liefers, Emmanuelle Béart Volker Weicker
21st (2008) 6 Dec. 2008 Forum   Copenhagen Mikael Bertelsen Andreas Morell
22nd (2009)[C] 12 Dec. 2009 Hall of the Century   Bochum Anke Engelke Andreas Morell
23rd (2010)[C] 4 Dec. 2010 Nokia Concert Hall   Tallinn Anke Engelke, Märt Avandi Andreas Morell
24th (2011) 3 Dec. 2011 Tempodrom   Berlin Anke Engelke Nadja Zonsarowa
25th (2012) 1 Dec. 2012 Mediterranean Conference Centre   Valletta Anke Engelke Nadja Zonsarowa
26th (2013) 7 Dec. 2013 Haus der Berliner Festspiele   Berlin Anke Engelke Nadja Zonsarowa
27th (2014)[C] 13 Dec. 2014 Latvian National Opera   Riga Thomas Hermanns[5] Michael Maier
28th (2015) 12 Dec. 2015 Haus der Berliner Festspiele   Berlin Thomas Hermanns Nadja Zonsarowa
29th (2016)[C] 10 Dec. 2016 National Forum of Music   Wrocław[6] Maciej Stuhr Maria von Heland, Nadja Zonsarowa
30th (2017) 9 Dec. 2017 Haus der Berliner Festspiele   Berlin Thomas Hermanns Maria von Heland, Nadja Zonsarowa
31st (2018) 15 Dec. 2018 Teatro de la Maestranza[7]   Seville[6] Rossy de Palma, Ashraf Barhom, Amira Casar, Anamaria Marinca, Ivan Shvedoff, Tom Wlaschiha[8] Maria von Heland, Nadja Zonsarowa
32nd (2019) 7 Dec. 2019 Haus der Berliner Festspiele   Berlin Anna Brüggemann, Aistė Diržiūtė Dietrich Brüggemann, Nadja Zonsarowa
33rd (2020) 12 Dec. 2020 Online from Futurium   Berlin Steven Gätjen
34th (2021) 11 Dec. 2021 Haus der Berliner Festspiele   Berlin
35th (2022) 10 Dec. 2022 Harpa Conference and Concert Hall   Reykjavík Unnsteinn Manuel
36th (2023) Dec. 2023 Arena Berlin   Berlin Britta Steffenhagen Robert Lehniger
37th (2024) Dec. 2024 TBD   Luzern[9]
38th (2025) [C] Jan. 2026 [10]   Berlin
^[C] European Capital of Culture event

Up through the 2018 ceremony, 15 cities in 10 countries have hosted the contest. Berlin has been host 14 times, Potsdam 3 times, and Paris 2 times. Barcelona, Bochum, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Riga, Rome, Seville, Tallinn, Valletta, Warsaw, and Wroclaw, have each hosted once.

Award categories

edit

Current categories

edit

Audience awards

edit

Special awards

edit

Defunct awards

edit

Proposed awards

edit
  • Best Animated Short Subject
  • Best Live Action Short Subject
  • Best Documentary Short Subject
  • Best Music Video
  • Best Cast
  • Best Action or Adventure Film
  • Best Sound Editing
  • Best Sound Mixing
  • Best Screenwriter - Adapted
  • Best Screenwriter - Original
  • Best Costume Designer in Contemporary Film
  • Best Costume Designer in Historic Film
  • Best Costume Designer in Unreal World (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Film
  • Best Production Designer in Contemporary Film
  • Best Production Designer in Historic Film
  • Best Production Designer in Unreal World (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Film
  • Best Makeup and Hairstylist in Contemporary Film
  • Best Makeup and Hairstylist in Historic Film
  • Best Makeup and Hairstylist in Unreal World (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Film
  • Best Choreographer
  • Best Original Song
  • Best Poster
  • Best Stunt Ensemble
  • Best Actor – Series
  • Best Actress – Series
  • Best African Film
  • Best Latin American Film
  • Best North American Film
  • Best Asian Film
  • Best Middle East and North Africa Film
  • Best Australia and Pacific Film

Timeline

edit
Editions: 19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
20
18
20
19
20
20
20
21
20
22
20
23
Film
Non-European Film
Comedy
Young Film/Discovery
Animated Feature
Documentary
Short Film
Fiction Series
Editions: 19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
20
18
20
19
20
20
20
21
20
22
20
23
Director
Screenwriter [a]
Actor
Actress
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actress
Supporting Performance
Young Actor or Actress
Composer
Cinematographer [a]
Co-Producer
Editor [a]
Production Designer [a] [a]
Costume Designer [b] [a]
Sound Designer [a]
Makeup Hairstyling [a] [a]
Visual Effects
Innovative Storytelling
Editions: 19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
20
18
20
19
20
20
20
21
20
22
20
23
Lifetime Achievement
Achievement in World Cinema
Honorary Award
Critics's Choice [c]
People's Choice - Director
People's Choice - Actor
People's Choice - Actress
People's Choice - Film [d]
Young Audience Choice
University Award - Student's Choice
Editions: 19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
20
18
20
19
20
20
20
21
20
22
20
23


^[a] Category included in the cumulative category named Award of Excellence or Artistic Contribution Achievement
^[b] Category included in the Production Designer category
^[c] Critics choice transferred to European Discovery
^[d] People's Choice transferred to European Parliaments Lux Prize Audience Film Award

Films with multiple wins

edit
8 wins
6 wins
5 wins
4 wins
3 wins

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Unequivocal Solidarity with Ukraine". European Film Academy. 1 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Feature Films". European Film Academy. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  3. ^ "EFA Best European Film Honors Another Scandal-Plagued Filmmaker".
  4. ^ "Regulations for the 32nd European Film Awards" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  5. ^ "European Film Awards". europeanfilmawards.eu.
  6. ^ a b "Press info". European Film Academy.
  7. ^ "GALA DE LOS PREMIOS DEL CINE EUROPEO 2018". Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Seville is Getting Ready: The Line-Up for the 2018 EFAs". europeanfilmawards.eu.
  9. ^ The European Film Awards 2024 Go to Lucerne/Switzerland. In: europeanfilmawards.eu, 14th Dezember 2022 .
  10. ^ European Film Awards to change dates in 2026. In: europeanfilmawards.eu, 6th November 20242 .
edit