The European film awards have unveiled their nominations, with Joachim Trier's family drama Sentimental Value emerging as the clear frontrunner. The Norwegian director's critically acclaimed film has secured an impressive five nominations in key categories.
Leading the Charge
Announced at the Seville European film festival in Spain, the nominations see Sentimental Value competing for best European film, best director for Trier, and best screenplay. The film's stars, Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve, have received nominations for best actor and best actress respectively.
In the movie, which arrives in UK cinemas this December, Skarsgård portrays a formerly celebrated film director attempting to mend his fractured relationships with his two estranged daughters. The film has already garnered significant attention, having won the Grand Prix at Cannes.
Strong Competition Across Europe
Other notable contenders include Spanish director Oliver Laxe's techno thriller Sirāt, which has earned four nominations. Set against the backdrop of a rave in the Moroccan desert, the film represents another strong European entry.
German filmmaker Mascha Schilinski's Sound of Falling has received three nominations for its exploration of cross-generational trauma in rural Brandenburg. Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident, this year's Palme d'Or winner, also secured three nominations.
The shortlist for European film of the year features fifteen productions, including five animated features and five documentaries. Notable documentary entries include Andres Veiel's portrait of Nazi-collaborating filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl and Igor Bezinović's Fiume o Morte!, which Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw described as a "protofascist Passport to Pimlico".
Awards Evolution and Ceremony Details
Often described as Europe's answer to the Oscars, the European film awards are overseen by the European film academy. In a significant change from previous years, the ceremony will now take place in Berlin on 17 January 2025, moving from its traditional December slot to align more closely with the peak of the US awards season.
This strategic shift aims to increase visibility among European audiences. Last year's awards, held in Lucerne, Switzerland, saw French director Jacques Audiard's musical Emilia Pérez achieve a near clean sweep with four out of five top prizes.
The full list of nominations showcases the diversity and strength of contemporary European cinema, with categories spanning best film, documentary, animated feature, director, actor, actress, and screenwriter. The European Discovery – Prix Fipresci and young audience award categories highlight emerging talent and films aimed at younger viewers.
