Joachim Trier won Best European Director at the 38th European Film Awards. His film received a total of five awards, including Best Screenwriter and acting awards for Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve.
Major Wins and Recognition
The film entered the awards as a frontrunner, nominated for Best Film and Best Director. Other notable contenders included Oliver Laxe’s Moroccan drama and Mascha Schilinski’s debut film.
Earlier in the evening, Laxe’s film triumphed in various craft categories, winning Best Production Designer, Best Sound Design, Best Editor, Best Casting Director, and Best Cinematographer.
Addressing Global Issues at the Ceremony
Iranian director Jafar Panahi opened the ceremony in Berlin with a call for awareness regarding the ongoing violence in Iran. He spoke during a harsh government crackdown on protests, with reports of thousands killed or arrested.
Panahi emphasized the risks of ignoring such violence, stating that it threatens freedom globally. He urged filmmakers and artists to speak out against injustices instead of remaining silent.
Honorary and Special Awards
Liv Ullmann and Alice Rohrwacher received honorary awards for their lifetime contributions to film. Ullmann highlighted cinema’s role in portraying human experiences and expressed concern over political events.
The Eurimages International Co-Production Award went to Maren Ade, Jonas Dornbach, and Janine Jackowski, who mentioned their collaboration on projects featuring various renowned directors.
