European Film Award for Best Film

European Film Award for Best Film
Awarded forBest European Film of the Year
Presented byEuropean Film Academy
First awardedA Short Film About Killing (1988)
Currently held byEmilia Pérez (2024)
Websiteeuropeanfilmacademy.org

European Film Award for Best Film is one of the annual European Film Awards, presented by the European Film Academy to recognize the best in European filmmaking. It was first awarded in 1988 with Polish film A Short Film About Killing, directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, being the first recipient of the award.

Directors Gianni Amelio, Lars von Trier and Michael Haneke have received the most wins in this category with three wins each, while Pedro Almodóvar is the most nominated director with seven nominations, winning twice. Maren Ade was the first female director to win the award, receiving it for Toni Erdmann in 2016.

Winners and nominees

1980s

Year English title Original title Director(s) Country
1988
(1st)
A Short Film About Killing Krótki film o zabijaniu Krzysztof Kieślowski Poland
Goodbye Children Au revoir les enfants Louis Malle France, West Germany
The Animated Forest El bosque animado José Luis Cuerda Spain
Distant Voices, Still Lives Terence Davies United Kingdom
Wings of Desire Der Himmel über Berlin Wim Wenders West Germany, France
Jacob Iacob Mircea Daneliuc Romania
Pelle the Conqueror Pelle Erobreren / Pelle Erövraren Bille August Denmark, Sweden
1989
(2nd)
Landscape in the Mist Topio stin omichli Theodoros Angelopoulos Greece, France, Italy
The Midas Touch Eldorádó Géza Bereményi Hungary
Magnus Þráinn Bertelsson Iceland
Recollections of the Yellow House Recordações da Casa Amarela João César Monteiro Portugal
High Hopes Mike Leigh United Kingdom
Little Vera Malenkaya Vera Vasili Pichul Soviet Union

1990s

Year English title Original title Director(s) Country
1990
(3rd)
Open Doors Porte aperte Gianni Amelio Italy
The Match Factory Girl Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö Aki Kaurismäki Finland
Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac Jean-Paul Rappeneau France
Interrogation Przesłuchanie Ryszard Bugajski Poland
¡Ay Carmela! ¡Ay Carmela! Carlos Saura Spain
The Guardian Angel Skyddsängeln Suzanne Osten Sweden
Mother Мать Gleb Panfilov Soviet Union
1991
(4th)
Riff-Raff Ken Loach United Kingdom
The Voyager Homo Faber Volker Schlöndorff Germany
The Little Gangster Le petit criminel Jacques Doillon France
Toto the Hero Toto le héros Jaco Van Dormael Belgium
Delicatessen Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet France
Ultra Ultrà Ricky Tognazzi Italy
1992
(5th)
The Stolen Children Il ladro di bambini Gianni Amelio Italy
La Vie de Bohème Aki Kaurismäki France
The Lovers on the Bridge Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Leos Carax France
North Nord Xavier Beauvois France
Three Days Trys dienos Šarūnas Bartas Lithuania
The Northerners De Noorderlingen Alex van Warmerdam Netherlands
1993
(6th)
Close to Eden Урга — территория любви Nikita Mikhalkov Russia
Benny's Video Michael Haneke Austria
A Heart in Winter Un cœur en hiver Claude Sautet France
Man Bites Dog C'est arrivé près de chez vous Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, Benoît Poelvoorde Belgium
Orlando Sally Potter United Kingdom
Antonio's Girlfriend La petite amie d'Antonio Manuel Poirier France
1994
(7th)
Lamerica Gianni Amelio Italy
In the Name of the Father Jim Sheridan Ireland, United Kingdom
Three Colours: Blue, Three Colours: White, Three Colors: Red Trois couleurs: Bleu, Trois couleurs: Blanc, Trois couleurs: Rouge Krzysztof Kieślowski France, Poland, Switzerland
Kosh ba kosh Кош ба кош Bakhtyar Khudojnazarov Russia
Son of the Shark Le Fils du requin Agnès Merlet France
Woyzeck Woyzeck János Szász Hungary
1995
(8th)
Land and Freedom Ken Loach United Kingdom
Rendez-Vous in Paris Les Rendez-vous de Paris Éric Rohmer France
Ulysses' Gaze Το βλέμμα του Οδυσσέα Theo Angelopoulos Greece
Butterfly Kiss Michael Winterbottom United Kingdom
Deathmaker Der Totmacher Romuald Karmakar Germany
La Haine La Haine Mathieu Kassovitz France
1996
(9th)
Breaking the Waves Lars von Trier Denmark
Kolya Kolja Jan Svěrák Czech Republic
Secrets & Lies Mike Leigh United Kingdom
Lea Lea Ivan Fila Germany
Some Mother's Son Terry George Ireland
1997
(10th)
The Full Monty Peter Cattaneo United Kingdom
Captain Conan Capitaine Conan Bertrand Tavernier France
The Fifth Element Le Cinquième Élément Luc Besson France
The Perfect Circle Savršeni krug Ademir Kenović Bosnia and Herzegovina
The English Patient Anthony Minghella United States, United Kingdom
The Thief Вор Pavel Chukhrai Russia
1998
(11th)
Life Is Beautiful La vita è bella Roberto Benigni Italy
The Butcher Boy Neil Jordan Ireland
Live Flesh Carne trémula Pedro Almodóvar Spain
The Celebration Festen Thomas Vinterberg Denmark
The Dreamlife of Angels La Vie rêvée des anges Erick Zonca France
Run Lola Run Lola rennt Tom Tykwer Germany
My Name Is Joe Ken Loach United Kingdom
1999
(12th)
All About My Mother Todo sobre mi madre Pedro Almodóvar Spain
Show Me Love Fucking Åmål Lukas Moodysson Sweden
Mifune's Last Song Mifunes sidste sang Søren Kragh-Jacobsen Denmark
Moloch Молох Alexander Sokurov Russia
Notting Hill Roger Michell United Kingdom
Rosetta Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne Belgium
Sunshine István Szabó Canada, Hungary, Austria, Germany
The War Zone Tim Roth United Kingdom

2000s

Year English title Original title Director(s) Country
2000
(13th)
Dancer in the Dark Lars von Trier Denmark
Billy Elliot Stephen Daldry United Kingdom
Chicken Run Peter Lord, Nick Park United Kingdom
Harry, He's Here to Help Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien Dominik Moll France
The Taste of Others Le Goût des autres Agnès Jaoui France
Bread and Tulips Pane e tulipani Silvio Soldini Italy
Faithless Trolösa Liv Ullmann Sweden
2001
(14th)
Amélie Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain Jean-Pierre Jeunet France
Bridget Jones's Diary Sharon Maguire United Kingdom
The Experiment Das Experiment Oliver Hirschbiegel Germany
Intimacy Patrice Chéreau France, Italy
Italian for Beginners Italiensk for begyndere Lone Scherfig Denmark
The Piano Teacher La Pianiste Michael Haneke France, Austria
The Son's Room La stanza del figlio Nanni Moretti Italy, France
The Others Alejandro Amenábar Spain
2002
(15th)
Talk to Her Hable con ella Pedro Almodóvar Spain
Bend It Like Beckham Gurinder Chadha United Kingdom
Bloody Sunday Paul Greengrass United Kingdom
8 Women 8 femmes François Ozon France
Lilya 4-ever Lukas Moodysson Sweden
The Man Without a Past Mies vailla menneisyyttä Aki Kaurismäki Finland, Germany, France
The Magdalene Sisters Peter Mullan United Kingdom
The Pianist Roman Polanski Poland, France, Germany, United Kingdom
2003
(16th)
Good Bye, Lenin! Wolfgang Becker Germany
Dirty Pretty Things Stephen Frears United Kingdom
Dogville Lars von Trier Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, France, United Kingdom, Germany
In This World Michael Winterbottom United Kingdom
My Life Without Me Mi vida sin mí Isabel Coixet Spain, Canada
Swimming Pool François Ozon France, United Kingdom
2004
(17th)
Head-On Gegen die Wand Fatih Akın Germany, Turkey
A Hole in My Heart Ett hål i mitt hjärta Lukas Moodysson Sweden, Denmark
Bad Education La mala educación Pedro Almodóvar Spain
The Chorus Les choristes Christophe Barratier France, Switzerland
The Sea Inside Mar adentro Alejandro Amenábar Spain, France, Italy
Vera Drake Mike Leigh United Kingdom, France
2005
(18th)
Hidden Caché Michael Haneke France, Austria, Germany, Italy
Brothers Brødre Susanne Bier Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway
Don't Come Knocking Wim Wenders Germany
The Child L'enfant Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne Belgium, France
My Summer of Love Pawel Pawlikowski United Kingdom
Sophie Scholl – The Final Days Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage Marc Rothemund Germany
2006
(19th)
The Lives of Others Das Leben der Anderen Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Germany
Breakfast on Pluto Neil Jordan Ireland, United Kingdom
Grbavica: Esma's Secret Grbavica Jasmila Žbanić Bosnia and Hercegovina, Austria, Germany, Croatia
The Road to Guantanamo Michael Winterbottom, Mat Whitecross United Kingdom
Volver Pedro Almodóvar Spain
The Wind That Shakes the Barley Ken Loach Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain
2007
(20th)
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 4 luni, 3 săptămâni şi 2 zile Cristian Mungiu Romania
The Edge of Heaven Auf der anderen Seite Fatih Akın Germany, Turkey
The Last King of Scotland Kevin Macdonald United Kingdom
La Vie En Rose La Môme Olivier Dahan France, Czech Republic, United Kingdom
Persepolis Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud France
The Queen Stephen Frears United Kingdom, France, Italy
2008
(21st)
Gomorrah Gomorra Matteo Garrone Italy
Il Divo Paolo Sorrentino Italy
The Class Entre les murs Laurent Cantet France
Happy-Go-Lucky Mike Leigh United Kingdom
The Orphanage El orfanato Juan Antonio Bayona Spain
Waltz with Bashir ואלס עם באשיר Ari Folman Israel, France, Germany
2009
(22nd)
The White Ribbon Das weiße Band Michael Haneke Germany, Austria, France, Italy
Fish Tank Andrea Arnold United Kingdom
Let the Right One In Låt den rätte komma in Tomas Alfredson Sweden
A Prophet Un prophète Jacques Audiard France
The Reader Stephen Daldry United Kingdom, Germany
Slumdog Millionaire Danny Boyle United Kingdom

2010s

Year English title Original title Director(s) Country
2010
(23rd)
The Ghost Writer Roman Polanski France, Germany, United Kingdom
Honey Bal Semih Kaplanoğlu Turkey
Of Gods and Men Des hommes et des dieux Xavier Beauvois France
Lebanon לבנון Samuel Maoz Israel, Germany, France, United Kingdom
The Secret in Their Eyes El secreto de sus ojos Juan José Campanella Argentina, Spain
Soul Kitchen Fatih Akın Germany
2011
(24th)
Melancholia Lars von Trier Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany
The Artist Michel Hazanavicius France
The Kid with a Bike Le Gamin au vélo Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne Belgium, France, Italy
In a Better World Hævnen Susanne Bier Denmark
The King's Speech Tom Hooper United Kingdom
Le Havre Aki Kaurismäki Finland, France, Germany
2012
(25th)
Amour Michael Haneke France, Austria, Germany
Barbara Christian Petzold Germany
The Hunt Jagten Thomas Vinterberg Denmark
The Intouchables Intouchables Éric Toledano, Olivier Nakache France
Shame Steve McQueen United Kingdom
Caesar Must Die Cesare deve morire Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani Italy
2013
(26th)
The Great Beauty La grande bellezza Paolo Sorrentino Italy, France
Blancanieves Pablo Berger Spain
The Broken Circle Breakdown Felix Van Groeningen Belgium
The Best Offer La Migliore Offerta Giuseppe Tornatore Italy
A Coffee in Berlin Oh Boy! Jan Ole Gerster Germany
Blue Is the Warmest Colour La Vie d'Adèle – Chapitres 1 & 2 Abdellatif Kechiche France
2014
(27th)
Ida Paweł Pawlikowski Poland, Denmark
Force Majeure Turist Ruben Östlund Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France
Leviathan Левиафан Andrey Zvyagintsev Russia
Nymphomaniac – Director's Cut Lars von Trier Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom
Winter Sleep Kış Uykusu Nuri Bilge Ceylan Turkey
2015
(28th)
Youth Youth – La giovinezza Paolo Sorrentino Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland
The Lobster Yorgos Lanthimos Ireland, United Kingdom, Greece, France, Netherlands
Mustang Deniz Gamze Ergüven France, Turkey, Germany
A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron Roy Andersson Sweden, Norway, France, Germany
Rams Hrútar Grímur Hákonarson Iceland, Denmark
Victoria Sebastian Schipper Germany
2016
(29th)
Toni Erdmann Maren Ade Germany, Austria
Elle Paul Verhoeven France, Germany
I, Daniel Blake Ken Loach United Kingdom, France
Julieta Pedro Almodóvar Spain
Room Lenny Abrahamson Ireland, Canada
2017
(30th)
The Square Ruben Östlund Sweden, France, Germany, Denmark
BPM (Beats per Minute) 120 battements par minute Robin Campillo France
Loveless Nelyubov Andrey Zvyagintsev Russia, Belgium, Germany, France
On Body and Soul Testről és lélekről Ildikó Enyedi Hungary
The Other Side of Hope Toivon tuolla puolen Aki Kaurismäki Finland, Germany
2018
(31st)
Cold War Zimna wojna Pawel Pawlikowski Poland, France, United Kingdom
Border Gräns Ali Abbasi Sweden, Denmark
Dogman Matteo Garrone Italy, France
Girl Lukas Dhont Belgium, Netherlands
Happy as Lazzaro Lazzaro felice Alice Rohrwacher Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland
2019
(32nd)
The Favourite Yorgos Lanthimos UK, Ireland
Les Misérables Ladj Ly France
An Officer and a Spy J'accuse Roman Polanski France, Italy
Pain and Glory Dolor y gloria Pedro Almodóvar Spain
System Crasher Systemsprenger Nora Fingscheidt Germany
The Traitor Il traditore Marco Bellocchio Italy, Germany, France, Brazil

2020s

Year English title Original title Director(s) Country
2020
(33rd)
[1][2]
Another Round Druk Thomas Vinterberg Denmark
Berlin Alexanderplatz Burhan Qurbani Germany, Netherlands
Corpus Christi Boże Ciało Jan Komasa Poland, France
Martin Eden Pietro Marcello Italy, France
The Painted Bird Nabarvené ptáče Václav Marhoul Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine
Undine Christian Petzold Germany, France
2021
(34th)
[3][4]
Quo Vadis, Aida? Jasmila Žbanić Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Netherlands, France, Poland, Norway, Germany, Romania, Turkey
Compartment No. 6 Hytti nro 6 Juho Kuosmanen Finland, Estonia, Germany
The Father Florian Zeller UK, France
The Hand of God È stata la mano di Dio Paolo Sorrentino Italy
Titane Julia Ducournau France, Belgium
2022
(35th)
[5]
Triangle of Sadness Ruben Östlund Sweden, Germany, France, UK
Alcarràs Carla Simón Spain, Italy
Close Lukas Dhont Belgium, France, Netherlands
Corsage Marie Kreutzer Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, France
Holy Spider Ali Abbasi Denmark, Germany, Sweden, France
2023
(36th)
[6] 		Anatomy of a Fall Anatomie d'une chute Justine Triet France
Fallen Leaves Kuolleet lehdet Aki Kaurismäki Finland, Germany
Green Border Zielona granica Agnieszka Holland Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Poland
Io Capitano Matteo Garrone Belgium, Italy
The Zone of Interest Jonathan Glazer Poland, United Kingdom, United States
2024

(37th)[7]

Emilia Pérez Jacques Audiard France
Bye Bye Tiberias Bye Bye Tiberiade Lina Soualem France, Belgium, Palestine, Qatar
Dahomey Mati Diop France, Senegal
Flow Straume Gints Zilbalodis Latvia, France, Belgium
In Limbo W Zawieszeniu Alina Maksimenko Poland
Living Large Život K Sežrání Kristina Dufková Czech Republic, France, Slovakia
No Other Land Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal Palestine, Norway
Savages Sauvages Claude Barras Switzerland, France, Belgium
Soundtrack to a Coup D'Etat Johan Grimonprez France, Belgium, Netherlands
Sultana's Dream El Sueño de La Sultana Isabel Herguera Spain, Germany, India
The Room Next Door Pedro Almodóvar Spain
The Seed of the Sacred Fig Danaye Anjir-e Moabad Mohammad Rasoulof Germany, France
The Substance Coralie Fargeat United Kingdom, United States, France
They Shot the Piano Player Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Peru
Vermiglio Maura Delpero Italy, France, Belgium

Record holders

Achievement Holder Years
Most wins (by country) Italy (7) 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2008, 2013, 2015
Most wins (by country) including co-productions Germany (11) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2021
Most nominations (by country) France (38) 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
Most nominations (by country) including co-productions France (63) 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Most wins for Best Film (by director) Gianni Amelio (3)
Lars von Trier (3)
Michael Haneke (3) 		1990, 1992, 1994
1996, 2000, 2011
2005, 2009, 2012
Most nominations for Best Film (by director) Pedro Almodóvar (8)
1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2019, 2024

References

  1. ^ Grater, Tom (November 10, 2020). "European Film Award Nominations: 'Another Round', 'Corpus Christi', 'Martin Eden' Lead The Way". Deadline. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Roxborough, Scott (December 12, 2020). "'Another Round' Wins 2020 European Film Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "European Film Awards Nominations 2021". European Film Academy. 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  4. ^ "34th EFA Awards". European Film Academy. Archived from the original on 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  5. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (2022-11-08). "'Close', 'Holy Spider' & 'Triangle Of Sadness' Lead European Film Awards Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  6. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (2023-12-09). "Justine Triet's 'Anatomy Of A Fall' Sweeps European Film Awards Winning Best Film, Director, Screenplay & Actress For Sandra Hüller – Full Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  7. ^ "Winners". European Film Academy. Retrieved 2024-12-08.