As a lifelong cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of European cinema from the golden age of art house classics to the contemporary melting pot of diverse storytelling, I couldn’t be more thrilled about this groundbreaking decision by the European Film Academy. The inclusion of documentaries and animated films in the race for the coveted European Film Prize is a testament to the Academy’s commitment to celebrating the full spectrum of European cinema culture.
The European Film Academy has revised its voting process to make it possible for documentaries and animated movies to be in contention for the prestigious title of Best European Film at the European Film Award.
Starting from the 37th European Film Awards, slated for December 7 in Lucerne, Switzerland, the recently declared modification will become effective straight away.
The purpose of this adjustment is to more accurately represent that documentaries and animated movies play a crucial role in European cinema’s rich tapestry, enhancing its remarkable variety,” the Academy stated. “These films span numerous genres, storytelling methods, and narrative structures, catering to all types of viewers.
Long documentaries and animated movies can qualify to compete in the categories of European Documentary, European Animated Feature Film, and even Best European Film.
Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO of the European Film Academy, stated that the board’s decision to provide a fairer and more equal opportunity for feature-length films to contend for recognition aligns with a long-held desire among members. He expressed that this move signifies an evolving perspective within our industry regarding the worth of all produced films. Knol expressed pride and gratitude that the European Film Academy, as it continues to promote transparency and equality in European cinema, has made this progressive step and embraced this change.
Films that might gain from this rule adjustment include Mati Diop’s award-winning documentary at Berlin, Dahomey; the political doc, No Other Land, another Berlin winner, focusing on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank; Gints Zilbalodis’ animated feature, Flow, a victor at Annecy and nominated as Latvia’s entry for the 2025 Oscars; and Sauvages, the newest claymation work from Oscar-nominated Swiss director Claude Barras (My Life as a Zucchini)).
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-02 12:54