Big winner: European Film Award for “Emilia Pérez”
Published: Sunday, Dec 8th 2024, 04:50
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It is extravagant, genre-busting and the winner of the evening: the musical film "Emilia Pérez" by French star director Jacques Audiard won five awards at the European Film Awards in Lucerne. Among other things, it won Best European Film of the Year. Audiard was also honored for his direction and screenplay.
The unconventional film about a Mexican cartel boss who has his gender reassigned to a woman and then wants to atone for past crimes also received a trophy for editing. The Spanish leading actress Karla Sofía Gascón (52) was named Best European Actress for "Emilia Pérez".
Germany's Oscar hopeful comes away empty-handed
The film is France's candidate in the race for the "Foreign Oscar". Germany's Oscar hopeful - the film "The Seeds of the Sacred Fig Tree" by Iranian Mohammad Rasoulof, who fled to Germany a few months ago - came away empty-handed.
In his musical film, Audiard explores the themes of gender equality and identity against the backdrop of Mexican drug wars. The form he has chosen is just as unusual as the story. Thriller, musical drama, burlesque comedy, telenovela, melodrama: "Emilia Pérez" is a mix of genres and styles. The story works on the big screen.
Why actress Gascón wore a blue dress
At the Cannes Film Festival, the film was honored with the Jury Prize, while the ensemble of actresses around Gascón and pop star Selena Gomez received the Acting Award. Gascón was the first trans woman to receive the award there.
The actress dedicated her award at the European Film Awards to all mothers in the world. Gascón had deliberately chosen her outfit - in reference to the blue European flag: "I am wearing a blue dress because I deeply believe in our values, in European values, in who we are." She just couldn't find any stars that she could have worn.
No award for Lars Eidinger and Franz Rogowski
Best European Actor went to Abou Sangare for his role in "Souleymane's Story" by Boris Lojkine. The nominated German actors Lars Eidinger ("Sterben") and Franz Rogowski ("Bird") came away empty-handed in the "European Actor" category.
The documentary film award went to "No Other Land" by a Palestinian-Israeli filmmaking collective. It deals with the displacement of Palestinians in the villages of Masafer Jatta south of Hebron in the West Bank.
Isolated shouts of "Free Palestine" in the hall
In a video message, Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham called on European governments to work towards a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
He referred to the suffering of the people in Gaza and the "unjustified and brutal Israeli hostages held in Gaza" after the attack on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas and other Islamist groups on 7 October 2023. Director Basel Adra said it was difficult to celebrate the award when living under occupation and spoke of "genocide".
Actress Hiam Abbass: "Let's pray for peace"
After the filmmakers' speech, a few shouts of "Free Palestine" could be heard in the hall. "No Other Land" had already been awarded the documentary film prize at the Berlinale. This was followed by an uproar over accusations of anti-Semitism at the award ceremony.
The actress Hiam Abbass ("Succession"), who comes from a Palestinian family, also made reference to Gaza before the winner in the "European Film" category was announced. Her thoughts were with the children in Gaza. Death had made their dreams disappear. "So please let us think of them. And let us pray for peace."
Wim Wenders alludes to US elections
German director Wim Wenders (79) received an award for his life's work. When he thanked the new president of the European Film Academy - Oscar winner Juliette Binoche - he alluded to the US elections, in which Donald Trump won against Kamala Harris.
"Thank you, Madam President. So many of us would have liked to have called another lady Madam President recently. But it didn't happen," said Wenders. Actress Isabella Rossellini (72) was honored for her services to the worldwide influence of European cinema.
The European Film Awards are among the most prestigious awards in the industry. The approximately 5,000 members of the European Film Academy vote for many award winners, similar to the Oscars in the USA.
Some winners had already been decided before the gala, which lasted several hours: "The Substance", for example, received an award for visual effects and cinematography. In 2023, the legal thriller "Anatomy of a Case" by Justine Triet was named the best European film of the year.
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