European Film Awards


The European Film Awards have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the most important is the Best Film. They are restricted to European cinema and European producers, directors, and actors. The awards were officially also called the "Felix Awards" until 1997, in reference to the former award's trophy statuette, which was replaced by a feminine statuette.
Since 1997, the European Film Awards have been held in early- to mid-December. Hosting duties have alternated between Berlin, Germany in odd-numbered years and other European cities in even-numbered years. The most recent European Film Awards were held on 7 December 2019 in Berlin.

Awarding procedures

Feature films participating in the European Film Awards must be European feature-length fiction films intended for normal theatrical release which must have had their first official screening after 1 July of the year before.
Based on a selection of approximately 40 films recommended for a nomination, the members of the European Film Academy vote for the nominations in the main categories, which are announced in early November at the Seville European Film Festival. Based on the nominations, the members of the European Film Academy then vote for the winners which are announced at the European Film Awards Ceremony in early December.

Eligibility

The criteria whereby a film qualifies as European are based upon the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, Appendix II, issued by the Council of Europe. This definition might be extended for Israeli and Palestinian works and nationalities. A cinematographic work qualifies as European if it achieves at least 16 points.
The European Film Academy uses a lower minimum of 13 points.

Host cities

Edition DateVenueCityPresenterDirectorNotes
1st 26 Nov. 1988Theater des Westens West BerlinJan Niklas, Désirée NosbuschRobin BextorECC event
2nd 25 Nov. 1989Théâtre des Champs-Elysées ParisFernando Rey, Agnès SoralECC event
3rd 2 Dec. 1990Royal Concert Hall GlasgowSheena McDonald, Melvyn BraggECC event
4th 1 Dec. 1991Babelsberg PotsdamDésirée Nosbusch-Becker, Johannes Willms
5th 25 Nov. 1992Babelsberg PotsdamSenta Berger, Ben Kingsley
6th 4 Dec. 1993Babelsberg PotsdamFanny Ardant
7th 27 Nov. 1994Spiegelzelt Berlin-
8th 12 Nov. 1995:de:Bar jeder Vernunft|Bar jeder Vernunft Berlin-
9th 8 Nov. 1996:de:Lützowplatz|Blue Tent in Lützowplatz Berlin-
10th 7 Dec. 1997Flughafen Tempelhof BerlinTania Bryer
11th 4 Dec. 1998Old Vic Theatre LondonMel Smith, Carole Bouquet
12th 4 Dec. 1999Schiller Theater BerlinMel Smith, Carole Bouquet
13th 2 Dec. 2000Chaillot National Theatre ParisRupert Everett, Antoine de Caunes
14th 1 Dec. 2001Tempodrom BerlinMel Smith
15th 7 Dec. 2002Rome Opera House RomeAsia Argento, Mel Smith
16th 6 Dec. 2003Treptow Arena BerlinHeino Ferch
17th 11 Dec. 2004Forum Convention Center BarcelonaMaria de Medeiros, Juanjo PuigcorbéManuel Huerga
18th 3 Dec. 2005Treptow Arena BerlinHeino FerchPepe Danquart
19th 2 Dec. 2006:pl:Warszawskie Centrum EXPO XXI|EXPO XXI Center WarsawMaciej Stuhr, Sophie MarceauVolker Weicker
20th 1 Dec. 2007Treptow Arena BerlinJan Josef Liefers, Emmanuelle BéartVolker Weicker
21st 6 Dec. 2008Forum CopenhagenMikael BertelsenAndreas Morell
22nd 12 Dec. 2009:de:Jahrhunderthalle |Hall of the Century BochumAnke EngelkeAndreas MorellECC event
23rd 4 Dec. 2010Nokia Concert Hall TallinnAnke Engelke, Märt AvandiAndreas MorellECC event
24th 3 Dec. 2011Tempodrom BerlinAnke EngelkeNadja Zonsarowa
25th 1 Dec. 2012Mediterranean Conference Centre VallettaAnke EngelkeNadja Zonsarowa
26th 7 Dec. 2013Haus der Berliner Festspiele BerlinAnke EngelkeNadja Zonsarowa
27th 13 Dec. 2014Latvian National Opera RigaThomas HermannsMichael MaierECC event
28th 12 Dec. 2015Haus der Berliner Festspiele BerlinThomas HermannsNadja Zonsarowa
29th 10 Dec. 2016National Forum of Music WrocławMaciej StuhrECC event
30th 9 Dec. 2017Haus der Berliner Festspiele BerlinThomas Hermanns
31st 15 Dec. 2018Teatro de la Maestranza SevilleRossy de Palma, Ashraf Barhom, Amira Casar, Anamaria Marinca, Ivan Shvedoff, Tom Wlaschiha
32nd 7 Dec. 2019Haus der Berliner Festspiele BerlinAnna Brüggemann, Aistė DiržiūtėDietrich Brüggemann
33rd 12 Dec. 2020Harpa Conference and Concert Hall Reykjavík
34th 11 Dec. 2021Haus der Berliner Festspiele Berlin

Up through the 2018 ceremony, 15 cities in 10 countries have hosted the contest. Berlin has been host 14 times, Potsdam 3 times, and Paris 2 times. Barcelona, Bochum, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Riga, Rome, Seville, Tallinn, Valletta, Warsaw, and Wroclaw, have each hosted once.

Award categories

Current categories

Films with multiple wins

;8 wins
  • The Favourite
;6 wins
  • Cold War
  • The Ghost Writer
;5 wins
  • Caché
  • Volver
  • Gomorrah
  • Ida
  • Toni Erdmann
  • The Square
;4 wins
  • Open Doors
  • Toto the Hero
  • Dancer in the Dark
  • Amélie
  • Talk to Her
  • Good Bye, Lenin!
  • Amour
  • The Great Beauty
;3 wins
  • The Northerners
  • Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
  • Breaking the Waves
  • All About My Mother
  • The White Ribbon
  • The King's Speech
  • Melancholia
  • Youth
  • Land of Mine
  • Dogman