There was another big event last night besides the world premiere of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” While everyone was freaking out about porgs (or whatever), the European Film Awards were handed out in Berlin. And one film ruled them all.
Ruben Ostlund‘s comedic takedown of modern art and the ignorance of the bourgeois, “The Square,” swept the ceremony winning Best European Film, Best European Comedy, Best Actor for Claes Bang, and Best Director. Dang. To say the Palme d’Or winner connected is an understatement. The victories didn’t leave much room for anybody else to shine, though Alexandra Borbely won Best European Actress for “On Body And Soul,” while “Loving Vincent” took Best Animated Feature. And we’re always glad to see love for “Lady Macbeth” which won the European Discovery prize.
What effect will this have on the Oscars? Well, it’ll certainly compel voters in the Foreign Film category to give “The Square” another look or finally pop in that screener they’ve been holding off watching.
Full list of winners below.
EUROPEAN FILM
The Square, dir: Ruben Ostlund
EUROPEAN DISCOVERY – PRIX FIPRESCI
Lady Macbeth, dir: William Oldroyd
EUROPEAN COMEDY
The Square, dir: Ruben Ostlund
EUROPEAN ACTRESS
Alexandra Borbely, On Body And Soul
EUROPEAN ACTOR
Claes Bang, The Square
EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY
Communion, dir: Anna Zamecka
EUROPEAN DIRECTOR
Ruben Ostlund, The Square
EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER
Ruben Ostlund, The Square
EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATURE
Loving Vincent, dirs: Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman
EUROPEAN SHORT FILM
Timecode, dir: Juanjo Gimenez
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED
EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER
Michail Krichman, Loveless
EUROPEAN COMPOSER
Evgueni & Sacha Galperine, Loveless
EUROPEAN EDITOR
Robin Campillo, BPM
EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Josefin Åsberg, The Square
EUROPEAN COSTUME DESIGNER
Katarzyna Lewińska, Spoor
EUROPEAN HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST
Leendert van Nimwegen, Brimstone
EUROPEAN SOUND DESIGNER
Oriol Tarragó, A Monster Calls
EUROPEAN CO-PRODUCTION AWARD
Cedomir Kolar
EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMA
Julie Delpy
EFA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Aleksandr Sokurov
EFA PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Stefan Zweig – Farewell To Europe, dir: Maria Schrader