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    NOMINEES WELCOME GUIDE 2026

    Congratulations on your nomination for the 38th European Film Awards!

    The creation of the European Film Academy was the initiative of a group of Europe’s finest filmmakers brought together on the occasion of the first European Film Awards’ ceremony held in November 1988. The European Film Academy was finally founded in 1989 as the European Cinema Society by its first president Ingmar Bergman and 40 filmmakers to advance the interests of the European film industry. Wim Wenders (1996-2020) Agnieszka Holland (2020-2024) and Juliette Binoche (2024- ) followed in Bergman’s footsteps as Presidents of the Academy. The current chair of the Board is Mike Downey. Matthijs Wouter Knol has been appointed CEO and Director in 2021.

    The European Film Academy seeks to support and connect its 5,400 members and celebrates and promotes their work. Its aims are to share knowledge and to educate audiences of all ages about European cinema. Positioning itself as a leading organisation and facilitating crucial debates within the industry, the Academy strives to unite everyone who loves European cinema. Central to its mission are the European Film Awards, the highlight of the European Award Season. The Academy also champions European film heritage and is expanding its focus on young audiences through the European Young Audience Award.

    As a European Film Award Nominee, you will receive an invitation to join the European Film Academy – membership includes access to the Academy´s VOD Platform, full voting rights and an invitation to the annual European Film Awards.

    The EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS, presented jointly by the European Film Academy and European Film Academy Productions, honour the greatest achievements in European cinema.

    In 2026, the awards are presented in the following categories:

    EUROPEAN FILM
    EUROPEAN DIRECTOR
    EUROPEAN ACTRESS
    EUROPEAN ACTOR
    EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER
    Based on the EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS FEATURE FILM SELECTION three to four of the nominations in each of the above categories are voted for by the Academy Members. The Academy Board can add up to two nominations in each category. The board’s nominations need to be agreed on by the majority of the board members present at the nomination meeting. The board’s nominations may also be chosen from films nominated as EUROPEAN DISCOVERY – Prix FIPRESCI. Furthermore, nominated films for the categories EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY and EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATURE FILM are also running for the category EUROPEAN FILM.

    Three nominations in each of the below categories are voted for by the Academy Members of the respective chapter from the EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS FEATURE FILM SELECTION:

    EUROPEAN CASTING DIRECTOR
    EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER
    EUROPEAN COMPOSER (ORIGINAL SCORE)
    EUROPEAN COSTUME DESIGNER
    EUROPEAN EDITOR
    EUROPEAN MAKE-UP & HAIR ARTIST
    EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER
    EUROPEAN SOUND DESIGNER

    The list of nominations is submitted to the Academy Members who vote for the winners in the following categories to be announced at the European Film Awards ceremony:

    EUROPEAN FILM (the award goes to director and main producer jointly)
    EUROPEAN DIRECTOR
    EUROPEAN ACTRESS
    EUROPEAN ACTOR
    EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER
    EUROPEAN CASTING DIRECTOR
    EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER
    EUROPEAN COMPOSER (ORIGINAL SCORE)
    EUROPEAN COSTUME DESIGNER
    EUROPEAN EDITOR
    EUROPEAN MAKE-UP & HAIR ARTIST
    EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER
    EUROPEAN SOUND DESIGNER
    EUROPEAN DISCOVERY – Prix FIPRESCI
    EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY
    EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
    EUROPEAN SHORT FILM – Prix Vimeo
    The EUROPEAN YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD is determined by young audiences on the day of the Awards ceremony.

    The European Film Awards 2026 will be celebrated on Saturday, 17 January, in Berlin.
    The Awards ceremony will take place in the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, 10557 Berlin.

    The weekend programme traditionally includes film screenings with Q&As for the public and a reception by the Mayor of the hosting city on Friday night, as well as the awards ceremony and an after-show party for guests on Saturday.

    The show will be streamed live at www.europeanfilmawards.eu and through an international network of streaming and broadcasting partners.

    Please keep checking! More events and a detailed programme will be continually updated here.

    Awards Week Programme 2026

    Wednesday, 3 December 2025 18.00 – 19.30

    General Assembly

    Virtual meeting for the members of the European Film Academy only
    Friday, 16 January 20.00

    Academy Screening: SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE

    followed by Q&A with Liv Ullmann, recipient of the European Lifetime Achievement Award
    location: DelfiLUX, Yva-Bogen, Kantstraße 10, 10623 Berlin
    Friday, 16 January 20.00 - 23.30

    Mayor’s Night Nominees and Winners Rendez-vous

    Hosted by the Governing Mayor of Berlin
    for Nominees, Honorary Winners, Academy Board and +1 guests only
    incl. Official Nominees and Winners 2026 group photo call
    Dress code: casual chic

    Location: Rotes Rathaus, Rathausstraße 15, 10178 Berlin
    Friday, 16 January 21.00 - 23.30

    Mayor’s Night Reception

    Nominees and Winners joined by Presenters and a few special guests
    Dress code: casual chic

    Location: Rotes Rathaus, Rathausstraße 15, 10178 Berlin
    Saturday, 17 January 13.30

    Academy Screening: HAPPY AS LAZZARO

    followed by Q&A with Alice Rohrwacher, recipient of the European Achievement in World Cinema Award
    location: DelfiLUX, Yva-Bogen, Kantstraße 10, 10623 Berlin
    Saturday, 17 January 18.00 - 03.00

    16.00 Red carpet starts, welcome drink & snack
    17.00 Auditorium doors open
    17.30 Red carpet ends
    17.45 Seating complete & doors close
    18.00 LIVE broadcast of the European Film Awards Ceremony
    ~ After Show Party

    dress code: black tie

    The electronic ticket(s) and detailed information will be sent by e-mail in the second week of January 2026.

    The 38th European Film Awards will be broadcast LIVE on europeanfilmawards.eu

    Your European Film Awards nomination is a significant PR opportunity, and we strongly encourage you to make use of it. The rights-holders of the nominated films received the official nomination logo as well as a social media visual.
    Please see the Academy’s
    Social Media and PR Guidelines for the different PR opportunities and for the correct use of the artwork.

     

    EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY e.V.
    EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY PRODUCTIONS gGmbH
    Stralauer Allee 2A
    10245 Berlin
    GERMANY
    tel. +49 30 887 167 0
    guests@europeanfilmacademy.org

    The European Film Awards 2024 are supported by: