Sentimental Value Dominates European Film Awards Amid Political Themes

The European Film Awards held on March 15, 2026, in Berlin, celebrated notable cinematic achievements while addressing pressing social and political issues. The evening’s standout was Joachim Trier’s film Sentimental Value, which received six awards, including Best Film.

For 38 years, these awards have provided a prestigious alternative to the Oscars, showcasing a diverse array of films. This year, the ceremony featured daring works such as Óliver Laxe’s post-apocalyptic thriller Sirāt and Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident, the latter having won the Palme d’Or. The event marked a significant shift for the European Film Academy (EFA), moving from its traditional pre-Christmas slot to the competitive awards season, traditionally dominated by the Golden Globes and Academy Awards.

With over 5,400 members from more than 50 countries, the EFA has embraced an international spirit. The Cork International Film Festival even hosted a livestream of the event, allowing wider audiences to engage with the festivities, which maintained a distinctly European character through curated montages and unique tributes.

As the ceremony unfolded at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, attendees experienced an eclectic atmosphere that included a half-hour break for refreshments and playful touches such as fake snowfall. In a tribute to French director Agnès Varda, each guest received a potato, a nod to the director’s frequent references in her work.

The awards evening was underscored by a strong sense of social responsibility. EFA Chair Mike Downey emphasized this commitment, while Jafar Panahi, recently sentenced to prison for dissent against the Iranian government, warned against “normalisation of violence” in his home country and globally. His poignant remarks, “When the truth is crushed in one place, freedom suffocates everywhere,” resonated deeply with the audience.

The theme of social justice continued with On Falling, directed by Laura Carreira, which was awarded the Discovery Award for its critical portrayal of wage slavery. The representation of Palestine was also prominent, with nominations for Kamal Aljafari’s documentary Hasan in Gaza and Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.

Among the evening’s highlights, Liv Ullmann received the European Lifetime Achievement Award, where she expressed her gratitude and alluded to contemporary political discourse. She remarked, “I’m Norwegian. We gave the Nobel Prize to someone… and then it goes to someone else?”

The awards ceremony crowned Stellan Skarsgård as Best European Actor for his role in Sentimental Value, while co-star Renate Reinsve won Best European Actress, despite her role being considered supporting. Trier’s film also clinched awards for Best Director and Best Film, though it faced stiff competition from Laxe’s Sirāt, which won for production design, sound, editing, and cinematography.

In a notable first, Sirāt received the inaugural European Award for its casting directors, highlighting the film’s innovative approach. The only award for the Dublin-based production company Element Pictures went to Torsten Witte for Make-up and Hair for his work on Bugonia. Meanwhile, Brendan Canty’s Cork-based coming-of-age film Christy remains in contention for the LUX Audience Award, which will be decided by EU citizens and Members of the European Parliament.

The awards showcased a blend of creativity, poignant commentary, and a commitment to addressing global issues, reinforcing the European Film Awards’ distinctive place in the international film landscape.