Great Beauty, The (2013): Sorentino’s Film Sweeps European Film Awards

Paolo Sorrentino’s The Great Beauty was the big winner at the European Film Awards on December 5, 2013 in a wintry Berlin, where the Italo picture earned prizes for best film, director, actor for Toni Servillo, and editor for Cristiano Travaglioli.

The screenwriter award went to Francois Ozon for “In the House,” while Veerle Baetens was named best actress for Felix Van Groeningen’s “The Broken Circle Breakdown.”

Among the femme luminaries of the Euro film scene were Catherine Deneuve, who was feted with the European Film Academy lifetime achievement award, Noomi Rapace, Kristin Scott Thomas and Diane Kruger.

Helmer Wim Wenders, the EFA prexy, gave the award to Deneuve and said that it was difficult to stand before her as she “had made such an impact on the young filmmaker I once was.”

The male leads of European moviemaking at the event included Ennio Morricone, who took the European composer prize for “The Best Offer,” and Almodovar, who was awarded the European Achievement in World Cinema honor.

Almodovar delivered a stinging attack on the Spanish government from the stage, and denounced the devastating effects of its economic policies on Spanish cinema and society. He paid tribute “to the resistance of the citizens who are victims of this government, which is deaf and insensitive to the problems of my country.”

Almodovar dedicated the award to his mother and the other women who influenced him as a child. “Listening to them was a very important part of my education,” he said. He also paid tribute to his brother and producer Agustin Almodovar, who was in the audience.

The European Discovery Award went to German slacker movie “Oh Boy.” Director Jan Ole Gerster said he had spent the past three months in California, and when he got homesick he watched European movies, which only made him feel worse. He said that standing in front of an audience that repped “the heart and soul of European cinema, this award means everything to me.”

The European comedy film award went to Susanne Bier’s “Love Is All You Need,” which stars Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm. Ari Folman’s “The Congress” was named top animated film. Folman pointed out that the pic was backed by companies in nine different countries, making it a true European co-production. The documentary award was picked up by Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The Act of Killing,” which recreates the murders committed by death squads in Indonesia. He paid tribute to his Indonesian crew, who were not credited in the film to protect them from reprisals.

Paco Delgado was named best costume designer for “Blancanieves,” Sarah Greenwood picked up the production designer award for “Anna Karenina,” and the cinematography kudo went to Asaf Sudry for “Fill the Void.”

Producer Ada Solomon (“Child’s Pose”) picked up the Prix Eurimages, the European co-production award. Talking about the job of a producer, she quoted Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it is done.”

The People’s Choice prize went to Ruben Alves’ “The Gilded Cage.”

The awards were broadcast live in 17 European countries, and streamed live online.

EUROPEAN FILM

LA GRANDE BELLEZZA

THE GREAT BEAUTY
DIRECTED BY: Paolo Sorrentino

EUROPEAN COMEDY

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
DIRECTED BY: Susanne Bier

EUROPEAN DISCOVERY – Prix FIPRESCI

OH BOY

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Jan Ole Gerster

EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY

THE ACT OF KILLING
DIRECTED BY: Joshua Oppenheimer
PRODUCED BY: Signe Byrge Sorensen