Nov 6, 2006–Pedro Almodovar’s “Volver” and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s “The Lives of Others” lead the noms for this year’s European Film Awards, with six apiece.
Almodovar’s return-to-his-roots drama landed nominationss for picture, director, screenwriter, actress (Penelope Cruz), cinematographer and composer.
“The Lives of Others,” a portrait of life under communism in East Germany is up for film, director, actress, actor, screenwriter and composer.
Noms were announced Saturday at the Seville Film Festival, Spain.
Other contenders are Ken Loach’s Irish drama “The Wind That Shakes the Barley,” with four noms; Neil Jordan’s transvestite story “Breakfast on Pluto”; Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross’s controversial “The Road to Guantanamo,” with two; and Jasmila Zbanic’s Berlin Golden Bear winner “Grbavica,” with two.
Director Nominations
Almodovar, von Donnersmarck, Loach and the team of Winterbottom and Whitecross compete with Susanne Bier (“After the Wedding”) and Emanuele Crialese (“Golden Door”) for director kudos.
Acting
Irish thesp Cillian Murphy snagged two actor noms, for roles in “Breakfast” and “Barley.” Other candidates are Patrick Chesnais (“Not Here to Be Loved”), Jesper Christensen (“Manslaughter”), Mads Mikkelsen (“After the Wedding”), Ulrich Muhe (“The Lives of Others”) and Silvio Orlando (“The Caiman”).
Contending for actress kudos with Penelope Cruz are Nathalie Baye (“The Young Lieutenant”), Martina Gedeck (“The Lives of Others”), Sandra Huller (“Requiem”), Mirjana Karanovic (“Grbavica”) and Sarah Polley (“The Secret Life of Words”).
The 1,700 EFA members will vote for the winners. Kudofest will be held in Warsaw on Dec. 2.
