The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the most important is the Best Film. They are restricted to European cinema and European producers, directors and actors. The awards were officially also called the "Felix Awards" until 1997, in reference to the former award's trophy statuette, which was replaced by a feminine statuette.
Since 1997, the European Film Awards have been held in early- to mid-December. Hosting duties have alternated between Berlin, Germany in odd-numbered years and other European cities in even-numbered years. The 33rd European Film Awards were held on 12 December 2020 as a virtual ceremony. In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian films were excluded from the 2022 European Film Awards.
Awarding procedures Feature films participating in the European Film Awards must be European feature-length fiction films intended for normal theatrical release which must have had their first official screening (be it at a festival or at a regular cinema) after 1 July of the year before. Based on a selection of approximately 40 films recommended for a nomination, the members of the European Film Academy vote for the nominations in the main categories, which are announced in early November at the Seville European Film Festival. Based on the nominations, the members of the European Film Academy then vote for the winners which are announced at the European Film Awards Ceremony in early December.
Eligibility The criteria whereby a film qualifies as European are based upon the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, Appendix II, issued by the Council of Europe. This definition might be extended for Israeli and Palestinian works and nationalities. A cinematographic work qualifies as European if it achieves at least 16 points (out of 21).
The European Film Academy uses a lower minimum of 13 points. European elementsWeighting PointsCreative groupDirector4Script writer 3Composer 1Performing groupFirst role 3Second role 2Third role 1Technical craft groupHead of Department – cinematography1Head of Department – sound1Head of Department – picture editing1Head of Department – production or costume design1Studio or shooting location 1VFX or CGI location 1Post-production location 1
Host cities
Year Date Venue City Presenter Director1st (1988) 1 Dec. 1988 Theater des Westens West Berlin Jan Niklas, Désirée Nosbusch Robin Bextor2nd (1989) 25 Nov. 1989 Théâtre des Champs-Elysées Paris Fernando Rey, Agnès Soral3rd (1990) 2 Dec. 1990 Royal Concert Hall Glasgow Sheena McDonald, Melvyn Bragg 4th (1991) 1 Dec. 1991 Babelsberg Potsdam Désirée Nosbusch-Becker, Johannes Willms 5th (1992) 25 Nov. 1992 Babelsberg Potsdam Senta Berger, Ben Kingsley6th (1993) 4 Dec. 1993 Babelsberg Potsdam Fanny Ardant 7th (1994) 27 Nov. 1994 Spiegelzelt Berlin -8th (1995) 12 Nov. 1995 Bar jeder Vernunft Berlin -9th (1996) 8 Nov. 1996 Blue Tent in Lützowplatz Berlin - 10th (1997) 7 Dec. 1997 Flughafen Tempelhof Berlin Tania Bryer 11th (1998) 4 Dec. 1998 Old Vic Theatre London Mel Smith, Carole Bouquet 12th (1999) 4 Dec. 1999 Schiller Theater Berlin Mel Smith, Carole Bouquet13th (2000) 2 Dec. 2000 Chaillot National Theatre Paris Rupert Everett, Antoine de Caunes14th (2001) 1 Dec. 2001 Tempodrom Berlin Mel Smith15th (2002) 7 Dec. 2002 Rome Opera House Rome Asia Argento, Mel Smith16th (2003) 6 Dec. 2003 Treptow Arena Berlin Heino Ferch 17th (2004) 11 Dec. 2004 Forum Convention Center Barcelona Maria de Medeiros, Juanjo Puigcorbé Manuel Huerga18th (2005) 3 Dec. 2005 Treptow Arena Berlin Heino Ferch Pepe Danquart19th (2006) 2 Dec. 2006 EXPO XXI Center Warsaw Maciej Stuhr, Sophie Marceau Volker Weicker20th (2007) 1 Dec. 2007 Treptow Arena Berlin Jan Josef Liefers, Emmanuelle Béart Volker Weicker21st (2008) 6 Dec. 2008 Forum Copenhagen Mikael Bertelsen Andreas Morell22nd (2009) 12 Dec. 2009 Hall of the Century Bochum Anke Engelke Andreas Morell23rd (2010) 4 Dec. 2010 Nokia Concert Hall Tallinn Anke Engelke, Märt Avandi Andreas Morell24th (2011) 3 Dec. 2011 Tempodrom Berlin Anke Engelke Nadja Zonsarowa25th (2012) 1 Dec. 2012 Mediterranean Conference Centre Valletta Anke Engelke Nadja Zonsarowa26th (2013) 7 Dec. 2013 Haus der Berliner Festspiele Berlin Anke Engelke Nadja Zonsarowa27th (2014) 13 Dec. 2014 Latvian National Opera Riga Thomas Hermanns Michael Maier28th (2015) 12 Dec. 2015 Haus der Berliner Festspiele Berlin Thomas Hermanns Nadja Zonsarowa29th (2016) 10 Dec. 2016 National Forum of Music Wrocław Maciej Stuhr Maria von Heland, Nadja Zonsarowa30th (2017) 9 Dec. 2017 Haus der Berliner Festspiele Berlin Thomas Hermanns Maria von Heland, Nadja Zonsarowa31st (2018) 15 Dec. 2018 Teatro de la Maestranza Seville Rossy de Palma, Ashraf Barhom, Amira Casar, Anamaria Marinca, Ivan Shvedoff, Tom Wlaschiha Maria von Heland, Nadja Zonsarowa32nd (2019) 7 Dec. 2019Haus der Berliner Festspiele BerlinAnna Brüggemann, Aistė Diržiūtė Dietrich Brüggemann, Nadja Zonsarowa33rd (2020) 12 Dec. 2020Online from Futurium Berlin Steven Gätjen 34th (2021) 11 Dec. 2021Haus der Berliner Festspiele Berlin 35th (2022)10 Dec. 2022Harpa Conference and Concert Hall ReykjavíkUnnsteinn Manuel36th (2023) 9 Dec. 2023Arena Berlin BerlinBritta SteffenhagenRobert Lehniger37th (2024)7 Dec. 2024Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre LuzernThe European Film Awards 2024 Go to Lucerne/Switzerland. In: europeanfilmawards.eu, 14th Dezember 2022 .Fernando Tiberini38th (2025) 17 Jan. 2026 The 38th European Film Awards will be celebrated in Berlin, Germany. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, 17 January 2026. More details will follow. In: europeanfilmawards.eu, 2 October 2025.Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin European Capital of Culture event
Up through the 2025 ceremony, 16 cities in 10 countries have hosted the contest. Berlin has been host 19 times, Potsdam 3 times, and Paris 2 times. Barcelona, Bochum, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Lucerne, Riga, Rome, Seville, Tallinn, Valletta, Warsaw, and Wroclaw, have each hosted once.
Award categories
Current categories Best Film Best Comedy European Discovery Best Animated Feature Film Best Short Film Best Documentary Film Best Director Best Actor Best Actress Best Composer Best Editor Best Screenwriter Best Production Designer Best Cinematographer Best European Co-Production Best Sound Designer Best Costume Designer Best Makeup and Hairstyling Best Visual Effects
Audience awards Audience Award for Best Film Young Audience Award University Award (Student's Choice)
Special awards Lifetime Achievement Achievement in World Cinema
Defunct awards Best Non-European Film Best Young Film Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Best Supporting Performance Best Young Actor or Actress People's Choice Award Best Actor People's Choice Award Best Actress People's Choice Award Best Director Prix d'Excellence Critics Award Award of Merit Honorary Award Special Jury Award European Cinema Society Special Award Special Mention
Proposed awards Best Animated Short Subject Best Live Action Short Subject Best Documentary Short Subject Best Music Video Best Cast Best Action or Adventure Film Best Sound Editing Best Sound Mixing Best Screenwriter - Adapted Best Screenwriter - Original Best Costume Designer in Contemporary Film Best Costume Designer in Historic Film Best Costume Designer in Unreal World (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Film Best Production Designer in Contemporary Film Best Production Designer in Historic Film Best Production Designer in Unreal World (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Film Best Makeup and Hairstylist in Contemporary Film Best Makeup and Hairstylist in Historic Film Best Makeup and Hairstylist in Unreal World (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Film Best Choreographer Best Original Song Best Poster Best Stunt Ensemble Best Actor – Series Best Actress – Series Best African Film Best Latin American Film Best North American Film Best Asian Film Best Middle East and North Africa Film Best Australia and Pacific Film
Timeline Editions: 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023Film Non-European Film Comedy Young Film/Discovery Animated Feature Documentary Short Film Fiction Series Editions: 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023Director Screenwriter Actor Actress Supporting Actor Supporting Actress Supporting Performance Young Actor or Actress Composer Cinematographer Co-Producer Editor Production Designer Costume Designer Sound Designer Makeup Hairstyling Visual Effects Innovative Storytelling Editions: 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023Lifetime Achievement Achievement in World Cinema Honorary Award Critics's Choice People's Choice - Director People's Choice - Actor People's Choice - Actress People's Choice - Film Young Audience Choice University Award - Student's Choice Editions: 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 <noinclude>
Category included in the cumulative category named Award of Excellence or Artistic Contribution Achievement Category included in the Production Designer category Critics choice transferred to European Discovery People's Choice transferred to European Parliaments Lux Prize Audience Film Award
Films with multiple wins
8 wins The Favourite (2019) 6 wins Good Bye, Lenin! (2003) The Ghost Writer (2010) The Square (2017) Cold War (2018) Anatomy of a Fall (2023) Sentimental Value (2025) 5 wins Talk to Her (2002) Caché (2005) Volver (2006) Gomorrah (2008) Ida (2014) Toni Erdmann (2016) Emilia Perez (2024) Sirāt (2025) 4 wins Open Doors (1990) Toto the Hero (1991) Dancer in the Dark (2000) Amélie (2001) Amour (2012) The Great Beauty (2013) Another Round (2020) Quo Vadis, Aida? (2021) Triangle of Sadness (2022) 3 wins High Hopes (1989) The Northerners (1992) Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (1992) Breaking the Waves (1996) All About My Mother (1999) Sunshine (1999) Sophie Scholl – The Final Days (2005) The Lives of Others (2006) The White Ribbon (2009) The King's Speech (2011) Melancholia (2011) Youth (2015) Land of Mine (2016) Dogman (2018) Flee (2021) The Promised Land (2023)
See also Lux Prize Film Award of the Council of Europe Prix Europa European Union MEDIA Prize MTV Europe Music Awards European Border Breakers Award
References
External links