European Film Academy announces 2026 nominations

The European Film Academy has announced the nominations for the 2026 European Film Awards,highlighting a strong year for European cinema with seven films collectively earning 18 nominations,celebrating outstanding achievements in European cinema.This year’s selections showcase a rich blend of established auteurs and rising filmmakers as Europe prepares for the ceremony scheduled to take place in Berlin on January 17, 2026.

Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value , Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident , and Olivier Laxe’s Sirat have secured spots in the Best European Feature category, reflecting the diverse storytelling traditions of contemporary European cinema. Renate Reinsve, Leonie Benesch, and Vicky Krieps were recognised with nominations for Best European Actress, while Sergi Lopez, Mads Mikkelsen, and Stellan Skarsgard were nominated for Best European Actor, underscoring a strong year for standout performances across genres.

Yorgos Lanthimos earned a Best European Director nomination for Bugonia , his feature starring Emma Stone and Jessie Plemons. He joins Laxe for Sirat , Panahi for It Was Just an Accident , Schilinski for Sound of Falling , and Trier for Sentimental Value in one of the night’s most competitive categories. The screenplay race features Panahi, Laxe and Santiago Fillol, Schilinski and Louise Peter, Trier and Eskil Vogt, and Paolo Sorrentino for La Grazia , marking a lineup filled with acclaimed writing talent.

Documentaries, animation and emerging voices expand the field

Documentary contenders include Afternoons of Solitude and Riefenstahl , while animated entries such as Arco and Little Amelie highlight Europe’s growing animation landscape. The European Discovery category, aimed at honouring breakthrough filmmakers, features works from Urska Djukic, Akinola Davies Jr., Laura Carreira, Murat Firatoglu, Mathias Broe, and Mara Tamkovich, signalling a promising new wave of storytellers.

Young audiences are also represented through nominations for Bienvenu’s Arco , Nora Lakos’ I Accidentally Wrote a Book , and Siblings , directed by Greta Scarano, emphasising the awards’ commitment to fostering cinematic engagement across generations.

The ceremony will also honour legendary actress and director Liv Ullmann with a lifetime achievement award, while Alice Rohrwacher will receive the European Achievement in World Cinema Award, recognising her contributions to global arthouse cinema.

The 38th European Film Awards will once again bring together Europe’s most influential artists and voices, celebrating creativity, diversity, and the cultural power of filmmaking.