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Polanski’s The Ghost Writer dominates at the 2010 European Film Awards
By admin | December 10, 2010
European Film Awards dominated by Polanski's The Ghost Writer
As Tallinn’s Black Nights Film Festival started winding down, all eyes turned to the 23rd European Film Awards which held in the Estonian capital to bringing the good and the great of European cinema together for their annual celebration of filmmakers from Portugal to Finland, and Ireland to Israel.
This year’s edition will go down in the Film Awards’ history as the one when the European Film Academy’s (EFA) 2,300 strong membership decided to break the record books by awarding Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer six prizes of its seven nominations, including distinctions for Best Film, Director, Actor (Ewan McGregor) and Production Designer (Albrecht Konrad).
Indeed, the large number of guests from Germany at the Awards was jubilant at the recognition given this year to the key role played by German producers in European co-productions and the attractiveness of Germany as a shooting location for international production.
Indeed, German production companies had been involved as co-poducers in Polanski’s The Ghost Writer, Samuel Maoz’s Lebanon – the winner of the revamped European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI Award and the Carlo di Palma European Cinematographer Award for DOP Giora Berach -, and Jessica Hausner’s Lourdes, which picked up the European Actress Award for Sylvie Testud’s performance.
In addtition, there was German participation in Patrizio Guzman’s Nostalgia For The Light, which won this year’s European Film Academy Documentary 2010 – Prix ARTE, Olivier Assayas’ masterly drama Carlos, which attracted the European Editor 2010 Award for editors Luc Barnier and Marion Monnier, and the People’s Choice Award for Jaco van Dormael’s futuristic drama Mr Nobody which had filmed at Studio Babelsberg in winter 2007.
Highlights in an entertaining two hours-plus ranged from the “surprise” appearance of Juliette Binoche, who spoke with genuine warmth and affection of composer Gabriel Yared, the recipient of this year’s award for European Achievement in World Cinema, and a standing ovation for Swiss actor Bruno Ganz who was presented by EFA President Wim Wenders with the European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award “for his outstanding and dedicated body of work.”
However, the man of the evening, Roman Polanski could not be physically present in Tallinn – he was probably worried that the Estonians might agree to extradite him to the US after his experience at last year’s Zurich Film Festival – and decided to follow the proceedings via Skype from his home in France. He appeared on screen to thank the Academy members for rewarding “a truly European venture” when accepting the Best Film honours..
The gala was the kick-off event for Tallinn’s year-long celebrations as European Capital of Culture 2011 and rounded off a programme of events for Film Academy members and guests over the weekend, which included a Conversation with Bruno Ganz and guided tours of Tallinn’s charming historic city centre.
In addition, official guests of the Film Awards were invited by Tallinners to have lunch in their homes on December 4 and hear stories about the town and its history from the local people. Gastronomic delights and much vodka flowed, according to some guests, who spoke in glowing terms about the hospitality and generosity of their Estonian hosts.
Next year, the Film Awards will be returning to Berlin as is the tradition every two years, and the 25th anniversary edition will be held in the Maltese capital of Valletta in 2012.
A full list of the winners of the 2010 European Film Awards can be found at http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org
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