Triumph at the European Film Awards: Jacques Audiard's 'Emilia Pérez' Sweeps Key Categories!

In a stunning display of artistic excellence, Jacques Audiard's latest film, **Emilia Pérez**, has emerged as a big winner at the European Film Awards held in Lucerne, Switzerland. The highly acclaimed Netflix crime drama not only secured the coveted title of **Best Film**, but Audiard also took home the award for **Best Director**, solidifying his status as a modern cinematic master.

Competing closely with Pedro Almodovar’s highly anticipated **The Room Next Door**, **Emilia Pérez** triumphed in all four of its nominations. The film's accolades included not only Best Film and Best Director but also featured **Karla Sofia Gascón**, who won **Best Actress** for her compelling performance, and Audiard himself clinched the award for **Best Screenplay**.

This year's awards featured other notable wins, showcasing the rich diversity of European cinema. **Gints Zilbalodis** received the award for **Best Animated Feature** for his praised film **Flow**, while the poignant documentary **No Other Land**, focusing on Palestinian-Israeli stories, was recognized as **Best Documentary**.

The success of **Emilia Pérez** and its team is a significant boost as they now head into the ultra-competitive awards season. The European Film Awards, voted on by the 5,000 members of the Berlin-based European Film Academy, are often seen as an important indicator for Oscar nominations in the United States. For instance, last year's winning film, **Anatomy of a Fall**, garnered five Oscar nominations, highlighting the growing global influence of European cinema.

Additionally, this ceremony marks a notable change in the scheduling of the European Film Awards; starting in 2026, the awards will shift from December to mid-January. This strategic move aims to enhance the relevance of these awards during the demanding awards season conversations in both Europe and the U.S.

Complete Winners from the 2024 European Film Awards:

- **Best Film**: *Emilia Pérez* by Jacques Audiard - **Best Director**: Jacques Audiard for *Emilia Pérez* - **Best Screenwriter**: Jacques Audiard for *Emilia Pérez* - **Best Actress**: Karla Sofía Gascón in *Emilia Pérez* - **Best Actor**: Abou Sangare in *Souleymane’s Story* - **Best Documentary**: *No Other Land* (Directed by Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Basel Adra & Hamdan Ballal) - **European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI**: *Armand* (Directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel) - **Young Audience Award**: *The Remarkable Life of Ibelin* (Directed by Benjamin Ree) - **Best Animated Feature**: *Flow* (Directed by Gints Zilbalodis) - **Best Cinematography**: *The Substance* (Benjamin Kračun) - **Best Editing**: *Emilia Pérez* (Juliette Welfling) - **Best Production Design**: *The Girl With the Needle* (Jagna Dobesz) - **Best Costume Design**: *The Devil’s Bath* (Tanja Hausner) - **Best Make-up & Hair**: *When the Light Breaks* (Evalotte Oosterop) - **Best Original Score**: *The Girl With the Needle* (Frederikke Hoffmeier) - **Best Sound**: *Souleymane’s Story* (Marc-Olivier Brullé, Pierre Bariaud, Charlotte Butrak, Samuel Aïchoun, Rodrigo Diaz) - **Best Visual Effects**: *The Substance* (Bryan Jones, Pierre Procoudine-Gorsky, Chervin Shafaghi, Guillaume Le Gouez) - **Best Short Film**: *The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent* (Directed by Nebojša Slijepčević)

The ceremony reflects the strength and innovation present in contemporary European cinema, and with the shifting dates next year, the anticipation for what lies ahead is palpable. Will *Emilia Pérez* continue to dominate as the awards season unfolds? Only time will tell!