Palme d’or winner ‘The Square’ sweeps European Film Awards
Cannes Palme d’or winner ‘The Square’, directed by Ruben Ostlund, scooped the best European film, comedy, script, director and actor prizes at the 30th European Film Awards ceremony, which took place in Berlin.
“We wanted to say something important, but we also wanted it to be entertaining and exciting – I think it’s part of a European approach,” said Ostlund upon receiving the prize for best European comedy. The provocative Swedish helmer cited ‘Toni Erdmann’, last year’s big winner at the European Film Awards, as another film that uses comedy to say something meaningful about humankind and society, Variety reported.
Robin Campillo’s critically acclaimed ‘BPM (Beats Per Minute)’, the winner of Cannes’ Grand Jury Prize, took home best editing out of several nominations.
Alexandra Borbely (‘On Body and Soul’) won best actress, beating out French stars Isabelle Huppert (‘Happy End’) and Juliette Binoche (‘Bright Sunshine In’), as well as Florence Pugh (‘Lady Macbeth’) and Paula Beer (‘Frantz’).
Claes Bang won the best actor prize for his turn in ‘The Square’. The film’s production designer, Josefin Asberg, also won in her category.
The European Discovery Award went to William Oldroyd’s ‘Lady Macbeth’, while the EFA People’s Choice Award was given to Maria Shrader’s ‘Stefan Zweig – Farewell to Europe’.
As last year, the European Film Awards ceremony was politically charged. Wim Wenders, who presides over the European Film Academy, addressed the persistent rise of populism across the continent in his speech.
“It is the oldest and worst European disease. How could it possibly creep back in our present times? How could these populist [politicians] with their lies threaten to kill our proudest dreams?” said Wenders on stage.
“When I look at Europe, I still see a great promise with a touch of utopia. Europe is still a save haven. Europe is not a problem; Europe is a solution. Let’s defend it with all our convictions,” Wenders said.
The #Metoo movement was also discussed during the ceremony by Rebecca O’brien, the illustrious British producer of Ken Loach’s films, along with other prominent female figures of the European industry.
“We have to listen and learn from the people we work with. The fire started in our industry and if we’re clever there is nothing to stop us too from leading by example and turning the world the right way up again. Come on, ladies!” said O’brien.
O’brien also suggested the launch of a “sort of help line” so that people could find a “safe haven” for complaints.
One of the ceremony’s highlights was the lifetime tribute to Julie Delpy, who received the European Achievement in World Cinema for her rich and diverse career in front and behind the camera.