Excellence Awards 2024 Winners Announced by European Film Academy
The European Film Academy has revealed the winners of the 2024 Excellence Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in cinematic crafts across eight categories. The announcement highlights the contributions of artisans in filmmaking, with winners set to receive their awards at the 37th European Film Awards ceremony in Lucerne, Switzerland, on December 7.
The awards celebrate excellence in areas such as cinematography, editing, production design, and original score, selected by an eight-member jury comprising prominent figures in European cinema. This year, "The Substance", "Emilia Pérez", and "The Girl with the Needle" emerged as key winners across several categories.
Winners and Jury Comments
- European Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun for "The Substance"
The jury praised Kračun’s cinematography for capturing the protagonist’s psychological descent through innovative lens distortions, achieving a blend of gloss and intimacy. - European Editing: Juliette Welfling for "Emilia Pérez"
Recognized for seamless editing in a musical narrative, Welfling’s work impressed with its fluid transitions between sung and spoken scenes. - European Production Design: Jagna Dobesz for "The Girl with the Needle"
Dobesz was lauded for vividly recreating post-WWI Copenhagen, enriching the film’s psychological depth through meticulously designed sets. - European Costume Design: Tanja Hausner for "The Devil’s Bath"
Hausner’s costumes were celebrated for their artistic integrity, showcasing bold textures and colors while advancing character development. - European Make-Up & Hair: Evalotte Oosterop for "When the Light Breaks"
Oosterop’s innovative styling reflected complex character dynamics, blending classic and unconventional designs. - European Original Score: Frederikke Hoffmeier for "The Girl with the Needle"
Hoffmeier’s minimalist score employed experimental soundscapes to evoke the protagonist’s anguish, complementing the film’s modern visual aesthetic. - European Sound: Marc-Olivier Brullé, Pierre Bariaud, Charlotte Butrak, Samuel Aïchoun, and Rodrigo Diaz for "Souleymane’s Story"
The jury highlighted the sound team’s work as a masterclass in sonic realism, creating an emotionally charged atmosphere through organic soundscapes. - European Visual Effects: Bryan Jones, Pierre Procoudine-Gorsky, Chervin Shafaghi, and Guillaume Le Gouez for "The Substance"
A seamless fusion of organic and digital effects, the visual effects team was commended for their subtle yet impactful contributions.
About the Jury
The jury comprised experts across various crafts, including composer Dascha Dauenhauer, cinematographer Kate McCullough, and sound designer Joakim Sundström. Their collective expertise ensured a fair evaluation of the nominees, selected from the European Film Awards Feature Film Selection.
Diversity and Inclusion
This year’s awards adhered to the European Film Academy’s Diversity & Inclusion Standards, reflecting its commitment to equitable recognition of talent across Europe.
The Excellence Awards underscore the importance of collaboration and innovation in filmmaking, setting the stage for the December ceremony, which remains a highlight of the European cinematic calendar.