European Film Awards 2024: Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” Sweeps Five Prizes in Switzerland
The European Film Awards 2024, held at the KKL concert hall in Lucerne, Switzerland, celebrated cinematic excellence across the continent. Jacques Audiard’s "Emilia Pérez" emerged as the standout film of the night, clinching five awards, including best film.
The Mexico-set musical drama follows the story of a drug lord who undergoes gender-affirming surgery. Its accolades included best director for Audiard, best actress for Karla Sofía Gascón, best screenwriter, and the editing prize, previously announced as a craft category win. Audiard quoted Donald Winnicott in his acceptance speech for best director, stating, “It is a joy to be hidden, and disaster not to be found,” and dedicated the screenwriting prize to the late Niels Arestrup.
Karla Sofía Gascón, who played the titular role, thanked Audiard during her acceptance speech, calling him “the best European director.”
Another highlight was newcomer Abou Sangare’s win for best actor in "Souleymane’s Story." Sangare’s portrayal of a Guinean asylum seeker navigating Paris's gig economy in the Cannes-premiered drama beat out notable contenders like Ralph Fiennes and Daniel Craig.
The politically charged ceremony began with an address by European Film Academy president Juliette Binoche, who emphasized cinema’s power to foster understanding among diverse nations. A poignant moment came when the documentary prize went to "No Other Land," directed by Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra, highlighting the Israeli demolition of West Bank villages. The co-directors used their acceptance speech to call for action against the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis’s animated feature "Flow" won the best animation award, adding to its growing accolades after screening at Cannes and Annecy.
The evening also honored industry veterans. Italian actress and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini received the European Achievement in World Cinema award. German filmmaker Wim Wenders was presented with the Lifetime Achievement prize, delivered alongside a humorous video tribute by Kôji Yakusho. In his speech, Wenders urged the film community to portray Europe as “an emotional unity.”
The ceremony concluded with multilingual acceptance speeches, reflecting Switzerland's cultural diversity. Hosted by Swiss voice actor Fernando Tiberini, the event emphasized the inclusive spirit of European cinema.
Full List of Winners:
European Film:
- "Emilia Pérez" (France) / Jacques Audiard
European Actress:
- Karla Sofía Gascón in "Emilia Pérez"
European Actor:
- Abou Sangare in "Souleymane’s Story"
European Screenwriter:
- Jacques Audiard for "Emilia Pérez"
European Director:
- Jacques Audiard for "Emilia Pérez"
European Documentary:
- "No Other Land" (Palestine-Norway) / Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor & Hamdan Ballal
European Animation:
- "Flow" (Latvia-France-Belgium) / Gints Zilbalodis
European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI:
- "Armand" (Norway-Netherlands-Germany-Sweden) / Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel
European Short Film:
- "2720" (Portugal-Switzerland) / Basil da Cunha
European Young Audience Award:
- "Winners" (Germany) / Soleen Yusef
European Achievement in World Cinema:
- Isabella Rossellini
European Lifetime Achievement Award:
- Wim Wenders
Eurimages International Co-Production Award:
- Labina Mitovska
European Film Awards Craft Winners (previously announced):
- Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun for "The Substance"
- Visual Effects: Bryan Jones, Pierre Procoudine-Gorsky, Chervin Shafaghi, Guillaume Le Gouez for "The Substance"
- Production Design: Jagna Dobesz for "The Girl With The Needle"
- Original Score: Frederikke Hoffmeier for "The Girl With The Needle"
- Editing: Juliette Welfling for "Emilia Pérez"
- Costume Design: Tanja Hausner for "The Devil’s Bath"
- Make-up & Hair: Evalotte Oosterop for "When The Light Breaks"
- Sound: Marc-Olivier Brullé, Pierre Bariaud, Charlotte Butrak, Samuel Aïchoun, Rodrigo Diaz for "Souleymane’s Story"