The 38th European Film Awards lit up the cinematic landscape on Saturday, January 17th, celebrating the continent’s most compelling storytelling and artistic excellence. Leading the pack was the Norwegian drama Sentimental Value, which emerged as the night’s top performer, claiming Europe’s most prestigious film honor—European Film of the Year.
Directed by Joachim Trier, the critically acclaimed feature also earned Trier the European Director award, reinforcing his status as one of today’s visionary filmmakers. He shared the European Screenwriter prize with long-time collaborator Eskil Vogt, their emotionally layered script striking a chord with audiences and juries alike.
The film’s success extended to powerful performances by its lead actors. Renate Reinsve took home European Actress, delivering a career-defining turn, while veteran Stellan Skarsgård secured European Actor for his nuanced portrayal. The craft accolades continued with Hania Rani winning Best Score, her haunting compositions elevating the film’s emotional depth.
Sentimental Value also impressed behind the scenes, earning a nomination for European Casting Director, though the award went to Sirāt’s team of Nadia Acimi, Luís Bértolo, and María Rodrigo—a recognition of the Spanish-language thriller’s standout ensemble.
Sirāt, directed by Oliver Laxe, proved to be the night’s other major force, dominating technical categories. It claimed Best Cinematography (Mauro Herce), Best Editing (Cristóbal Fernández), Best Production Design (Laia Ateca), and Best Sound Design (Laia Casanovas, Amanda Villavieja, Yasmina Praderas)—a rare sweep highlighting its immersive craftsmanship.
In additional milestones, Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, earned Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Torsten Witte) and Best Sound Design runner-up honors, while Sound of Falling clinched Best Costume Design (Sabrina Krämer). The animated feature Arco took both the European Animated Feature Film and the public-voted Young Audience Award, underscoring its wide appeal.
Documentary honors went to Fiume o Morte! by Igor Bezinović, while On Falling won the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI award, spotlighting emerging talent.
The ceremony also paid tribute to cinematic legends. Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi, director of the nominated It Was Just an Accident, delivered a moving speech, while Liv Ullmann received the Lifetime Achievement Award and Alice Rohrwacher was honored with the European Achievement in World Cinema Award.
With Sentimental Value at the heart of the evening and groundbreaking wins across genres, the 2026 European Film Awards reaffirmed Europe’s rich and diverse film legacy.
