Paolo Sorrentino’s updated take on Fellini, “The Great Beauty,” was named the best European film of 2013 by the European Film Academy on Saturday evening in Berlin.
The film beat a number of contenders at the European Film Awards, including the Belgian bluegrass tragedy “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” which had led all films in nominations, and the Cannes Palme d’Or winner “Blue Is the Warmest Color.”
Sorrentino was named best director for his film, which has often been compared to Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita.” It follows a journalist living an empty life of parties and glamor while living off the fame from a book he’d written decades earlier.
Also read: TheWrap Screening Series: ‘Great Beauty’ Director on Pros and Cons of Being Called the New Fellini
The film’s lead actor, Toni Servillo,” was named the year’s best actor, while the best actress award went to Veerle Baetens for “The Broken Circle Breakdown.”
Susanne Bier’s “Love Is All You Need” was named the best comedy, a new category for the European Film Awards. Writer-director Francois Ozon won the screenwriting award for “In the House.”
Abdellatif Kechiche’s sexually explicit and controversial “Blue Is the Warmest Color,” which competed under its European title, “Adele: Chapters 1 & 2,” was nominated for best film and best director, but it did not win in either category.
“The Act of Killing” was named the best documentary, while “The Congress” won the award for best animated film. The European Discovery award went to “Oh Boy!”
Also read: ‘Act of Killing’ Director on Filming His Shocking Documentary: It Gave Me Nightmares
Pedro Almodovar received an honorary award, European Achievement in Worldwide Cinema.
The ceremony took place on Saturday evening in Berlin and was hosted (with rather colossal awkwardness) by German actress Anke Engelke.
The European Film Academy consists of about 3,000 professionals in the European film industry. Director Agnieszka Holland currently serves as chairwoman.
The awards:
EUROPEAN FILM 2013: LA GRANDE BELLEZZA / THE GREAT BEAUTY
EUROPEAN COMEDY 2013: DEN SKALDEDE FRISØR / LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2013 Paolo Sorrentino for LA GRANDE BELLEZZA (The Great Beauty)
EUROPEAN ACTRESS 2013: Veerle Baetens in THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN
EUROPEAN ACTOR 2013: Toni Servillo in LA GRANDE BELLEZZA (The Great Beauty)
EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER 2013: François Ozon for DANS LA MAISON (In the House)
EUROPEAN DISCOVERY: OH BOY!
EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY: THE ACT OF KILLING
EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY ANIMATED FILM: THE CONGRESS
EUROPEAN SHORT FILM: DEATH OF A SHADOW/DOOD VAN EEN SCHADUW
EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLDWIDE CINEMA: Pedro Almodovar
EUROPEAN CO-PRODUCTION AWARD: Ada Solomon, CHILD’S POSE
EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER: Asaf Sudry, LEMALE ET HA’HALAL / FILL THE VOID
EUROPEAN EDITOR: Cristiano Travaglioli, LA GRANDE BELLEZZA / THE GREAT BEAUTY
EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Sarah Greenwood, ANNA KARENINA
EUROPEAN COSTUME DESIGNER: Paco Delgado, BLANCANIEVES
EUROPEAN COMPOSER: Ennio Morricone, THE BEST OFFER
EUROPEAN SOUND DESIGNER: Matz Muller & Erik Mischijew, PARADIES: GLAUBE / PARADISE: FAITH