The European Film Academy unveils its first winners
- The EFA has revealed its technical awards for the 28th edition of the European Film Awards, including Best Cinematography, Editing, Design, Costumes, Music and Sound
The European Film Academy has announced its first six winners for this year's European Film Awards, which are approaching their 28th edition. The jury in charge of handing out these prizes was made up of seven European professionals: production designer Anna Asp (Sweden), costume designer Daniela Ciancio (Italy), sound designer Mathieu Cox (Belgium), director/producer Uberto Pasolini (UK), cinematographer Adam Sikora (Poland), composer Kjartan Sveinsson (Iceland) and film editor Monika Willi (Austria). Assembled in Berlin, this special jury decided on the winners from among the 2015 EFA selection, in the categories of cinematography, editing, production design, costume design, composer and sound design.
The Prix Carlo di Palma for Best European Cinematographer 2015 went to Martin Gschlacht for his work on the Austrian production Goodnight Mommy [+see also:
film review
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interview: Severin Fiala and Veronika …
film profile] by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz. The jury stressed its extremely consistent and suggestive photography: “Every frame is created in the atmosphere of the film and strengthens its dramaturgy. These pictures are testimony to the huge visual sensitivity of the cinematographer.”
Jacek Drosio, editor for the film Body [+see also:
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interview: Malgorzata Szumowska
interview: Malgorzata Szumowska
film profile] by Polish director Małgorzata Szumowska, was presented with the European Editor Award 2015 for his outstanding example of playful precision. “Underpinned by shining humour, the montage uses cinematography's multi-faceted imagery to create space for each character, for each character's dignity, the deceased and the viewer. Jacek Drosio allows us to linger, steps up the pace where needed, and shifts perspectives to compose a splendid narration that brings all the pain and longing together in a good laugh,” according to the jury members.
The Brand New Testament [+see also:
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interview: Jaco van Dormael
film profile] by Jaco van Dormael, the Belgian representative for the 2016 Oscars, received the European Production Designer Award, thanks to the work of Sylvie Olivé, whose “design follows and supports the drama in a beautiful, funny and artistic way, mixing the real and the surreal with a lot of ironic fantasy". As for the Costume Designer Award, the prize went to Sarah Blenkinsop for her remarkable use of “colour and shape in a wonderful way to paint each frame of the film” in The Lobster [+see also:
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Q&A: Yorgos Lanthimos
film profile] by Yorgos Lanthimos, where “the costume design helps to realise the director's vision”.
"For a very brave and daring approach to film scoring, with all the right elements of musical craftsmanship and visual understanding”, the European Composer Award 2015 went to the band Cat's Eyes for the The Duke of Burgundy [+see also:
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film profile], a co-production between the UK and Hungary, directed by Peter Strickland. Finally, the prize for Best European Sound Designer at this edition of the European Film Awards was presented to Miguel Gomes' trilogy Arabian Nights – Vols. I-III [+see also:
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interview: Miguel Gomes
film profile], an intense work by Vasco Pimentel and Miguel Martins that “possesses a strong identity, combining documentary and fiction styles. Each sound sequence develops an original point of view, closely matching the narration. The result is brilliant poetry, full of life and boldness."
The nominations in the categories of Best European Film, Comedy, Director, Screenwriter, Actress and Actor will be announced on 7 November at the Seville European Film Festival. After that, the more than 3,000 members of the European Film Academy will vote for the winners, which will be honoured during the 28th European Film Awards ceremony, set to take place at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Berlin on 12 December.
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