Agnieszka Holland’s Franz scores further European Film Awards nominations
- The film has secured nominations for the Costume Design and Hair and Make-up categories following last week’s Best Actor nod for German thesp Idan Weiss
Agnieszka Holland’s Franz [+see also:
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interview: Agnieszka Holland
film profile] has added new highlights to an already strong awards trajectory, securing nominations in the European Film Awards’ craft categories for Costume Design and Hair and Make-up (see the news), following last week’s Best Actor nod for German performer Idan Weiss (see the news). The Czech-led feature, produced by Šárka Cimbalová in co-production with Germany and Poland, continues to draw attention across Europe’s awards circuit.
Costume designer Michaela Horáčková Hořejší is among the three nominees in her category for the 2026 EFAs, effectively placing her among the year’s top European practitioners. Her work on Franz builds on the long-established public image of writer Franz Kafka, often portrayed as a sombre, black-clad figure. While acknowledging this archetype, Hořejší opted for a more nuanced reinterpretation, introducing a palette centred on deep midnight blue — a choice she describes as both historically informed and symbolically resonant. The redesign aims to challenge entrenched assumptions about Kafka’s appearance while maintaining an understated elegance.
The film’s hair and make-up designer, Gabriela Polakova, has also been nominated. Her recent credits include Nosferatu, All Quiet on the Western Front [+see also:
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interview: Edward Berger
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Earlier this week, acclaimed cinematographer Tomasz Naumiuk picked up the Festival Director’s Award at Camerimage in Toruń, following his Best Cinematography win at the national festival in Gdynia. The Camerimage honour further strengthens the film’s critical momentum in the run-up to the EFAs.
Producer Šárka Cimbalová emphasised that the nominations underline both the film’s artistic ambition and the collective effort behind it: “These awards are recognition not only of exceptional costumes, hair and make-up, and cinematography, but also of the work of our entire team. The fact that our film resonates with the European Film Academy and Cameraimage is a huge honour for all of us and motivates us for our future work.”
Idan Weiss’s nomination is also notable as he was among the final discoveries of late German casting director Anja Dihrberg Bär, renowned for her work on Inglourious Basterds [+see also:
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film profile], The Grand Budapest Hotel [+see also:
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making of
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interview: Florian Henckel von Donners…
interview: Ulrich Muehe
film profile] and Babylon Berlin. Bär passed away in January 2023.
The winners of the 38th European Film Awards will be announced in Berlin on 17 January 2026.
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