Matteo Garrone’s harsh, hard-hitting exposé of the Neapolitan mafia, Gomorra, took five awards, while everyone’s favourite ‘M’, Dame Judi Dench, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 21st European Film Awards ceremony in Copenhagen, on 6 December 2008.
Click here for a full list of the nominees.
THE WINNERS
Best Film: Gomorra
Best Director: Matteo Garrone, Gomorra
Best Actor: Toni Servillo, Gomorra
Best Actress: Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long
Best Screenwriter: Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso and Roberto Saviano, Gomorra
Carlo di Palma European Cinematographer Award: Marco Onorato, Gomorra
European Film Academy Prix D’Excellence: Magdalena Biedrzycka for costume design, Katyn
Best Composer: Max Richter, Waltz With Bashir
European Film Academy Critics Award – Prix FIPRESCI: The Secret of the Grain, by Abdellatif Kechiche
European Film Academy Documentary – Prix Arte Rene: Rene by Helena Trestikova
European Film Academy Short Film – Prix UIP: Frankie by Darren Thornton
European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award: Dame Judi Dench
European Achievement in World Cinema: Soren Kragh-Jacobsen, Kristian Levring, Lars von Trier, and Thomas Vinterberg
European Discovery Award: Steve McQueen (Hunger)
People’s Choice Award: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by David Yates