3.1
Eligible films must be intended for theatrical release and have completed their first official screening (be it at a festival or at a regular cinema) between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026 and meet the particular criteria of the respective European Film Awards category(ies).
Depending on the first official screening a film needs to be submitted within the respective submission period (see 2.3). The Academy board has the right to extend the given time frame in exceptional cases.
This eligibility scheme does not apply for the category EUROPEAN SHORT FILM – Prix Vimeo where the eligibility is based on the year of production.
3.2
The director as well as all individuals eligible for a nomination must be European (please refer to list of eligible countries): either born in Europe or holding a European passport. The Academy board may consider non-Europeans provided they have a European refugee or similar status or have lived in Europe and worked in the European film industry for at least five consecutive years (verification required).
Should more than one individual be credited for an Award category, e.g. the ARTS & CRAFTS CATEGORIES, the credited persons can only be considered for a nomination in this category, if at least 50 % of the group, including the head of department, is European. The non-European film professionals are credited and listed, but, in case of a nomination, the invitation (including travel and accommodation) of the (main) nominee cannot be extended; additional tickets may be granted or purchased upon availability.
In case the main producer cannot be explicitly determined for the category EUROPEAN FILM, but more than one single producer claim the on-screen credit “producer” or “produced by” and mutually state that they produced the film in an established equal production partnership, no more than three producers shall be considered as the “main producer(s)”. In case of a nomination, the “main producer(s)” have to agree who represents the film at the European Film Awards ceremony.
Neither co-producer(s), executive producer(s), associate producer(s), line producer(s) or producer(s) who produced in association with shall be taken into account.
3.3
The main production country of an eligible film must be European; European, in the sense of the European Film Academy, means geographical Europe, both EU and non-EU, and includes Israel and Palestine (refer to list of eligible countries).
3.4
Films submitted for the 38th European Film Awards (2026) are not eligible to be submitted again for the 39th European Film Awards.
