2.1
Films can be proposed by European film institutions, festivals, trade magazines, members of the European Film Academy, Academy patrons and rightsholders of European feature-length films. However, proposals shall be made within the respective submission period (see 2.3 below).
2.2
For the shortlisting, nomination and awarding procedures films must be submitted by their rightsholders and made available for viewing to the respective committees/viewing groups.
2.3
Depending on the date of the first official screening of a feature-length film (be it at a festival or at a regular cinema) there are two submission periods:
- For films which premiered between 1 October 2025 and 31 May 2026,
submissions are accepted until 31 May 2026 (submission deadline)
- For films which premiered between 1 June and 30 September 2026,
submissions are accepted between 15 June and 15 September 2026
(submission deadline)
This scheme does not apply for the short film category as well as for the LUX AUDIENCE AWARD.
2.4
The submitted version has to be the original language version with English subtitles. For accessibility reasons this is also mandatory for English-language films. Furthermore, the provision of closed captions (CC)/audio-description as well as the the addition of subtitles in further languages are not only welcome, but strongly recommended.
2.5
The submission fee amounts to EUR 100 (subject to VAT) per film. In each submission phase an early bird discounted rate of EUR 80 (subject to VAT) is available. The fee will be charged by the European Film Academy e.V.. Should a film be shortlisted or nominated, an entry fee of EUR 800 (subject to VAT) per film applies (both fees do not apply for the short film category).
2.6
The entry of a film for the European Film Awards implies the unconditional acceptance of the regulations for the European Film Awards and the consent to submit and to make the film available on the European Film Academy’s submission and viewing platforms for committees and – once shortlisted or nominated – for the Academy members under the provided conditions (including the payment of the corresponding fees, if applicable).
2.7
Producers/distributors of films that are shortlisted and/or receive a nomination and/or an award in any category agree to follow the Campaign Rules provided by the European Film Academy for nominated/shortlisted films, e.g. to organise cinema screenings for Academy members, and to use the corresponding artwork of the selection, nomination or the award in all future promotion campaigns, e.g., on posters and other promotional material, in magazine, newspaper and internet advertising, social media and film trailers etc.
2.8
The nominations of the feature-length film related categories (for short films see 8) are voted for by the Academy members – for the ARTS & CRAFTS CATEGORIES the Academy members of the respective chapter – and are to be announced about eight weeks prior to the European Film Awards ceremony and made available for viewing to the Academy members who vote for the winners. This does not apply for the categories EUROPEAN YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD (see 12) and the LUX AUDIENCE AWARD (see 13) where the winners are selected by external/public committees; the honorary awards are chosen by the Academy board (see 9 – 11).
2.9
Each nominee receives a nomination certificate.
2.10
The European Film Awards ceremony is a celebration of European cinema and a platform to promote the faces that represent it. This way, the European Film Academy wants to contribute to make stars of European cinema more visible every year. For this reason, the European Film Academy wants to enable talent linked to shortlisted and nominated films to attend the European Film Awards ceremony, incl. the red carpet and the festivities surrounding the Awards Weekend.
2.10.1
For shortlisted films, on-screen talent as well as the director and/or producer are invited to attend the European Film Awards ceremony. This invitation covers a seat ticket, but does not include travel and accommodation. Depending on capacity, the Academy decides the maximum number of seat tickets (normally between 2-3) offered for free to the film team.
2.10.2
For nominated films, each nominee is invited to attend the European Film Awards ceremony including travel and accommodation covered by the European Film Academy. Should groups of film professionals be nominated in a category, only one representative is invited to attend the ceremony including travel and accommodation. Further nominees of the respective category are invited to attend the ceremony, but must cover all further costs themselves.
2.11
The Academy members’ votes for the winners are kept by a notary or an auditor (for voting for the LUX AUDIENCE AWARD see LUX AUDIENCE AWARD procedures, for voting for the EUROPEAN YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD (see 12 and EUROPEAN YOUNG AUDIENCE) procedures).
2.12
The winners are announced during the European Film Awards ceremony. This does not apply for the categories LUX AUDIENCE AWARD (see 13) as well as for the honorary awards (see 9 – 11).
2.13
Each award winner receives a certificate and a statuette (limited to one per category, in cases where a group of film professionals a single statuette may be awarded to the group), with the exception of EUROPEAN FILM for which there shall be two statuettes, one for the director and one for the main producer.
Further European Film Awards statuettes can be purchased upon request.
