Eligibility
4.1
Eligible are European feature-length fiction films intended for theatrical release which meet the general eligibility criteria (see 3).
The criteria whereby feature-length fiction films qualify as European are based upon the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production (CETS No. 220). According to the convention, a film qualifies as European if it achieves 16 points out of a possible maximum of 21 from a schedule of European elements.
To give the most flexible definition, the European Film Academy uses a lower minimum of 13 points as follows:
| European Elements | Weighting Points |
|---|---|
| Director | 4 |
| Scriptwriter | 3 |
| Composer | 1 |
| First role | 3 |
| Second role | 2 |
| Third role | 1 |
| Head of Department – cinematography | 1 |
| Head of Department – sound | 1 |
| Head of Department – picture editing | 1 |
| Head of Department – production or costume design | 1 |
| Studio or shooting location | 1 |
| Visual effects (VFX) or computer-generated imagery (CGI) location | 1 |
| Post-production location | 1 |
| Total | 21 |
The Academy board has the right to make exceptions in cases of lower points, provided the film has both a European director and a European main production country.
4.2
Furthermore, fiction films must fulfil at least one of the following criteria to be eligible:
- Having been selected at least at one major festival (see list of festivals – fiction films)
- Having been theatrically released in at least three countries for at least seven consecutive days or sold for such release
The Academy Board has the right to refrain from this rule in exceptional cases.
4.3
Submitted first feature-length European fiction films are also taken into consideration for the category EUROPEAN DISCOVERY – Prix FIPRESCI provided they meet the category-specific eligibility criteria (see 4.7 below).
4.4
Submitted European fiction films are also taken into consideration for the category EUROPEAN YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD provided they meet the category-specific eligibility criteria (see 12).
Academy Shortlist
4.5
The Academy board and a group of experts appointed by the board choose 35 – 45 fiction films for the EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS FICTION FILM SELECTION as part of the Academy Shortlist proposed to the Academy members to be considered for a nomination.
4.6
The shortlisted fiction films are announced internally to the members of the Academy in stages and will gradually be made available for viewing from June onwards, with the complete Academy Shortlist – including the EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS DOCUMENTARY FILM SELECTION as well as the EUROPEAN FILM AWARDS ANIMATION FILM SELECTION – to be announced to the public in October.
Nominations and election of winners
4.7
There are five nominations resulting from the films listed as FICTION FILM SELECTION in each of the following categories:
- EUROPEAN FILM
- EUROPEAN DIRECTOR
- EUROPEAN ACTRESS
- EUROPEAN ACTOR
- EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER
Based on the FICTION FILM SELECTION, three to four of the nominations in each of the above categories are voted for by the Academy members. The Academy board can add up to two nominations in each category and the board’s nominations need to be agreed on by the majority of the board members present at the nomination meeting. The board’s nominations may also be chosen from films nominated for EUROPEAN DISCOVERY – Prix FIPRESCI.
The list of nominations is presented to the Academy members who vote for the winners in the above categories to be announced at the European Film Awards ceremony.
4.8
Based on the FICTION FILM SELECTION, films can be considered by the Academy members of the respective chapter for a nomination in the ARTS & CRAFTS CATEGORIES (see 7).
4.9
In co-operation with FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics, the award EUROPEAN DISCOVERY – Prix FIPRESCI is presented to the European director(s) (see 3) of a first feature-length European fiction film intended for theatrical release which meets the general eligibility criteria (see 3).
Based on the submitted fiction debut films, a committee composed of members of FIPRESCI and experts appointed by the Academy board nominates six films in this category, 50 % of which are to be directed by female and/or non-binary directors.
The nominations are made available for viewing to the Academy members who vote for the winner to be announced at the European Film Awards ceremony.
4.10
The award in the category EUROPEAN FILM is presented to the European director(s) and the European main producer(s) (see 3.2) of a fiction, documentary or animation film.
Fiction films shortlisted for the FICTION FILM SELECTION – alongside the nominated films for the category EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY and EUROPEAN ANIMATION FILM – are vying for the category EUROPEAN FILM. There is a total of 15 nominations in this category (5 films from each Selection).
