The European Film Academy has announced the nominees for the 36th European Film Awards (EFAs). Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest and Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall lead the list, each receiving multiple nominations across the major categories.
Justine Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or–winning drama Anatomy of a Fall earned nominations in several top categories, including European Film, Best Director, Best Lead Actress for Sandra Hüller, and Best Screenplay. Jonathan Glazer’s critically acclaimed The Zone of Interest is also recognized in the top fields, with nominations for European Film, Best Director, Best Lead Actor for Christian Friedel, Best Lead Actress for Sandra Hüller (also nominated for Anatomy of a Fall), and Best Screenplay.
British performances are prominently represented: Josh O’Connor receives a nomination for his leading role in Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera, while Mia McKenna-Bruce is nominated for her role in Molly Manning Walker’s debut feature How to Have Sex. Both performances reflect the continued strength and international reach of British acting talent within European cinema this year.
Aki Kaurismäki’s Finnish entry Fallen Leaves also performed strongly, earning nominations across all five major categories announced. The film’s recognition reinforces Kaurismäki’s enduring presence on the European festival and awards circuit.
The 2023 European Film Awards ceremony will take place in Berlin, Germany, on 9 December 2023. The event brings together the continent’s most acclaimed filmmakers, performers, and industry professionals to celebrate outstanding achievements in European cinema.
Full list of 2023 European Film Awards nominees
European Film
Anatomy of a Fall
Fallen Leaves
Green Border
Me Captain
The Zone of Interest
European Young Audience Award
Longing for the World
One in a Million
Scrapper
European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI
20,000 Species of Bees
How to Have Sex
La Palisiada
Safe Place
The Quiet Migration
Vincent Must Die
European Documentary
Apolonia, Apolonia
Four Daughters
Motherland
On the Adamant
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
European Animated Feature Film
A Greyhound of a Girl
Chicken for Linda!
Robot Dreams
The Amazing Maurice
White Plastic Sky
European Short Film
27
Aqueronte
Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays
Flores Del Otro Patio
Hardly Working
European Director
Justine Triet — Anatomy of a Fall
Aki Kaurismäki — Fallen Leaves
Agnieszka Holland — Green Border
Matteo Garrone — Me Captain
Jonathan Glazer — The Zone of Interest
European Actress
Sandra Hüller — Anatomy of a Fall
Eka Chavleishvili — Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry
Alma Pöysti — Fallen Leaves
Mia McKenna-Bruce — How to Have Sex
Leonie Benesch — The Teachers’ Lounge
Sandra Hüller — The Zone of Interest
European Actor
Thomas Schubert — Afire
Jussi Vatanen — Fallen Leaves
Josh O’Connor — La Chimera
Mads Mikkelsen — The Promised Land
Christian Friedel — The Zone of Interest
European Screenwriter
Justine Triet & Arthur Harari — Anatomy of a Fall
Aki Kaurismäki — Fallen Leaves
Gabriela Lazarkiewicz-Sieczko & Maciej Pisuk & Agnieszka Holland — Green Border
Johannes Duncker & Ilker Çatak — The Teachers’ Lounge
Jonathan Glazer — The Zone of Interest
These nominations reflect a diverse and vibrant year for European cinema, highlighting both established auteurs and emerging voices. Films nominated span an array of genres and themes, from intimate courtroom dramas and dark historical reflections to quiet comedies and animated features aimed at all ages. The presence of multiple nominations for single titles—such as Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest, and Fallen Leaves—underscores how certain films resonated strongly across critics, audiences, and industry peers alike.
As the awards ceremony approaches in December, attention will turn to which films and individuals convert these nominations into wins. The EFAs remain a key barometer for European filmmaking excellence, celebrating creativity, storytelling, and technical craft across nations. The 2023 shortlist offers a rich snapshot of recent work, and the December ceremony in Berlin will bring the continent’s cinematic achievements into the spotlight.