The 30th annual European Film Awards took place on Saturday, 9 December 2017, live from Berlin. The ceremony celebrated the best of European cinema, with more than 3,000 members of the European Film Academy casting votes across 21 categories. The awards highlighted outstanding filmmaking achievement in directing, acting, writing, technical crafts and artistic contribution, and underscored the diversity and creativity of contemporary European films.
Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning film The Square emerged as the most lauded title of the evening, taking home six awards in total. The film won the top prize for European Film and was recognised across key categories including European Director and European Screenwriter for Östlund, as well as honours for production design and other key crafts. The strong showing for The Square reflected broad academy support for its direction, writing and overall production values.
Julie Delpy, an iconic French filmmaker and actress known for her long-standing contributions to European and international cinema, received the European Achievement in World Cinema award. The honour recognised a sustained artistic career and placed Delpy among previous recipients celebrated for their global influence on film.
British independent feature Lady Macbeth, the debut feature from director William Oldroyd and starring Florence Pugh, was awarded the Prix Fipresci European Discovery. The prize highlighted the film as a standout first or early feature, marking emerging talent and promising direction among Europe’s new voices.
The full list of winners reflects a wide range of cinematic styles and national cinemas. Winners included established and emerging filmmakers, technicians and performers honoured for both creative excellence and technical skill. The awards recognised fiction, documentary and animated storytelling, as well as short form filmmaking and craft categories that support cinematic storytelling.
European Film 2017 – The Square
European Comedy 2017 – The Square
European Discovery 2017: Prix Fipresci – Lady Macbeth
European Documentary 2017 – Communion
European Animated Feature Film 2017 – Loving Vincent
European Short Film 2017 – Timecode
European Director 2017 – Ruben Östlund (The Square)
European Actress 2017 – Alexandra Borbély (On Body and Soul)
European Actor 2017 – Claes Bang (The Square)
European Screenwriter 2017 – Ruben Östlund (The Square)
European Cinematographer 2017: Prix Carlo Di Palma – Michail Krichman (Loveless)
European Editor 2017 – Robin Campillo (Beats Per Minute)
European Production Designer 2017 – Josefin Åsberg (The Square)
European Costume Designer 2017 – Katarzyna Lewińska (Spoor)
European Hair & Make-Up Artist 2017 – Leendert van Nimwegen (Brimstone)
European Composer 2017 – Evgueni & Sacha Galperine (Loveless)
European Sound Designer 2017 – Oriol Tarragó (A Monster Calls)
European Film Academy Life Achievement Award – Aleksandr Sokurov
European Achievement in World Cinema – Julie Delpy
European Co-Production Award 2017: Prix Eurimages – Cedomir Kolar
People’s Choice Award 2017 for Best European Film – Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe
The 2017 European Film Awards ceremony offered a snapshot of a vibrant cinematic year across the continent: established auteurs received recognition alongside promising newcomers, and a variety of genres and production styles were acknowledged. From celebrated festival winners to breakthrough first films, the awards emphasised artistic ambition, rigorous craft and films that resonated with audiences and peers alike.
By broadening visibility for European films and the professionals who make them, the European Film Awards continue to play a crucial role in promoting cross-border collaboration and public interest in European cinema. The 30th edition reinforced the Academy’s commitment to honouring cinematic achievements while drawing attention to the many creative voices shaping the current landscape of film across Europe.