Skarsgård, Reinsve win top acting honors at European Film Awards

European Film Awards 2026 Honors Sentimental Value with Top Prizes

The 38th European Film Awards unfolded in Berlin on Saturday, with Joachim Trier’s Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value claiming multiple prizes at European cinema’s premier awards ceremony, including Best Actor for Stellan Skarsgård and Best Actress for Renate Reinsve.indiewire

The ceremony, held at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, marks a historic shift for the European Film Academy, which moved the event from its traditional December slot to mid-January—strategically positioning it between the Golden Globes and Oscar nomination voting period to boost its profile during the international awards season.europeanfilmacademy

Skarsgård and Reinsve Dominate

Sentimental Value entered the evening as the frontrunner with five nominations across the major categories and delivered on expectations. The film, which follows two sisters attempting to reconnect with their estranged father—an arrogant film director trying to revive his career—won the Grand Prix at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 19-minute standing ovation.deadline

Skarsgård’s European Film Award victory continues his awards season momentum after winning Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes earlier this month for his portrayal of the narcissistic patriarch. Reinsve, who reunited with Trier after their collaboration on The Worst Person in the World, has been praised for her performance exploring dysfunctional family dynamics.wikipedia

Panahi Opens Ceremony with Impassioned Plea

Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose Palme d’Or-winning film It Was Just an Accident was nominated in three categories, opened the ceremony with an impassioned speech urging the world not to remain silent about ongoing violence in Iran.yahoo

“When the truth is stifled in one location, freedom is choked everywhere. No one is safe—neither in Iran, nor in Europe, nor in America,” Panahi told the audience.yahoo

Special Honors

The evening also celebrated veteran Norwegian actress and director Liv Ullmann, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to European cinema, including her iconic collaborations with Ingmar Bergman. Italian director Alice Rohrwacher, known for La Chimera and Happy as Lazzaro, was honored with the European Achievement in World Cinema Award.europeanfilmacademy

Among other winners announced during the ceremony, Ugo Bienvenu’s animated feature Arco took Best European Animated Feature Film, while Laura Carreira’s On Falling won the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI for debut filmmakers.yahoo