Latest in European Film Academy

After more than five years of detention, and calls from international artists groups and governments, Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov was freed from a Russian prison today. In what has long been seen as an unjust situation, Sentsov was convicted in 2015 of plotting terrorist attacks and sentenced to 20 years after…

UDPATE: In a typically politically and socially conscious ceremony, the European Film Academy delivered its European Film Awards tonight. In Seville, Spain, Amira Casar hosted the ceremony in what she said was a European climate "resembling the 1930s." It was a post-WW II movie that took the main prizes with Ida Oscar…

Nominations are in for the 31st European Film Awards with previous winner Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War leading the pack. The romance drama won the Best Director prize in Cannes and Pawlikowski is up here for the same nod. Cold War, Poland’s Oscar hopeful this year, is also mentioned in the Best Film, Screenwriting…

Oleg Sentsov, the Ukraine filmmaker who was convicted in 2015 of plotting terrorist attacks and sentenced to 20 years in a Russian prison, is on day 24 of a hunger strike as artists and activists around the world continue to rally for his cause. Supporters demanding Sentsov's release include PEN America and the Europea…

UPDATE, WRITETHRU: Ruben Ostlund’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner The Square swept through the European Film Awards tonight in Berlin. The satirical art world drama was named Best European Film and European Comedy among its other wins. This marks the first year that the same film has won both categories since the comedy…

The European Film Academy has set nominees in the Animated Feature Film and Comedy categories for this year's awards. In the European Comedy race are Ruben Ostlund's Palme d'Or winner The Square (Sweden/Germany/France/Denmark) which is also Sweden's Foreign Language Oscar entry; and smash German comedy Welcome To Germa…

UPDATE, WRITETHRU: Maren Ade's father-daughter relationship dramedy, Toni Erdmann, scored a clean sweep at the European Film Awards tonight in Wroclaw, Poland. The movie, which is also Germany's entry for the Foreign Language Film Oscar, won in each of its categories: Best European Film, Director, Actor (Peter…

David Tennant is returning to his role as the 10th Time Lord. But not on television. The Broadchurch star and erstwhile Doctor Who lead will lend his voice to three new installments of Doctor Who Audio Dramas. He’ll appear alongside Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble who debuted on the BBC series in 2006 (and…

Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov has been found guilty by a Russian court on charges of terrorism and sentenced to 20 years detention. The prosecution in the case had called for a 23-year sentence. Sentsov, who has found support from the European filmmaking community since his arrest, is the helmer of 2011's Gaamer. He…

UPDATE, 9:04 AM: Earlier this month, film director Oleg Sentsov’s defense caught what looked like a break when a key prosecution witness retracted his testimony, saying it had been given under duress — yet the trial is due to resume tomorrow after a pause in the proceedings. Detained for more than a year, the…

Eight months after the arrest of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, a renewed plea has gone out for his release. The European Film Academy has joined with the French Directors' Guild (aka SRF which organizes Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes) in support of Sentsov, who was detained by the Federal Security Service of the…

Led by chairwoman Agnieszka Holland, the European Film Academy is urging Russian officials to immediately release arrested Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov. The Gaamer helmer has been involved in supporting the Euro Maidan protests in Kiev, and opposes the annexation of Crimea by Russia. On May 11, he is understood to…