European Film Awards

The second signal of major awards strength for Michael Haneke's Amour hits as the top prize winner from Cannes swept the European Film Awards.  The film, which will open in the states, in a few weeks courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics, has the makings of a major underdog Oscar performer as it charts a loving elderly couple towards the twilight of their lives.  Haneke, last an Oscar presence in the 2009 Foreign Film race for The White Ribbon has unleashed his most moving and emotional accessible film with Amour that has a chance to hit a chord with Oscar members, assuming enough bother to watch the film.  Now, of course, Cannes and the European Film Awards aren't always great bellwethers for the Academy (last year, the European Film Awards went for Melancholia), but in the world of boosts and bursts of media attention certainly won't hurt the potential love for Amour.  The rest of the slate were holdovers from last year.

Amour's Haneke, Riva and Trintignant all won top prizes-- Oscar nominees?

EUROPEAN FILM OF THE YEAR
Amour

EUROPEAN DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Michael Haneke, Amour

EUROPEAN ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Jean-Louis Trintignant, Amour

EUROPEAN ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour

EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Thomas Vinterberg & Tobias Lindholm, The Hunt

EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Sean Bobbitt, Shame

EUROPEAN EDITOR OF THE YEAR
Joe Walker, Shame

EUROPEAN COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
Alberto Iglesias, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

EUROPEAN PRODUCTION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Maria Djurkovic, Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Winter Nomands

EUROPEAN ANIMATED FEATURE OF THE YEAR
Alois Nebel