The European Film Awards have announced their 2016 nominees, and Maren Ade’s “Toni Erdmann” leads the pack with six nods. Other women up for honors include “Room” screenwriter Emma Donoghue and “Sand Storm” helmer Elite Zexer.
Written and directed by Ade, “Toni Erdmann” follows Winifried (Peter Simonichek) and Ines (Sandra Hüller), a father and daughter whose personalities are radically different from one another. Ines is an overworked, polished management consultant who is deeply invested in other people’s opinions of her. Her meticulously managed life is turned upside down when Winifried, a music teacher, shows up from out of town at her work for an unexpected visit. The comedy is the only film directed by a woman nominated for Best European Film, and Ade is the only female filmmaker competing for Best European Director.
Two women are in the running for Best European Screenwriter: Ade for “Toni Erdmann” and Donoghue for the Brie Larson drama “Room.” Donoghue was nominated for a 2016 Oscar for her “Room” script, an adaptation of her own novel.
Best European Actress nominees include Hüller for “Toni Erdmann,” Isabelle Huppert for the controversial drama “Elle,” and a shared nod for Emma Suárez and Adriana Ugarte for playing the same character at different times in her life in “Julieta.”
Three of the five nominees for the the FIPRESCI Prize — Best European Discovery are helmed by women: Zexer’s “Sand Storm,” Jules Herrmann’s “Liebmann,” and Svetla Tsotsorkova’s “Thirst.”
A number of major categories include zero women-directed films, including Best European Comedy, Best European Animated Feature, and Best European Doc.
“Toni Erdmann” has been selected as Germany’s submission for consideration in the best foreign-language film category for the 2017 Academy Awards, and “Sand Storm” is Israel’s pick.
The 29th European Film Awards will take place December 10 in Wroclaw, Poland.
Check out the women nominees below: please note that shorts aren’t included. List adapted from Indiewire.
BEST EUROPEAN FILM
“Toni Erdmann,” (Maren Ade, Germany, Austria)
BEST EUROPEAN DIRECTOR
Maren Ade, (“Toni Erdmann,” Germany, Austria)
BEST EUROPEAN ACTRESS
Isabelle Huppert, (“Elle”)
Emma Suárez & Adriana Ugarte, (“Julieta”)
Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, (“Like Crazy”)
Trine Dyrholm, (“The Commune”)
Sandra Hüller, (“Toni Erdmann”)
BEST EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER
Emma Donoghue, (“Room”)
Maren Ade, (“Toni Erdmann”)
FIPRESCI PRIZE — BEST EUROPEAN DISCOVERY
“Liebmann” (Jules Herrmann, Germany)
“Sand Storm,” (Elite Zexer, Israel)
“Thirst,” (Svetla Tsotsorkova, Bulgaria)
EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY FILM AWARD
“Toni Erdmann”