The Film By Norwegian Director Dominated European Film Awards 2026

Sentimental Value

Sentimental Value didn’t just win at the European Film Awards 2026 - it swept the ceremony. The powerful Norwegian film walked away with most of the night’s top awards in Berlin, firmly establishing itself as the standout winner of the year.

Directed by Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value dominated the awards with wins for Best European Film and Best Director, confirming Trier’s status as one of Europe’s most influential filmmakers. The film’s emotional depth was matched by its performances, with Stellan Skarsgård winning Best Actor and Renate Reinsve taking home Best Actress. The success continued with awards for Best Screenplay, written by Trier and Eskil Vogt, and Best Original Score by Hania Rani, making the film the clear champion of the night.

Animation also had its moment to shine. The French production Arco, directed by Ugo Bienvenu, won Best European Animated Feature Film. In the documentary category, Fiume o Morte! by Igor Bezinović was awarded Best European Documentary.

Several technical awards went to Sirāt by Spanish director Oliver Laxe. The film collected awards for cinematography, editing and production design, underlining the importance of technical excellence in bringing powerful stories to life.

The ceremony also celebrated new talent and future audiences. On Falling received the European Discovery - Prix FIPRESCI, while Siblings won the European Young Audience Award. The short film award went to City of Poets, adding another highlight to the evening.

Beyond the competitive categories, the European Film Awards 2026 paid tribute to cinema legends. Liv Ullmann received the European Lifetime Achievement Award, and Alice Rohrwacher was honored for her outstanding contribution to world cinema.

See the complete list of winners here.