The European Film Awards just wrapped in Berlin and brought good news for Susanne Bier, Tilda Swinton, Colin Firth and their projects. Susanne Bier was named Best Director meanwhile Tilda Swinton and Colin Firth got acting honours.
Melancholia Tops European Film Awards from Berlin where Lars von Trier’s movie was honored with the top prize. However, it was Susanne Bier who took the best director honors for her Oscar-winning In A Better World.
During von Trier’s press conference at the Canne festival last May, he not so kindly singled out his compatriot that made him persona non grata on the Riviera. He stated at the time: “For a long time I was a Jew and I was happy to be a Jew, then I met Susanne Bier and I wasn’t so happy,” von Trier said back then. “But then I found out I was actually a Nazi. My family was German. That also gave me pleasure. What can I say? I understand Hitler. I sympathize with him a bit.”
Kirsten Dunst’s Melancholia took prizes for cinematography and production design. Other winners include Tilda Swinton, best actress for We Need To Talk About Kevin, Oscar winner Colin Firth, best actor for The King’s Speech, the Dardenne brothers for writing The Kid With A Bike, Wim Wenders’ Pina for best documentary and Ludovic Bource for his score of Oscar hopeful The Artist.
