Summary
- “Fatherland” leads the European Film Awards 2027 with 11 nominations.
- “La Bola Negra” follows with 10 and “Fjord” with five.
- The nominations were announced in Thessaloniki on 14 November 2026.
- The ceremony takes place in Athens on 16 January 2027.
Paweł Pawlikowski’s “Fatherland” leads the 2027 European Film Awards with 11 nominations, announced in Thessaloniki as European cinema turns toward January’s ceremony in Athens.
The European Film Academy unveiled the nominations on 14 November 2026 at the Pavlos Zannas Theatre in the Olympion building during the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The winners will be announced on 16 January 2027 in Athens.
Fatherland, La Bola Negra and Fjord lead the field
Pawlikowski’s film has 11 nominations, followed by “La Bola Negra” from Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi with 10, and Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord” with five. These are nominations, not award results.
“Fatherland”, a co-production of Poland, Germany, Italy and France, is nominated for European Film, director, screenplay and acting awards, including nominations for Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler. “La Bola Negra” is a Spanish-French production, while “Fjord” brings together six European countries.
Cinematography has its own spotlight
The European Cinematographer nominees include Łukasz Żal for “Fatherland”, Gris Jordana for “La Bola Negra” and Frank van den Eeden for “Coward”. The list also recognises editors, production designers and sound professionals, reflecting the many disciplines involved in creating a film.
In editing, Paweł Pawlikowski and Piotr Wójcik are nominated for “Fatherland”, Alberto Gutiérrez for “La Bola Negra” and Gesa Jäger for “Yellow Letters”. These craft categories offer filmmakers another valuable way to explore the nominations, beyond directing and acting.
Fifteen films compete for the top award
The European Film category includes 15 titles this year, as nominated documentaries and animation films are also eligible for the main award. The films represent 19 European countries, and six are directed or co-directed by women, or 40%, according to the Academy.
The selection also includes documentaries such as “Naza”, “To Hold a Mountain” and “Whispers in the Woods”, and animated films including “In Waves”, “Iron Boy” and “Jim Queen”. The expanded field places different storytelling forms within the same headline category.
From Thessaloniki to Athens
The public nomination announcement took place in Thessaloniki, while the 39th ceremony will be held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center on 16 January 2027, co-organised with EKKOMED. The Academy has announced a live stream on the European Film Awards website.
Greek preparations for the ceremony had already included the “Cinema Again” programme spanning eight cities. The nominations revealed at the Olympion therefore link a major international event with the upcoming ceremony in Athens.
The Academy says the nominations were chosen through voting by its 5,700 members, who will now cast their votes to select the winners.
What we think
For anyone working with a camera, lighting or editing, these nominations are also a useful watchlist. Seeing “Fatherland” and “La Bola Negra” recognised across both creative and technical categories makes them especially worthwhile films to study for the relationship between cinematography, direction and editing rhythm.
Łukasz Żal’s nomination draws attention to visual composition, while the inclusion of documentaries and animation in the main category broadens the conversation beyond fiction. You do not have to agree with the Academy’s choices to get something out of watching these films closely.
There is another welcome connection: in just two months, the conversation moves from a packed cinema in Thessaloniki to a major European awards ceremony in Athens. That is a real opportunity for local audiences to connect with the filmmakers and the work behind the nominations.
Frequently asked questions
When are the European Film Awards 2027?
The 39th ceremony will take place on 16 January 2027 at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens.
Where can viewers watch the ceremony?
The European Film Academy has announced a live stream through the official European Film Awards website.
