Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos is riding high once again. His latest film, Bugonia, has secured him a coveted spot among the five directors nominated for Best European Director at the 38th European Film Awards.

Joining Lanthimos on the shortlist are Spain’s Oliver Laxe for Sirat, Iran’s Jafar Panahi for Un Simple Accident, Germany’s Masha Silinski for Sound of Falling, and—widely seen as the category’s frontrunner—Norway’s Joachim Trier for Emotional Value.

This year’s Best European Film category is notably broad, featuring 15 titles: five fiction films along with the nominees from the European Documentary and European Animated Feature Film categories.

The nominations reflect the votes of 5,400 members of the European Film Academy, all of whom viewed and evaluated the films included in the Academy’s annual selection list. Members will now cast their final votes to determine the winners.

The European Film Academy announced nominees across nine major categories during an event at Seville’s Real Alcazar, following the city’s 22nd European Film Festival.

The awards ceremony will take place on January 17, 2026, in Berlin.
Contenders for Best European Film (Fiction):
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (France/Tunisia) – Kaouther Ben Hania
• Un Simple Accident (France/Iran/Luxembourg) – Jafar Panahi
• Emotional Value (Norway/France/Denmark/Germany/Sweden) – Joachim Trier
• Sirat (Spain/France) – Oliver Laxe
• Sound of Falling (In die Sonne schauen) (Germany) – Masha Silinski