65th San Sebastian International Film Festival Award Winners

Awards ceremony was right down to its raison d'être as with no frills the two presenters started to name winners to later call jury members to present awards.  Can't say that like this format as find it the less entertaining of all.  Know many wish most festivals (and others) awards ceremonies were like this but believe we need a balance, a little entertainment with winners being announced.  Sigh.

My spontaneous reaction to winners is to feel great about the many female directors winners, including the Best Director award going to a female director for the first time ever in the 65 years of festival existence. Great.

Have no idea why top award went to the wining film as I'm no fan of Franco's films or performances, consequently not really interested in watching anything by or with him.  Sigh.  Still, there are a couple of films that absolutely became must-be-seen for me.

As was covered by all kinds of media, many films in all sections of festival came from Argentina so it's no surprise that many winners came from that country productions or co productions.  Still the most puzzling news came from Lerman's speech as was not aware how fragile the Argentinean film industry could be right now and honestly, if something negative happens will be a disgrace to Latin America and world cinema as there are many outstanding directors that have done extraordinary films and yes, wish they can continue doing them.  Sigh.

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As festival has already started to announce awards winners will do post with all winners but will be in progress until after the festival awards ceremony tonight.

Official Selection

Golden Shell for Best Film: The Disaster Artist, James Franco, USA

Silver Shell for Best Director: Anahí Berneri for Alanis, Argentina

Silver Shell for Best Actress: Sofia Gala Castiglione in Alanis, Anahí Berneri, Aragentina
Special Mention: Anne Gruwez in  Ni Juge, Ni Soumise (So Help Me God), Jean Libon and Yves Hinant, France and Belgium

Silver Shell for Best Actor: Bogdan Dumitrache in Pororoca, Constantin Popescu, Romania and France

Jury Prize for Best Screenplay: Diego Lerman and Maria Meira for Una Especie de Familia (A Sort of Family), Diego Lerman, Argentina, Brazil, Poland and France
Jury Prize for Best Cinematography: Florian Ballhaus for Der Hauptmann (The Captain), Robert Schwentke, Germany, France and Poland

Jury Special Award: Handia, Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño, Spain

Kuxta-New Directors Award: Le Semeur (The Shower), Marine Francen, France
Special Mention: Matar a Jesús (Killing Jesus), Laura Mora Ortega, Colombia

Horizontes Latinos
Best Film:  Los Perros, Marcela Said, Chile and France

Zabaltegi Award
Best Film: Braguino, Clément Cogitore, France
Special Mentions
Darya Zhovner in Tesnota (Closeness), Kantemir Balagov, Russia
Spell Reel, Filipa César, France

Other Awards

FIPRESCI Award: Life and Nothing More, Antonio Méndez Esparza, Spsin and USA

Signis Award: Life and Nothing More, Antonio Méndez Esparza, Spsin and USA
Special Mention: Ni Juge, Ni Soumise (So Help Me God), Jean Libon and Yves Hinant, France and Belgium
60 Years Anniversary Special Award: Matar a Jesús (Killing Jesus), Laura Mora Ortega, Colombia

Fedeora Award: Charmøren (The Charmer), Milad Alami, Denmark
Special Mentions
Matar a Jesús (Killing Jesus), Laura Mora Ortega, Colombia
Pailalim (Underground), Daniel Palacio, Philippines

Eroski Youth Award: Matar a Jesús (Killing Jesus), Laura Mora Ortega, Colombia

6th Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum
Best Project Award: Planta Permanente (Permanent Staff), Exequiel Radusky, Argentine
EFADs-CAACI Europe-Latin America Co-Production Grant:  El Agente Topo (The Mole Agent), Maite Alberdi Soto, Chile, France and USA
Euroimages Development Co-Production Award: Las Consecuencias (The Consequences), Caludia Pinto, Spain and Mexico
Arte International Prize: Akelarre (Witches' Sabbath). Pablo Agüero, Spain and France

Feroz Zinemaldia Award: The Disaster Artist, James Franco, USA

Films in Progress 32 Industry Awards
Film in Progress 32 Award: Ferrugem, Aly Muritiba, Brazil
Film Factory Award: Ferrugem, Aly Muritiba, Brazil
CAAC/Ibermedia TV Films in Progress Award: Ferrugem, Aly Muritiba, Brazil

Glocal in Progress Awards
Glocal in Progress Industry Award: Dantza, Telmo Esnal, Spain
Glocal in Progress Award:  Dantza, Telmo Esnal, Spain

Greenpeace Award: An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk (documentary)

Ikusmira Berriak Award:  Las Letras de Jordi (Jordi's Letters), Maider Fernández Iriarte, Spain

Irizar Basque Film Award: Handia, Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño, Spain
Basque Best Screenplay: Ximun Fuchs for Non (No), Eñaut Castagnet and Ximun Fuchs, Spain

Spanish Cooperation Award:  Alanis, Anahí Berneri, Aragentina

Sebastiane Award: 120 Battements par minute (120 Beats per Minute), Robin Campillo, France
 Special Mention: Soldatii. Proveste din Ferentari (Soldiers. Story from Ferrentari), Ivana Mladenovic, Romania, Serbia and Belgium
Sebastiane Latino Award: Una Mujer Fantástica (A Fantastic Woman), Sebastián Lelio, Chile, Germany and Spain

Solidarity Award: Au revoir là-haut (See You Up There), Albert Dupontel, France

TVE Another Look Award: Jusqu'à la garde (Custody), Xavier Legrand,  France

Audience Awards
Audience Award: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh, USA
European Film Audience Award: Jusqu'à la garde (Custody), Xavier Legrand,  France

16th International Film Student Meetings Awards - Short Films
Panavision Award: 212, Boaz Frankel, The Sam Spiegel Film and TV School - Jerusalem (JSFS), Israel
Special Nominal Mention:  Ziet Der Unruhe (News 23/06/2016), Elsa Rosengren, Deutsche Film -und Fernsehakademie Berlin - DFFB, Germany
Orona Award: Ziet Der Unruhe (News 23/06/2016), Elsa Rosengren, Deutsche Film -und Fernsehakademie Berlin - DFFB, Germany

Donostia Award: Agnès Varda, Ricardo Darín and Monica Bellucci
Jaeger-LeCoultre Latin Cinema Award: Paz Vega
Zinemira Award: Julia Juaniz

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74th Venice Film Festival Award Winners

Awards ceremony was average with most annoying moments when to Italian translations happened and nothing else was happening.

As a matter of fact some award winners had no idea of what to do while the translation was taking place.  Perhaps next time subtitles are use for translation or tell winners what to do, like for example, go to stage center and allow photographers to flash their cameras.

There was a moment that felt the awards were going very European, especially after parallel sections went Latin American; but was too early as after all big winner is Mexican and as he said, is the first time a Mexican director gets top award.  Congratulations to Guillermo del Toro!



Most interesting is that a couple of award winning films are already submissions to Oscars 2018 in the foreign-language film category; perhaps now the most awaited news is to find if Foxtrot wins the Best Picture Ophir award to become Israel's submission as will be interesting to find if film overcomes political controversy film generated.

The oldest film festival in the world has become the very first to acknowledge and award the new art form, virtual reality films.  The milestone is recorded for history.  All other festivals will be relegated to second and further places and yes, history is not kind and will be forgotten, unless virtual reality disappears as a momentary fashion; me, think will stay as long great directors start to use the medium and it's happening right now.

So this is for this year.  Ciao.

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9/9/17
Later today is the awards ceremony but there are some award winners already announced.

Official Selection

Golden Lion for Best Film: The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, USA

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: Foxtrot, Samuel Maoz, Israel, Germany, France and Switzerland

Special Jury Prize: Sweet Country, Warwick Thorton, Australia

Silver Lion for Best Director: Xavier Legrand for Jusqu'à la garde, France

Copa Volpi for Best Actress: Charlotte Rampling in Hannah, Andrea Pallaoro, Italy, Belgium and France
Copa Volpi for Best Actor: Kamel El Basha in L'Insulte (The Insult), Ziad Doueiri, France and Lebanon
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actress or Actor: Charlie Plummer in Lean On Pete, Andrew Haigh, UK

Best Screenplay: Martin McDonagh for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh, UK
Lion of the Future - Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film: Jusqu'à la garde, Xavier Legrand, France

Orizzonti Awards
Best Film: Nico, 1988, Susanna Nicchiarelli, Italy and Belgium
Special Jury Prize: Caniba, Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel, France
Best Director: Vahid Jallilvand for Bedoune Tarikh, Bedoune Emza (No Date, No Signature), Iran
Best Actress: Lyna Khoudri in Les Bienheureux, Sofia Djama, France and Belgium
Best Actor: Navid Mohammadzadeh in Bedoune Tarikh, Bedoune Emza (No Date, No Signature), Vahid Jalilvand, Iran
Best Screenplay: Dominique Welinski and René Ballesteros for Los Versos del Olvido, Alireza Khatami, France, Germany, Netherlands and Chile

Best Short Film: Gros Chagrin, Céline Devaux, France, 15' (animation)
Short Film Nominee for the European Film Awards: Gros Chagrin, Céline Devaux, France, 15' (animation)

Venezia Classici
Best Documentary: The Prince and the Dybbuk, Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosolowski, Poland and Germany
Best Restored Film: Idi I Smotri (Come and See), Elem Klimov, USSR, 1985

Virtual Reality
Best VR Award: Arden's Wake Expanded, Eugene Yk Chung, USA, 16'
Best VR Experience Award (for Interactive Content): La Camera Insabbiata, Laurie Anderson and Huang Hsin-Chien, USA, 20' (animation)
Best VR Story Award (for Linear Content): Dongducheon (Bloodless), Gina Kim, South Korea and USA, 12'

To check winners at official site go here.

Autonomous Sections

14th Giornate degli Autori
Director's Award: Candelaria, Jhonny Hendrix Hinestroza, Colombia, Germany, Norway and Argentina
Finalists
M, Sara Forestier, France
Mi Hua Zhi Wei (The Taste of Rice Flower), Pengfei, China
Label Europa Cinemas: M, Sara Forestier, France
People's Choice Award: Ga'Agua (Longing), Savi Gabizon, Israel

32nd Settimana Internazionalle della Critica - Venice International Film Critics' Week
Mario Serandrei Award: Les garçons sauvages (The Wild Boys), Bertrand Mandico, France
SIAE Audience Award: Temporada de Caza (Hunting Season), Natalia Garagiola, Argentina, USA, Germany, France and Qatar
Verona Film Club Award:  Team Hurricane, Annika Berg, Denmark

Collateral Awards

FIPRESCI Awards
Best Film of Venezia74: Ex Libris. The New York Public Library, Frederick Wiseman, USA (documentary)
Best Film in Orizzonti: Los Versos del Olvido (Oblivion Verses), Alireza Khatami, France, Germany, Netherlands and Chile

SIGNIS Award: La Villa (The House by the Sea), Robert Guediguian, France
Special Mention: Foxtrot, Samel Maoz, Israel, Germany, France and Switzerland

FEDEORA Awards (Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean)
Best Film: Eye on Juliet, Kim Nguyen, Canada, France and Moroco
Best Debut Filmmaker: Sara Forestier for M, France
Best Actor: Redouanne Harjane in M, Sara Forestier, France

Arca CinemaGiovani Award
Best Film Venezia74: Foxtrot, Samel Maoz, Israel, Germany, France and Switzerland
Best Italian Film: Denoise (Beautiful Things), Giorgio Ferrero, Italy, 12'

Fair Play Cinema Award: Ex Libris. The New York Public Library, Frederick Wiseman, USA (documentary)
Special Mention: Human Flow, Ai Weiwei, Germany and USA

FEDIC Award: La Vita in Comune, Edoardo Winspeare, Italy
Special Mention: Nico, 1988, Susanna Nicchiarelli, Italy and Belgium
FEDIC Mention - Il giornale del cibo: Le Visite, Elio Di Pace

Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award
George Clooney for Suburbicon, USA
Michael Caine in My Generation, David Batty, UK (documentary)
Ai Weiwei for Human Flow, Germany and USA (documentary)

Francesco Pasinetti Awards - SNGCI
Best Film: Ammore e Malavita, Manetti Brothers, Italy
Special Mentions
Gatta Cenerentola, (Cinderella the Cat) A. Rak, I. Cappiello, M. Guarnieri and D. Sansone (animation)
Nico, 1988, Susana Nicchiarelli, Italy and Belgium

Future Film Festival Digital Award: The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, USA
Special Mention: Candelaria, Jhonny Hendrix Hinestroza, Colombia, Germany, Norway and Argentina

Green Drop Award: First Reformed, Paul Schrader, USA

Human Rights Nights Award: The Rape of Racy Taylor, Nancy Buirski, USA
Special Mentions
L'Ordine delle Cose, Andrea Segre, Italy
Human Flow, Ai Weiwei, Germany and USA

La Pellicola d'Oro Awards - Production Directors
Italian Film: Daniele Spinozzi for Ammore e Malavita, Manetti Brothers, Italy
International Film: Riccardo Marchegiani for Mektoub My Love: Canto Uno, Abdellatif Kechiche, France and Italy
Miglior macchinista: Roberto di Pietro for Hannah, Andrea Pallaoro, Italy, France and Belgium

Online Critics Awards
Mouse d'Oro for Best Film in Competition: Mektoub My Love: Canto Uno, Abdellatif Kechiche, France and Italy
Mouse d'Argento for Best Film Out of Competition: Gatta Cenerentola, (Cinderella the Cat) A. Rak, I. Cappiello, M. Guarnieri and D. Sansone (animation)

Nuovo IMAIE Talent Award
Federica Rosellini in Dove cadono le ombre, Valentina Pedicini, Italy
Mimmo Borrelli in L'equilibrio, Vicenzo Marra, Italy

Sorriso Diverso Venezia 2017 Award: Il Colore Nascosto delle Cose, Silvio Soldini, Italy and Switzerland

Soutrack Stars Award: Alexandre Desplat for The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, USA
Special Mention: Ammore e Malavita, Manetti Brothers, Italy
Career Achievement Award: Andrea Guerra

Brian Award: Les Bienheureux, Sofia Djama, France and Belgium
C. Smithers Foundation-CICT-UNESCO Award: The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, USA
Cinema for UNICEF 2017: Human Flow, Ai Weiwei, Germany and USA (Documentary)
Civitas Vitae Award: Il Colore Nascosto delle Cose, Silvio Soldini, Italy and Switzerland
Coppa Codacons Ridateci i soldi:
Enrico Fulghignoni-CICT-UNESCO Award: Human Flow, Ai Weiwei, Germany and USA (Documentary)
Gianni Astrei Award: Gatta Cenerentola, (Cinderella the Cat) A. Rak, I. Cappiello, M. Guarnieri and D. Sansone (animation)
Interfilm Award: Los Versos del Olvido (Oblivion Verses), Alireza Khatami, France, Germany, Netherlands and Chile
Laterna Magica Award: L'equilibrio, Vicenzo Marra, Italy
Leoncino d'Oro Agiscuola Award: The Leisure Seeker, Paolo Virzi, Italy
Lina Magiacapre Award: Les Bienheureux, Sofia Djama, France and Belgium
Lizzani Award: Il Colore Nascosto delle Cose, Silvio Soldini, Italy and Switzerland
Open Award: Gatta Cenerentola, (Cinderella the Cat) A. Rak, I. Cappiello, M. Guarnieri and D. Sansone (animation)
Queer Lion: Marvin, Anne Fontaine, France
Sfera 1932 Award: La melodie, Rachid Hami, France

UNIMED Award:  La Villa (The House by the Sea), Robert Guediguian, France
Special Mention: Brutti e Cattivi, Cosimo Gomez, Italy

Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: Jane Fonda and Robert Redford
Jaaeger-Le Coultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award: Stephen Frears
L'Oreal Paris per il Cinema Award: Valentina Corti
Persol Visionary Award: Liev Schreiber
Premi Pietro Bianchi: Michele Placido
Premio Gillo Pontecorvo - Arcobaleno Latino: Miao Xiaotian, CEO of China Film Coproduction Corporation

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2017 International Film Critics' Week Award Winners

An Argentinean film wins section top award. To check jury comments go official site here.

Winners are in (*)BLUE.

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7/24/17
The Venice International Film Critics’ Week (SIC) is an independent and parallel section organized by the National Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI) during the 74th Venice International Film Festival (30th August – 9th September, 2017).

The program includes a selection of seven (7) debut films in competition and two special events out of competition, all presented in world premiere screenings. The selection is curated by the General Delegate of the Venice Critics’ Week Giona A. Nazzaro together with the members of the selection committee Luigi Abiusi, Alberto Anile, Beatrice Fiorentino and Massimo Tria.

The 2017 official selection includes:

Competition
Il Cratere (Crater), Luca Bellino and Silvia Luzi, Italy
Drift, Helena Wittman, Germany
(*) Les garçons sauvages (The Wild Boys), Bertand Mandico, France - Winner of Mario Serandrei  - Hotel Saturnia Award for the Best Technical Contribution
Körfez (The Gulf), Emre Yeksan, Turkey, Germany and Greece
Sarah joue un loup garou (Sarah Plays a Werewolf), Katharina Wyss, Switzerland and Germany
(*) Team Hurricane, Annita Berg, Denmark - Winner of Verona Film Club Award
(*) Temporada de caza (Hunting Season), Natalia Garagiola, Argentina, USA, Germany, France, Qatar - SIAE Audience Award

Special Events Out of Competition
Opening Film: Pin Cushion, Deborah Haywood, UK
Closing Film: Veleno (Poison), Diego Olivares, Italy

The Poster

Comic Books Artist Carmine di Giandomenico Creates the Image for the 32nd Venice International Film Critics' Week



The DC Comics and Marvel Comics illustrator designed a futuristic cinematic muse for the 32nd edition of the independent sidebar dedicated to debut feature films.

An unusual and innovative choice for a sidebar that portrays today’s cinema, and through it, envisages its future, with a selection of debut films. In the cyber-fantasy style image created by Di Giandomenico – one of the few Italian artists who collaborated with two of the most important and active comics publishing houses, Marvel Comics and DC Comics - the muse of cinema glides over the lagoon, reflecting herself in the water, remindful of the past, but projected towards the future. “I wanted to create a feminine figure that would synthesize an idea of cinema that mirrors and filters everyday life turning it into fantasy – explains Di Giandomenico – Cinema as an art that can project narratives, uncovering how reality and dream are two souls that realize they are attracted to each other. Cinema that makes us glide through the present, heading for the future”.

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2017 Giornate degli Autori Award Winners

A Colombian film wins Biennale section top award. To read jury statement go official site here.

Winners are below in (*)BLUE.

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7/26/17
There is one quite big surprise this year as seems organizers retired the section English name to left only the Italian name.  In my opinion is for the best as the English name, Venice Days, had no relation to the Italian name nor what the section is all about; the literal translation from Italian to English is "Days of the Authors" which at least mention something related to this film director's competition.  Well, let's see if soon there is an official press release about the name, if they give an official English translation or they simply go on as nothing happened with the belief nobody notices.  Sigh.

This year, the fourteenth edition of the Giornate degli Autori is devoted to seeking out originality and diversity. Not to astonish, or provoke by riding the wave of easy titles, but to share the delight of discovery. Of celebrating difference. Of finding the ones who march to the beat of a different drummer.

The Giornate's General Delegate, Giorgio Gosetti, has this to say: "Our experience of viewing the films, which we shared this year with a group of programmers and experts whom we truly cannot thank enough, has taught us that there is an abundance of films out there that are very well made and thoroughly professional, but all too often fail to strike a chord with audiences. Surprise them. The fact that we select a handful of titles from all over the world allows us the privilege - and the challenge - of placing our bets on each filmmaker and each work as if it were unique, and all the more precious for that reason. We don't aspire to offering solely masterpieces in our official selection and special events; we do want audiences to be able to say after each viewing, Well, it was well worth it, flying on the wings of this story. I'm glad I've made this filmmaker's acquaintance."

The Giornate degli Autori has always been much more than just a showcase of films yet to be released. "Ever since our debut," recalls Giornate President Roberto Barzanti, "we have stayed true to the mandate handed us by the film associations promoting us, now ANAC and 100autori. The essence of our event lies in the art of bringing people together, comparing notes, sparking discussions and experimentation. And our Villa degli Autori does just that. It's hosting a packed program of events again this year, thanks in large part to long-standing projects like 28 Times Cinema, promoted by the European Parliament's LUX Film Prize; Women's Tales, the film showcase we share with Miu Miu, and its conversations with filmmakers; and our ongoing investigation into the diverse transformations of the film medium in the digital age."

A look at the lineup for our 2017 official selection reveals a well-deserved attention to Italian films, at a vibrant and courageous time in the industry; as well as important new works by Giornate alumni such as China's Pengfei, Morocco's Faouzi Bensaïdi, Italy's Vincenzo Marra, Matteo Botrugno and Daniele Coluccini; not to mention hotly-awaited titles by Canada's Kim Nguyen, Iran's Shirin Neshat, and Thailand's Pen-ek Ratanaruang.

We think it all makes for eleven days of great film and great film personalities, too, talks with the public and entertainment. 

Official Selection
(*) Candelaria, Jhonny Hendrix Hinestroza, Colombia, Germany, Norway and Argentina - Winner of Best Film
Dove cado no le ombre (Where the Shadows Fall), Valentina Pedicini, Italy
Eye on Juliet, Kim Nguyen, Canada
געגוע Ga'agua (Longing), Savi Gabizon, Israel
Il Contagio (The Contagion), Matteo Botrugno and Daniele Coluccini, Italy
L'equilibrio, Vincenzo Marra, Italy
Life Guidance, Ruth Mader, Austria
Looking for Oum Kulthum, Shirin Neshat, Germany, Austria, Italy and Morocco
(*) M, Sara Forestier, France - Finalist
Mai Mee Samui Samrab Ter (Samui Song), Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Thailand, Germany and Norway
(*) Mi Hua Zhi Wei (The Taste of Rice Flower), Pengfei, China - Finalist
Volubilis, Faouzi Bensaïdi, Morocco and France

Jury
President: Samira Makhmalbaf, actress and director, Iran

Special Events
Agnelli, Nick Hooker, USA (documentary)
Getting Naked: A Burlesque Story, James Lester, USA (documentary)
Il tentato suicidio nell'adolescenza (T.S. Giovanile), Ermanno Olmi, Italy, 1968 (documentary)
La legge del numero uno, Alessandro D'Alari, Italy (documentary)
Il Risoluto (The Resolute), Giovanni Donfrancesco, Italy and France (documentary)
Thrist Street, Nathan Silver, USA and France

Special Screenigs
I'm (Endless Like the Space), Anne-Riitta Ciccone, Italy
Raccontare Venezia, Wilma Labate
The Millionairs, Claudio Santamaria, Italy, 14'

Miu Miu Women's Tales
#13 Carmen, Chloë Sevigny, USA, 8'
#14 (The [End) of History Illusion], Celia Rowinson-Hall, USA, 13'

Lux Prize Finalists
120 battements par minute (Beats per Minute), Robin Campillo, France
Sameblod (Sami Blood), Amanda Kernell, Sweden, Denmark and Norway
Western, Valeska Grisebach, Germany, Bulgaria and Austria

To read about each film at official site go here.

From the competition there are some films that seem interesting but not many well-known directors are competing which I believe is good as gives opportunities to new generations.  Most interested with Kim Nguyen latest opus but can't deny my surprise when he ended in Venice and in this section; still, of course will watch.

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#EFA2017 People's Choice Awards

Every year, the EFA People’s Choice Award allows film fans across Europe to elect their favourite film. When the European Film Academy invites its members, Europe’s greatest film stars, directors, actors and actresses, to attend the European Film Awards, the People’s Choice Award sheds a spotlight on the people films are made for: the audience. This year’s vote has started – vote now and win the chance to join winners and nominees for the awards ceremony in Berlin!

Film fans can cast their vote on the official site HERE and win a trip to the 30th European Film Awards in Berlin.

Strongly suggest you vote and bet you'll have as much trouble as me as there are more than three films that absolutely deserve to win and choosing among them is difficult.  Alright my decision goes between Kaurismäki, Mungiu and Ozon but also believe Vinterberg and Schrader have to be considered.  Sigh.

These are the nine nominated films. 

A Monster Calls, J.A. Bayona, Spain
Bacalaureat (Graduation), Cristian Mungiu, Romania, France and Belgium
Bridget Jones's Baby, Sharon Maguire, UK, Ireland, France and USA
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, David Yates, UK and USA
Frantz, François Ozon, France
Kollektivet (The Commune), Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark, Sweden and Netherlands
La Pazza Gioia (Like Crazy), Paolo Virzì, Italy and France
Toivon Tuolla Puolen (The Other Side of Hope), Aki Kaurismäki, Finland and Germany
Vor der Morgenröte (Stefan Zweig - Farewell to Europe),  Maria Schrader, Germany, Austria and France

The winner will be announced on the stage during the European Film Awards ceremony on December 9, 2017 in Berlin.

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