Published: 9 September, 2009, 18:56
Edited: 10 September, 2009, 09:34
“Paper Soldier”, a film by Russian Aleksey German, Jr. has been nominated for an award by the European Film Academy.
“This award is considered European “Oscar” and is annually handed over for the best European film. The long list is announced in September, the shortlist in November, and in December they hand over Felix figurines”, the producer of “Paper Soldier” Artem Vasilev told RIA Novosti.
Earlier last year “Paper Soldier” received a Silver Lion in Venice for best film, and the Ozella prize for best cinematography.
On the long list, together with German's film, are such hits, as Jacques Audiard's “Prophet”, which earlier received the Golden Palm in Cannes, and Danny Boyle’s eight Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire”.
The European Film Awards were founded in 1998, and are handed over annually in one of the European capitals. Bronze “Felixes” (the European film academicians rejected gold awards, opposing the more commercialized “Oscar”) are given for “Best European Film (Film of the Year)”. In 2008, Matteo Garrone’s “Gomorrah” scooped this award.
Among the directors receiving Felixes previously were Romanian Cristian Mungiu with his “4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days”, Pedro Almodovar, Fatih Akin, Lars von Trier and Nikita Mikhalkov with his “Urga.”
The second nomination is “Non-European Film”. In various years Wong Kar Wai, Takeshi Kitano and David Lynch have won this award.