'Gomorra'- Italian entry for Foreign Language Oscar wins top prizes at the 2008 European Film Awards

COLOGNE, Germany- The Italian crime mosaic Gomorra (Gomorrah) was the big winner at the 2008 European Film Awards (EFAs). Debuted in Cannes, where it won the Grand Prix, 'Gomorro' is Italy's nominee for the 2009 foreign-language film Oscar, competing against India's 'Taare Zamin Par' and many others.

Italian crime film 'Gomorra' is the Best European Film in 2008The film, directed by Matteo Garrone, won Best European Film and also got EFAs in the categories Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Actor Toni Servillo was named Best European Actor for his  work in Gomorra and in Paolo Sorrentino's Il Divo, a biopic of Italian politician Giulio Andreotti, Saturday, November 6, 2008.

Based on the nonfiction bestseller by Roberto Saviano, "Gomorra" shines a light on the dark underside of the Neapolitan mob. Film's Writer Saviano, now protected by Italian polic, is on the hitlist of Italian Mafia.

Kristin Scott Thomas won the Best European Actress category for her portrayal of a Franco-British woman released from prison in Philippe Claudel's Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (I've Loved You So Long). The 21st edition of the European Film Awards were held in Copenhagen on Saturday.

Founded in 1988, the European Film Academy currently unites 1,850 European film professionals with the common aim of promoting Europe’s film culture.

The European  Film Academy's Prix d'exellence went to Polish costume desginer Magdalena Biedrzycka for her work on Andrzej Wajda's WWII film Katyn. Another eastern European film was crowned Best European Documentary: Czech director Helena Trestikova's René, which follows the eponymous cronic jailbird over several decades. Israeli-European co-production Waltz with Bashir, an animated documentary about a horrific incident during the First Lebanese War, won Best European Composer for Max Richter. Steve McQueen's Hunger was named European Discovery of the Year. A full list of winners follows.

The Winners

At the 21st European Film Awards on 6 December 208 in Copenhagen the following were honoured:

EUROPEAN FILM 2008
GOMORRA (Gomorrah)
directed by Matteo Garrone
written by Maurizio Bracci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso & Roberto Saviano and produced by Fandango, RAI Cinema

EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2008
Matteo Garrone for GOMORRA (Gomorrah)

EUROPEAN ACTOR 2008
Toni Servillo in GOMORRA (Gomorrah) and IL DIVO

EUROPEAN ACTRESS 2008
Kristin Scott Thomas in IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME (I’ve Loved You So Long)

EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER 2008
Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso & Roberto Saviano for GOMORRA (Gomorrah)

CARLO DI PALMA EUROPEAN CINEMATOGRAPHER AWARD 2008
Marco Onorato for GOMORRA (Gomorrah)

EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY PRIX D’EXCELLENCE 2008
Magdalena Biedrzycka for costume design, KATYN

EUROPEAN COMPOSER 2008
Max Richter for WALTZ WITH BASHIR

EUROPEAN DISCOVERY 2008
HUNGER
directed by Steve McQueen
written by Enda Walsh & Steve McQueen

EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY CRITICS’ AWARD 2008 - Prix FIPRESCI
Abdellatif Kechiche
for LA GRAINE ET LE MULET (The Secret of the Grain / Couscous)

EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY DOCUMENTARY 2008 - Pix ARTE
RENÉ by Helena Trestikova

EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY SHORT FILM 2008 - Prix UIP
FRANKIE by Darren Thornton

EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dame Judi Dench

EUROPEAN ACHIEVEMENT IN WORLD CINEMA 2008
Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, Kristian Levring, Lars von Trier, and Thomas Vinterberg

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD 2008
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
directed by David Yates
written by Michael Goldenberg