European Film Awards: Juliette Binoche honors director Wim Wenders

At the 37th European Film Awards ceremony in Lucerne, Wim Wenders (79) received the award for his life’s work on Saturday (December 7th). The French actress Juliette Binoche (60), President of the European Film Academy since May 2024, presented him with the award with a warm hug.

Wenders was also honored with short video greetings from, among others, Martin Scorsese (82), Willem Dafoe (69), Nick Cave (67) and the Japanese actor Koji Yakusho (68), star of Wenders’ “Perfect Days” (2023), came from.

“Thank you, Madame President,” said Wenders in his acceptance speech to Juliette Binoche. “So many of us would have liked to call another lady Madame President, but that didn’t happen,” he said, referring to Kamala Harris’ (60) defeat in the US presidential election. “If it were like that, the world would be a better place.” He further explained regarding the winner Donald Trump (78) and Binoche: “But while this other guy pretends to make America great again, this president has the chance to make European cinema shine again.”

He told the European filmmakers present: “Europe is in trouble at the moment and I really urge you to think about what you can do for Europe, because Europe needs you.” A film community is needed “to take a more positive, emotional look at the continent.” It is not just an economic or financial community, but also an emotional community. “She gives us strength, and right now we should give her strength.”

That evening there was a clear winner when it came to film. There were five awards (best film, direction, screenplay, actress and editing) for the musical thriller comedy “Emilia Pérez” by the French director Jacques Audiard (72). Abou Sangare (23, “L’histoire de Souleymane”) was named Best Actor. Daniel Craig (56, “Queer”), Ralph Fiennes (61, “Konklave”) and the two German actors Lars Eidinger (48, “Die”) and Franz Rogowski (38, “Bird”) were also nominated in the category.