The European Film Academy has revealed the shortlist of 12 documentaries contending for the prestigious European Film Awards this year. These documentaries showcase a diverse range of European filmmakers and have garnered recognition at esteemed film festivals worldwide.
Among the standout entries is 'Dahomey' by Mati Diop, which delves into the restitution of African artifacts to Benin, shedding light on the lasting repercussions of colonialism. Another notable inclusion is 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat' by Johan Grimonprez, which intertwines the struggle for Congolese independence with a jazz soundtrack, exploring the role of music in geopolitical affairs.
'No Other Land' by Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Basel Adra, and Hamdan Ballal offers a poignant portrayal of life in a West Bank village through the eyes of Israeli soldiers, earning recognition at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Swiss filmmaker Nicole Vögele has made a significant impact with two documentaries in contention. 'The Landscape and the Fury' captures the challenges faced by refugees on the Bosnian-Croatian border, while 'The Words Women Spoke One Day' promises to be a compelling exploration of female voices.
Other noteworthy entries include 'Averroes & Rosa Parks' by Nicolas Philibert, 'Bye Bye Tiberias' by Lina Soualem, 'In Limbo' by Alina Maksimenko, 'Marching in the Dark' by Kinshuk Surjan, 'My Stolen Planet' by Farahnaz Sharifi, 'Pelikan Blue' by László Csáki, and 'Direct Action' by Guillaume Cailleau and Ben Russell.
To qualify for consideration, the documentaries had to premiere between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, and be helmed by European directors. The European Film Academy's 5,000 members will evaluate the shortlisted films in the coming months before voting for the final nominees, which will be announced on November 5.
The winners of the European Film Awards will be revealed at a ceremony on December 7th in Lucerne, Switzerland, celebrating the outstanding achievements in European documentary filmmaking.
