In what can only be seen as a boost for its Oscar chances, Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez” dominated the 2024 European Film Awards. Audiard’s musical took home five awards, including Film, Director, Screenwriter, Actress (Karla Sofía Gascón), and Editing (Juliette Welfling). Gascón’s made history as the first “trans actress” to win a European Film Award.
Other awards included Abou Sangare as a surprise winner for Actor for his great performance in “Souleymane’s Story.” Latvia’s International Film Oscar submission “Flow” won Animated Film. “No Other Land” won Documentary Film.
Despite many warning doom for Emilia Perez’ Oscar chances, I can't say I was really surprised by its European Film Awards triumph. There are still fervent supporters of Audiard’s eccentric musical, and it will certainly be a passionate vote for many this awards season.
Fact is that “Emilia Perez” placed at both Cannes and TIFF, won both the Jury Prize and an acting award at Cannes, and has had Hollywood actors and filmmakers go to bat for it in recent weeks (Greta Gerwig, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Guillermo del Toro). Whether you love it, or hate it, this is a film that’s here to stay.