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'Anatomy of a Fall' cleans up at European Film Awards

December 10, 2023

The French film won the best picture, best director and best actress awards, among others. Its star Sandra Hüller had even received a twin nomination for best actress at this year's ceremony in Berlin.

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German actress Sandra Hueller poses with her trophy for "European Actress" for her part in "Anatomy of A Fall" during the 36th European Film Awards ceremony in Berlin, on December 9, 2023.
Sandra Hüller was this year's European Film Awards' biggest star, with an unprecedented double nomination for the best actress awardImage: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

German actress Sandra Hüller, the star of this year's European Film Awards, reaped the best actress award for her role in "Anatomy of a Fall," which was also deemed best picture.

The multilingual actress plays a successful author, whose marriage gets dissected in court when she is tried for the mysterious death of her husband.

Hüller had received an unprecedented dual nomination in the best actress category, also for her role in "The Zone of Interest."

Both movies were big winners at the Cannes Film Festival this year, where "Anatomy of a Fall" took the Palme d'Or, and "The Zone of Interest" won the Grand Prix, the runner-up to the Palme d'Or prize.

Hüller was born on April 30, 1978 and grew up in the small town of Friedrichroda in rural Thuringia, in what was then East Germany.

Anatomy of a Fall's other prizes

Besides Hüller's Best Actress prize, the acclaimed French film "Anatomy of a Fall" also reaped various other prizes on Saturday.

French filmmaker Justine Triet was awarded Best Director. She was competing against Agnieszka Holland ("Green Border"), Matteo Garrone ("Io capitano"), Jonathan Glazer ("The Zone of Interest") and Aki Kaurismäki ("Fallen Leaves.")

The film also won the best screenplay award, as well as European Film 2023.

Its editor Laurent Senechal won the best editing award.

Justine Triet (C) und Sandra Hueller (R) - French director Justine Triet (C) and German actress Sandra Hueller (R) and a crew member pose with their three trophies.
The French film "Anatomy of a Fall" reaped various awards in Berlin, including best director for Justine Triet (center of image)Image: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

Other award winners this year

Meanwhile, Mads Mikkelsen won the Best Actor award for his role in "The Promised Land." The preiod drama set in the Jutland moors also won the best custom design and best cinematography awards.

"The Zone of Interest," Hüller's other film this season — in which she plays the wife of Auschwitz concentration camp commandant Rudolf Höss during World War II — won the best sound award.

The academy also honored British actress Vanessa Redgrave for her life's work.

Europe's answer to the Oscars, the EFAs were held in Berlin.

rmt/msh (AFP, dpa)