Films by four Romanian directors shortlisted for the 39th European Film Awards

Romania Insider · 14.10.2026, 11:29:00

The films of four Romanian directors have been selected for the 39th edition of the European Film Awards, which celebrate “the finest achievements in European cinema.” Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord , also the winner of this year’s Palme d’Or and Romania’s Oscar entry; Alina Şerban’s I Matter , the winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Venice Film Festival; Radu Jude’s The Diary of a Chambermaid , which premiered in this year’s Quinzaine des Cinéastes/Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes; and Florin Şerban’s You Don’t Belong Here , the winner of the Pardo d’Oro at this year’s Locarno Film Festival are on the Fiction Shortlist of the awards. A total of 68 feature films have been shortlisted for a possible nomination for the European Film Awards, with the winners voted for by members of the European Film Academy. Forty-five films are selected for the fiction shortlist, 15 for the documentary shortlist and eight for the animation shortlist. Representing 40 European countries, the films bring together established and emerging filmmakers, including directors working across borders. Twenty-five films are directed or co-directed by women. “Together, they celebrate the excellence, diversity and creativity of European cinema, reflecting its many cultures, languages and perspectives while exploring some of today’s most pressing issues, from migration and cultural clashes to minority communities, gender and political freedom,” the organizers said. The shortlisted fiction and documentary films have been chosen by members of the European Film Academy Board and invited European experts, whereas the shortlisted animated feature films have been chosen by a selection committee composed of members of the Academy Board and invited experts in co-operation with CARTOON, the European Association of Animation Film. The nominations for the categories ‘European Film’, ‘European Discovery - Prix FIPRESCI’, ‘European Documentary’, ‘European Animation Film’, ‘European Director’, ‘European Actress’, ‘