“Head On” Tops European Film Awards; “The Sea Inside” Also Bags Brace

Fatih Akin's Head On (Gegen die Wand) picked up the best european film 2004 award and Akin was named Best European Director at the European Film Awards presented by the European Film Academy in Barcelona today. This continued the impressive run for the film which started the year by picking up the Golden Bear and FIPRESCI critics prizes at this year's Berlin International Film Festival and has since garnered numerous honors including five German Film Awards. The film is set to be released by Strand Releasing in January of 2005. Akin was also named best european director in the Jameson People's Choice Awards. Alejandro Amenábar's The Sea Inside (Mar Dentro) also picked up two awards with Amenábar nabbing best director while the film's star Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls) was named best actor. Imelda Staunton was named best actress for her work in Mike Leigh's Vera Drake, which also won the Golden Lion at this year's Venice International Film Festival and a slew of British Independent Film Awards, including best actress, director and film.

For a complete list of the 2004 EFAs and more information about the European Film Academy, please click on the Read link below.