Persian Realm

Founded in 1989, the European Film Academy (EFA) currently unites 1,800 European film professionals with the common aim of promoting European film culture. Throughout the year, the EFA initiates and participates in a series of activities dealing with film politics as well as economic, artistic, and training aspects. The program includes conferences, seminars and workshops, and a common goal is to build a bridge between creativity and the industry. These activities culminate in the annual presentation of the European Film Awards. Presided by German Director Wim Wenders (Paris Texas, Wings of Desire) since 1996, Forty-two movies from 26 nations will compete for the next batch of awards bestowed by the European Film Academy. See Complete List of nominees and Categories. The European Film Awards are so determined to get ahead of the Oscars and, therefore perhaps to influence them, that they jump ahead of the whole annual derby. Winners will be announced this year on Dec. 1 in Spain. That's just days before the National Board of Review announces its list of honorees in New York City, thus officially kicking off the Yankee kudos race. Because of that timing, the eligibility period of the European Film Award doesn't follow a typical calendar year like the Oscars. Thus its contenders usually straddle two derbies. Ditto this year. For example, the current list includes stragglers from the last Oscar race -- "The Last King of Scotland," "The Queen," "Black Book" and "Perfume" -- trotting alongside newcomers like "La Vie en Rose," "Once" and … "Persepolis."