This year, the European Film Awards ceremony will be held for the first time in Switzerland. The 37thedition of Europe’s leading awards event will be presented Saturday, 7 December 2024 at the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (KKL Luzern). A diverse support programme of screenings, debates and events will be held throughout the year in Switzerland which will take visitors on “a journey of discovery through Swiss and European filmmaking.” The announcement was made at Berlinale 2024.
“With the presentation of the highest European film award in Switzerland for the first time, the country can present itself in a special way as a lively and creative film country in the heart of Europe,” write European Film Award organisers. “From spring onwards, the extensive supporting programme will illustrate the diverse relations between Switzerland and the rest of Europe in the field of film. The supporting programme’s events begin in the spring and target a broad public as well as the Swiss film industry.”
In the run-up to the awards ceremony there will be events including film screenings with filmmakers and discussions about films in the city of Lucerne and in Central Switzerland. An event at the International Film Festival in Cannes will also take place. Planning of the programme details is ongoing.
Highlights throughout the year
“Several Swiss film festivals and events this year will also focus on the European film industry and address the network connecting Switzerland and Europe with events, debates and film programmes,” organisers say.
Cinémathèque suisse will present a special programme featuring past European Film Award winners. In addition, SRG SSR will present, on its channels and on the streaming platform Play Suisse, a programme of Swiss and European films that have been previously nominated at the European Film Awards. The European Film Awards ceremony will also be broadcast live throughout Europe in cooperation with SRG SSR.
The events in the city of Lucerne will be organised by the European Film Academy in co-operation with Swiss partners the Federal Office of Culture (FOC), the city and canton of Lucerne and media partner SRG SSR. The international supporting programme is an initiative of the FOC in cooperation with Swiss Films; the foundation Focal and Cinémathèque Suisse, as well as cinemas, film festivals and film events throughout Switzerland.
