Stellan Skarsgård's performance in the Norwegian film "Sentimental Value" earned him the Best Actor award at the European Film Academy gala. Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen was also nominated in the same category.
"It feels like coming home. I have friends I've known for decades sitting here tonight and they obviously voted for me for that reason," Stellan Skarsgård said as he accepted the award.
"Sentimental Value" can be said to have been the big winner at the gala. In addition to being named best film, director Joachim Trier also received an award in the director category and, together with Eskil Vogt, for best screenplay. Skarsgård's co-star, Renate Reinsve, won Best Actress and the film was also praised for its music.
Other nominated films included “Riefenstahl”, French-Tunisian “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, and Ukrainian director Olha Zhurba’s “Songs of Slow Burning Earth”, which is a Swedish co-production.
During the gala, Liv Ullmann received the European Film Academy's lifetime achievement award from the academy's president, Juliette Binoche.
"I'm so grateful. I'm nervous but I'm not shaking with nervousness, it's just age. This is a very special award for me," said the 87-year-old Norwegian actress.
