WARSAW, Poland (AP) – The German-Austrian drama “Toni Erdmann,” written and directed by Maren Ade, swept this year’s European Film Awards, winning five awards, including for best film, director and screenwriter.
“Toni Erdmann” also won best actress for Sandra Hueller and best actor for Peter Simonischek. The 29th European Film Awards took place Saturday in the Western Polish city of Wroclaw.
The show was peppered with political commentary by presenters, with a focus on the plight of refugees and Russia. Maria Alyokhina from the punk rock group Pussy Riot, whose members have been imprisoned for criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s, appealed for the release of Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian director carrying out a 20-year prison term in Russia on terrorism charges seen as politically motivated.