For The Glory Of Rome

It was all stars and lights in Rome this weekend, as the pillars of the European filmmaking community descended on the Italian capital for one of the year's most prestigious events, the European Film Awards. Europe's answer to The Oscars, the EFA drew stars by the barrelful and consummate professionals that we are - and never ones to miss a quality shindig - Empire Online relocated to the eternal city for the weekend, to watch it all unfold. Esteemed Euro stars like Jeanne Moreau, Javier Bardem, Aki Kaurismaki, Roman Polanski and Wim Wenders were among the line of famous faces as long as a centurion's arm, who bowed to photographers and chatted amiably with the press about the coming ceremony. A large contingent from our shores were on hand to keep the British end up, including Alan Rickman, Dougray Scott, Gurinder Chadha, Pete Postlethwaite, Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, Samantha Morton, Ioan Gruffud, Alice Evans and Jeremy Irons - who took every opportunity to wax lyrical about the Awards. "It's the most important evening for European films, he told Empire Online. "For the audience at home I hope it will introduce them to some films that they maybe haven't heard of, which are worth going to see. Tonight, people are going to see a selection of the most important European films." Getting Blighty off to a good start was Ken Loach, who took the Critic's Award for Sweet Sixteen, but, along with a People's Choice Best Actress award for Kate Winslet's turn in Iris, that proved to be our verdant isle's only moment of glory. Undoubtedly the star of the night was the uber-popular Almodovar, who managed to rule them all, carrying off the People's Choice Best Director award and the Best Screenwriter, Best European Director and Best European Film awards, all for his masterful Hable con ella (Talk to Her). Javier Camara provided Almodovar's feature with a fifth gong, taking the People's Choice Award for best Actor. Filling some of the remaining ranks were Sergio Castellitto, who took Best Actor for Bella Martha and L'Ora di Religione, the entire ensemble cast of 8 Femmes, who shared the Best Acress gong and Pawel Edelman, who took Best Cinematographer, for The Pianist.