The creation of the European Film Academy (EFA) was the initiative of a group of Europe’s finest filmmakers brought together on the occasion of the first European Film Awards Ceremony held in November 1988. EFA was finally founded in 1989 as the European Cinema Society by its first president Ingmar Bergman and 40 filmmakers to advance the interests of the European film industry. Wim Wenders was elected as first chairman of the association which two years later was renamed European Film Academy. In 1996, he followed Ingmar Bergman as president of the EFA while British producer Nik Powell was elected as chairman of the EFA Board. He was followed by French producer Humbert Balsan who was chairman from 2003 until his sudden death in 2005. Current EFA Chairman is French producer Yves Marmion.

The European Film Academy (EFA) now unites more than 2,500 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 programme 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.

Since its early beginnings, Berlin has been the seat of the EFA Secretariat where it is registered as a non-profit association.

Every year, the various activities of the European Film Academy culminate in the ceremony of the European Film Awards which are presented jointly with EFA Productions gGmbH. In a total of 17 categories, among them European Film, European Director, European Actress and European Actor, the European Film Awards annually honour the greatest achievements in European cinema.

Throughout the year, the European Film Academy (EFA) initiates and participates in a series of activities dealing with film politics as well as economic, artistic, and training aspects. The programme includes conferences, seminars and workshops, and a common goal is to build a bridge between creativity and the industry. Some of EFA’s events have already become an institution for encounters within the European film community:

• A Sunday in the Country is a special weekend encounter between appr. ten young European filmmakers and some established EFA members. The private atmosphere of these gatherings guarantees an exchange of ideas and experience which goes far beyond the results of usual workshops.
• Conferences and Seminars Every year, a series of conferences initiated and/or supported by the European Film Academy enhance a European debate on film, create platforms for a vivid exchange among film professionals, and ensure that the discussion of what European film is, how it is changing and where it is going never expires.
• Master Classes offer valuable training opportunities for young talent, combining theoretical and practical training. The high-profile list of former masters includes renowned film professionals such as Jean-Jacques Annaud, André Delvaux, Anthony Dod Mantle, Bernd Eichinger, Tsui Hark, Stefan Jarl, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Jiri Menzel, Mike Newell, Hervé Schneid, Allan Starski, Tilda Swinton, István Szabó, and Marc Weigert.
• The Short Film Initiative is an initiative the European Film Academy in co-operation with a series of film festivals throughout Europe. At each of these festivals, one European short film will win a nomination for the European Film Academy Short Film 2010.
• SHORT MATTERS! is the European Film Academy’s short film tour which brings the short films nominated for the European Film Awards to a series of film festivals across Europe and beyond, giving these films an additional platform.

Other Activities

• FAN of Europe is the network of national film academies and the European Film Academy. Founded in 2006, the members of FAN of Europe (FilmAcademiesNetwork of Europe) - all of whom are bodies presenting their respective national film awards and the European Film Awards - meet regularly in order to share information and experiences and to develop ideas for joint activities to promote European cinema, as well as educating and nurturing young talent.