‘Good Bye, Lenin!’ a favorite at European Film Awards

Germany’s blockbuster hit “Good Bye, Lenin!” will lead the field at the European Film Awards competition Saturday with five nominations, while the British films “Dirty Pretty Things” and “Dogville” have four nominations each.

Forty-three European films out of 360 submitted for the 16th annual awards presented by the European Film Academy are in the running for the prizes that are sometimes called the “European Oscars.”

The European Film Academy is made up of 1,600 members from European film boards, subsidy agencies and industry professionals.

German director Wolfgang Becker’s “Good Bye, Lenin!,” which won top honors at the German film prize contest this year, tops the field with five nominations, ahead of Stephen Frears’ “Dirty Pretty Things” (four) and Lars Von Trier’s “Dogville” (four).

Also competing alongside those productions for the best film award are Michael Winterbottom’s “In This World,” Isabel Coixet’s “My Life Without Me” and Francois Ozon’s “Swimming Pool.”

Competing for best actor are Daniel Bruhl for “Good Bye, Lenin!,” Chiwetel Ejiofor for “Dirty Pretty Things,” Luigi Lo Cascio in “The Best of Youth,” Tomas Lemarquis in “Noi Albinoi,” Jean Rochefort in “L’Homme du Train” and Bruno Todeschini for “Son Frere.”

In the best actress competition are Helen Mirren for “Calendar Girls,” Charlotte Rampling for “Swimming Pool,” Anne Reid for “The Mother,” Katrin Sass for “Good Bye, Lenin!,” Katja Riemann for “Rosenstrasse” and Diana Dumbrava for “Maria.”