European Young Audience Award 2027: Three films shortlisted for Athens ceremony

The films HOLD ONTO ME by Myrsini Aristidou (Cyprus, Greece, Denmark), I MATTER by Alina Șerban (Romania, Germany, Belgium) and IRON BOY by Louis Clichy (France, Belgium) have been nominated for the European Young Audience Award 2027.

The winner will be announced at the 39th European Film Awards ceremony in Athens on 16 January 2027, which will be broadcast live via europeanfilmawards.eu, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.

Young people aged 12–19 from across Europe will watch the films and vote for the winning title, which will be announced at the European Film Awards 2027 in Athens, according to a press release.

For the first time, the European Young Audience Award is partnering with the International Film Festival Glasgow (IFFG), which is hosting the announcement of this year's three nominated films.

The nominations were announced on Sunday, 1 November, at a ceremony held at the Grosvenor Picture Theatre in Glasgow, followed by a screening of one of the nominated films, HOLD ONTO ME. On Monday, 2 November, IFFG will screen the other two films at local schools as part of the festival's educational programme. Through this partnership, the European Film Academy and IFFG aim to create an authentic European experience for young audiences, marking the announcement of the nominations in Glasgow.

Since 2012, the European Young Audience Award has recognised outstanding European films aimed at young audiences aged 12 and above. Young people are involved in every stage of the process: they assess the films submitted, select the three nominees and choose the winner. During the European Awards Season, from November to January, partner organisations across Europe organise screenings for the young juries, giving participants the opportunity to watch and evaluate the nominated films.

The process culminates in the final jury event on 16 January 2027, when partner cities across Europe will simultaneously host a full-day programme of film screenings, discussions and workshops for young people invited to take part in the juries. Through a live video link, participants will share a joint pan-European experience. Voting will also conclude on the same day.

The three films reach young audiences through the European Young Audience Award's partner network, which includes cinemas, film festivals, film academies and film institutes across Europe. All participating organisations arrange local screenings and voting sessions. This year's edition brings together 45 partner organisations from 30 countries.

To find screenings near you, visit: https://www.europeanfilmawards.eu/european-young-audience-award-screenings/

Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO and Director of the European Film Academy, said:

“The European Young Audience Award leaves the decision where it belongs: with the audience that will carry European cinema into the future. The three nominated films are bold, moving and reflect the way young people see the world. On 16 January, young Europeans will announce their choice live in Athens.”

Martin Petrov, Director of the International Film Festival Glasgow, said:

“IFFG's mission is to provide a platform where new voices and filmmakers can develop and grow. This partnership with the European Film Academy and the European Young Audience Award not only reaffirms our vision but also gives us the opportunity to showcase outstanding emerging talent, provide educational opportunities for young audiences and strengthen their interest in European cinema, ensuring its continued presence on the big screen, where it belongs.”

The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (EKKOMEΔ), in cooperation with the European Film Academy, is responsible for organising the main ceremony and accompanying events leading up to January 2027.

The event will be supported by major public institutions, including the Ministry of Culture of Greece, the Ministry of National Economy and Finance of Greece, the Ministry of Tourism, the Municipality of Athens, the Region of Attica, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

Photo: Pexels (Free Stock Photos)