A Prophet Leads European Film Awards In Nominations

The European Film Awards are Europe's equivalent of the Oscars and the nominations were announced on Saturday at the Seville Europe Film Festival. "A Prophet" (Un Prophete), Jacques Audiard's prison thriller, leads with six chances to win.

Of the film's nominations, Tahar Rahim is up for best actor and Audiard and Thomas Bidegain for European Screenwriter 2009.

"A Prophet" was made in France and won Cannes' 2009 Grand Prix. It is the story of an illiterate young Arab-Corsican man who makes the best of being incarcerated. While in prison, he proves himself and creates a following while constantly preparing for the future.

One of the movie's six is, of course, for best picture. For the 2009 title, the film will be going against: "The White Ribbon," Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire," Andrea Arnold's "Fish Tank," Stephen Daldry's "The Reader," and Tomas Alfredson's "Let the Right One In." The nominations are not only a reflection of the EFA's wide-range of taste, but also of Europe's general movie audience as well.

"Slumdog Millionaire" is second in nominations with a total of five, including best actor, best picture, and best director. Winners will be announced Dec. 12 in Bochum, Germany.