Introduction to a Cinema Legend
The European Film Academy is honoring Norwegian cinema legend Liv Ullmann at the 38th European Film Awards with the European Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious award recognizes her outstanding career as an actress, director, and screenwriter.
Early Life and Career
Ullmann was born in Tokyo and grew up in Canada and Norway. She began her career as a theater actress in Oslo before meeting Ingmar Bergman in the mid-1960s. This encounter launched one of the most creative and productive collaborations in the history of cinema. Ullmann’s appearances in Bergman’s films, such as Persona (1966), Shame (1968), Screams and Whispers (1972), Scenes from a Wedding (1974), Face to Face (1976), and Autumn Sonata (1978), achieved international fame and awards.
Awards and Recognition
Ullmann is a two-time Oscar nominee, receiving Best Actress nominations for her roles in Jan Troell’s The Emigrants (1971) and Bergman’s Face to Face. She also received an honorary Oscar in 2022. Over the course of her six-decade career, she has received almost every major European film award, including the European Achievement in World Cinema Award, several David di Donatello Awards, as well as the Norwegian Amanda Honorary Prize and the Swedish Guldbagge Prize.
Directing Career
Ullmann made her debut as a director with Sophie (1992), followed by Kristin Lavransdatter (1995), Private Confessions (1996), Faithless (2000), and Miss Julie (2014). Her work as a director has been widely acclaimed, showcasing her talent and versatility in the film industry.
Philanthropy and Legacy
In addition to her work in cinema, Ullmann is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and co-founder of the Women’s Refugee Commission, of which she remains honorary chair. Her dedication to philanthropy and social causes has made a significant impact, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps. Ullmann will be honored at the European Film Awards ceremony in Berlin on January 17, 2026, and the event will be broadcast live on the European Film Academy website.
