European Film Awards to Feature Helen Mirren, Mads Mikkelsen and Bernardo Bertolucci

BERLIN – Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Bernardo Bertolucci, Danish star Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) and Dutch actress Cairce van Houten (Game of Thrones) are among the Euro VIPs set to attend this year’s European Film Awards in Malta December 1.

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Mirren will be honored with a special prize for her contribution to world cinema while Bertolucci will receive the European Film Academy's lifetime achievement award.

More than 1,000 of Europe’s cinema elite will be on hand when the EFAs are handed out for the 25th time. They include German actor Moritz Bleibtreu (The Baader Meinhof Complex) and Irishmen Jim Sheridan – the Oscar-nominated director of In the Name of the Father and My Left Foot - and Michael Gambon – perhaps best known for portraying Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films.

Highlighting the EFAs pan-European scope, this year’s guest list includes directors from Russia (Alexei Popogrebsky) and Bosnia (Danis Tanovic); Spanish actors Marisa Paredes and Sergi Lopez as well Maltese actress Marama Carlett (Sinbad).

German director Wim Wenders will open the gala before handing over to comedienne Anke Engelke, who will host her fourth EFAs. The ceremony will be streamed live on www.europeanfilmawards.eu and broadcast on French/German network ARTE on Dec. 2.

Contenders this year for the top prize of European Film 2012 include Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner Amour, Oscar hopefuls The Intouchables, Barbara and Caesar Must Die, Danish drama The Hunt and Steve McQueen's Shame featuring Michael Fassbender.