The 21st Annual European Film Awards took place on 6 December 2008 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Winners and nominees

Best European Actor

Toni Servillo – Gomorrah (Gomorra) and Il Divo

• Michael Fassbender – Hunger
• Thure Lindhardt and Mads Mikkelsen – Flame & Citron (Flammen & Citronen)
• James McAvoy – Atonement
• Jürgen Vogel – The Wave (Die Welle)
• Elmar Wepper – Cherry Blossoms (Kirschblüten – Hanami)

Best European Actress

Kristin Scott Thomas – I've Loved You So Long (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime)

• Hiam Abbass – Lemon Tree
• Arta Dobroshi – The Silence of Lorna (Le silence de Lorna)
• Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky
• Belen Rueda – The Orphanage (El orfanato)
• Ursula Werner – Cloud 9 (Wolke Neun)

Best European Composer

Max Richter – Waltz with Bashir (Vals im Bashir)

• Tuur Florizoone [nl] – Moscow, Belgium (Aanrijding in Moscou)
• Dario Marianelli – Atonement
• Fernando Velázquez – The Orphanage (El orfanato)

Best European Director

Matteo Garrone – Gomorrah (Gomorra)

• Laurent Cantet – The Class (Entre les murs)
• Andreas Dresen – Cloud 9 (Wolke Neun)
• Ari Folman – Waltz with Bashir (Vals im Bashir)
• Steve McQueen – Hunger
• Paolo Sorrentino – Il Divo

Best European Film

Best European Screenwriter

Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso and Roberto Saviano – Gomorrah (Gomorra)

• Suha Arraf and Eran Riklis – Lemon Tree
• Ari Folman – Waltz with Bashir
• Paolo Sorrentino – Il Divo