"A Prophet" nominated for six European film awards

MADRID (Reuters) -The French film "Un Prophete" (A Prophet) has been nominated for six European Film awards, including best film and best director, the European Film Academy announced on Saturday at the Seville Europe Film Festival.

Tahar Rahim was nominated as best actor for his role in the film, which also saw director Jacques Audiard nominated for European Screenwriter 2009 with Thomas Bidegain.

British film "Slumdog Millionaire", directed by Danny Boyle, scooped five nominations, including best picture, best director and best actor for Dev Patel.

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar was nominated for best director for his latest film "Los Abrazos Rotos" (Broken Embraces), which stars his muse Penelope Cruz.

The film is Almodovar's fourth collaboration with Spanish actress Cruz, nominated in the best actress category for her role as Lena, a secretary who ends up in a relationship with her wealthy boss Ernesto. Also an aspiring actress, she is spotted by the charismatic director Mateo Blanco, played by Lluis Homar, with whom she quickly falls in love.

Cruz will compete for the best actress accolade with Charlotte Gainsbourg for her role in "Antichrist" and Kate Winslet for "The Reader."

Other candidates for best film are: "Fish Tank", from British writer and director Andrea Arnold; "Let the Right One In", a Swedish romantic horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson; "The Reader", directed by Stephen Daldry; and Austrian film maker Michael Haneke's "The White Ribbon".

The more than 2,000 EFA members will now vote for the winners, which will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on Dec. 12 in Bochum, Germany.

The Italian film "Gomorra" swept the board at last year's awards, winning best film and best director for Matteo Garrone.

(Reporting by Judy MacInnes; editing by Mark Trevelyan)