Danish cinema was a big winner at the 24th European Film Awards in Berlin on Saturday night, with Lars von Trier’s ‘Melancholia’ leading the way. It took home the top prize of best film along with awards for cinematography and production design.

Susanne Bier won best director for her film ‘In a Better World’ to add to the best foreign language film Oscar the film won earlier this year.

And actor Mads Mikkelson was also recognised by the 2,500 voting members of the European Film Academy, picking up the award for European achievement in world cinema 2011.

Melancholia’s success completes an eventful year for von Trier, who was ejected from the Cannes Film Festival in May after saying he could “sympathise” with Hitler at a press conference. The comments caused a furore, causing the director to apologise, and then retract his apology later this year, in a succession of statements and interviews.

The director’s wife, Bente Froge, accepted the award on his behalf, saying von Trier had chosen to say silent on the matter. He said in October that he would not speak to the media ever again.

“I should say from Lars that he has no statement for you,” Froge said. “But he did ask that I should wave to you in a kind and gentle way.”