12 Years a Slave's Chiwetel Ejiofor is Now an Emmy Nom Too!

Chiwetel Ejiofor and his girlfriend Sari Mercer hold hands while arriving on a boat to the 2014 Ischia Global Film & Music Festival on Sunday (July 13) in Ischia, Italy.

The 37-year-old 12 Years a Slave actor, who is being honored at the festival this week, just received his first Emmy nomination!

Chiwetel is up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his work in the Starz mini-series Dancing On the Edge. He is going up against Sherlock‘s Benedict Cumberbatch, Luther‘s Idris Elba, Fargo‘s Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton, and The Normal Heart‘s Mark Ruffalo.

FYI: Sari is wearing Dolce&Gabbana ‘Mosaico’ sunglasses.

10+ pictures inside of Chiwetel Ejiofor and his girlfriend at the festival…