euzeitung.de Brüssel – Strassburg – Berlin
The three films competing for the 2015 LUX Prize were announced on 24 July in Rome by EP vice-president Antonio Tajani and culture committee chair Silvia Costa, at the Venice Days press conference. The films are: Mediterranea by Jonas Carpignano (Italy, United States, Germany, France, Qatar), Mustang, by Deniz Gamze Ergüven (France, Germany, Turkey, Qatar) and Urok (The Lesson) by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov (Bulgaria, Greece).
The three finalists competing for the European Parliament’s annual film award will be subtitled in all 24 of the EU’s official languages and screened in more than 50 cities and 20 festivals in Europe, crossing national and language barriers and introducing cinema audiences to films from other European countries. The winning film will be also adapted for the visually and hearing impaired and promoted internationally.
The winner of the 2015 award will be selected by MEPs and announced on 25 November in Strasbourg in the presence of the four directors.
The three films portray diverse contemporary European social issues such as migration, the role of local conservative traditions or economic problems in society.
The three finalists are:
Mediterranea (Italy, United States, Germany, France, Qatar): Jonas Carpignano’s feature film debut assesses the very sensitive, topical issue of migrants crossing the Mediterranean in search of freedom and safety.
Mustang (France, Germany, Turkey, Qatar) by Deniz Gamze Ergüven portrays the imprisonment of young girls in a male-dominated society still very much under the influence of local traditions.
Urok (The Lesson) by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov (Bulgaria, Greece) explores the school environment, looking at how economic adversity can shatter a comfortable existence.
28 Times Cinema and LUX Film Days
The „28 Times Cinema“ partnership between the European Parliament LUX Film Prize and the Venice Days will give 28 young cinephiles aged 18 to 26 the chance to watch the three films of the official competition and to meet the films‘ directors. The 28 young people will form the jury for the Venice Days Award.
The 28 young filmgoers will also be ambassadors for the LUX Film Prize as they will present the 4th edition of the LUX FILM DAYS (screenings of the finalists in the Lux Film Prize Official Competition in all 28 countries of the European Union) in their respective countries.
