EU cinema wins at the Oscars

Amour wins best foreign film and Searching for Sugar Man best documentary
Both films were supported by the Media Programme in Brussels

Oscar night was a success for the EU as well. Two of the films that brought home sought after statuettes were in fact financed by the EU Media Programme. The Austrian Director, Michael Haneke won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film with Amour, the moving story of an elderly couple approaching the end of their lives; this is Haneke’s 2nd important recognition after the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Searching for Sugar Man, the true story of guitarist Sixto Rodríguez, who vanished into obscurity in the mid 70’s, filmed partially using the app “8mm Vintage Camera” on an iPhone, won the statuette for best documentary.

The European Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou,declared: “It is a memorable evening for the European cinematographic industry and for the Media Programme. Amour is a masterpiece of European cinema, beautifully written and acted. I give my most heartfelt congratulations to Michael Haneke.” Vassiliou also commended the director-producer team Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn: “Searching for Sugar Man is an incredible story and I am certain that now it will be even more successful.”

The winning films were among six nominees for the Oscar backed by Media that have received financing respectively for 1 million and 20 million Euro. The Programme’s objective is to promote diversity and competition in the European audiovisual sector through financing for the development and promotion of European films outside their home countries. Media will join the new Creative Europe Program in 2014.

Other films financed by the EU that were candidates for the Stauette are: Kon-Tiki by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg (Norway/Sweden/Denmark/UK), Oscar nomination for best foreign film; The Impossible by Juan Antonio Bayona (Spain), Oscar candidate for Best Leading Actress (Naomi Watts); The Gatekeepers by Dror Moreh (France/Israel), Oscar candidate for best documentary.

Media is the French acronym for “Method for Development of the Audiovisual Industry,” which supports the European film industry and the audiovisual sector. For the period from 2014-2020, the Commission proposed a budget of 1,8 billion Euro for the program “Creative Europe,” of this more than 900 million will be designated to this program. The funding that distributors receive is based on various criteria, including ticket sales for foreign films. Funding is reinvested in future distribution costs and to help compensate for risks. Films can also receive pre-production development funding.

For further details:
– The Media programme website