Five Films nominated for Audience Lux Award address key social and political issues

Brussels – Five films by European directors, all award-winning, are now in competition for the Public’s Lux Award, organized by the European Parliament to bring politics and the public closer together through the medium of film.

During the presentation press conference, MEP Sabine Verheyen, First Vice-President of the European Parliament, described the Prize as “a way to promote the ideas and fundamental principles of the EU.” Along with her, Nela Reihl, Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and Education, added that cinema is “a means of expression that transcends spatial, economic, and social divisions“, and this allows for “translating the policies of the EU, which we talk about in the European Parliament, by bringing them closer to our citizens.”

The films in contention

A panel of film experts chose in recent months the films that will compete. The first submitted is a co-production of Greece, Austria, Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria, Animals, directed by Greek Sofia Exarchou, which deals with the working conditions of the tourism industry in Greece, exposing the degrading pace of the entertainment staff. This is followed by Dahomey, a documentary by French filmmaker Mati Diop, co-produced by France, Senegal, and Benin to chronicle the issue of the return of artworks stolen by French colonial troops to the current Republic of Benin, giving voice to the demands of a new generation.

Another selected and only animated film is Flow, directed by Latvian Gints Zilbalodis. It chronicles climate change using a cat as its hero-protagonist, forced to flee a hostile environment due to a flood.

The fourth nominee is Intercepted, by Ukrainian-Canadian filmmaker Oksana Karpovych. The documentary chronicles the conflict in Ukraine and the ensuing destruction. The use of wiretaps of Russian soldiers talking to their families makes the narrative of the French, Canadian, and Ukrainian co-production even more dramatic. The last film singled out is Julie Keeps Quiet, by Belgian Leonardo van Dijl, which chronicles gender equality, women’s rights, and mental health in a Belgian-Swedish production through the story of a young tennis player whose coach is suspended for abuse of office.

How the winner is selected

The Prize is awarded by the European Parliament each year in conjunction with the European Film Academy, in collaboration with the EU Commission and the Europa Cinemas network.

From 2020, the Lux Audience Award is awarded to one of five nominated films through an online vote involving the public and the members of the European Parliament, with an equal weighting of 50 per cent. The nominated films will be in cinemas across the EU and available in 24 European languages until April 2025.

Also added to the project this year is the Young Talent Program, which selects one representative per EU member country from among young film professionals under 30 who are involved in filmmaking to promote European values.

The purpose of the former is to foster dialogue between politics and the public, and the films, whether already known or award-winning, must be relevant to issues of interest to the European debate. Diversity of tone and genre is welcomed, as is accessibility to a diverse audience.

There is a huge focus, this year as well, on some of the major current social and political issues, including mental health, poverty, climate change, freedom of expression, gender equality, and LGBTIQ+ rights. The winning film will be announced in April next year, with a date yet to be determined.