Karlovy Vary: The official selection of ten films competing for this year’s European Parliament LUX Prize was unveiled at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Czech Republic), for the second year in a row, on 1 July. The selection reflects the excellence and rich variety of contemporary European cinema. Well known film-makers will show their works alongside young and promising authors including a number of female directors.
The 2012 official selection was unveiled at the 47th Karlovy Vary film festival by European Parliament Vice-President Oldrich Vlasak, MEP Katarina Nevedalova, Deputy Director of the Sofia International Film Festival Mira Staleva, and Karlovy Festival Artistic Director Karel Och. Ms Staleva and Mr Och are members of the 2012 LUX Prize Selection Panel.
The 2012 LUX Prize official selection is (in alphabetical order):
À perdre la raison (Our Children) by Joachim Lafosse (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland)
Barbara by Christian Petzold (Germany)
Cesare deve morire (Caesar Must Die) by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani (Italy)
Crulic – drumul spre dincolo (Crulic – The Path to Beyond) by Anca Damian (Romania, Poland)
Csak a szél (Just the Wind) by Bence Fliegauf (Hungary, Germany, France)
Djeca (Children of Sarajevo) by Aida Begic (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, France and Turkey)
Io sono Li (Shun Li and the Poet) by Andrea Segre ( Italy, France)
L'enfant d'en haut (Sister) by Ursula Meier (France, Switzerland)
Louise Wimmer by Cyril Mennegun (France)
Tabu by Miguel Gomes (Portugal, Germany, France, Brazil)
The LUX Prize, established in 2007, is awarded annually by the Members of the European Parliament. It aims to stimulate public debate on the European Union (EU) and its values and to promote the production and circulation of European films within the EU.
The first edition of the LUX Film Days
During the LUX Film Days from 16 October to 20 November, the three films nominated as finalists for the LUX Prize 2012 Award will be screened in the EU's 23 official languages in the 27 EU member states. Through this unity of time, place and action, a temporary European public space will be created with a view to inspiring and sharing a sense of common cultural heritage amongst European cinema lovers. The LUX Film Days will also help to break down language barriers that prevent European films from being viewed across the continent.
2012 LUX Prize dates and events
The three final candidate films in the 2012 LUX Prize Competition will be unveiled at the Venice Days press conference in Rome on 24 July.
These three films will be screened in special events at the Venice Film Festival (29 August -9 September) and in all the 27 EU Member States from 15 October to 20 November.
The LUX Prize 2012 will be officially awarded on 21 November 2012, during a sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg in the presence of the film-makers.
In addition to providing distributors with subtitles in the 23 official languages for the winning film and versions for the visually and hearing impaired, the LUX Prize will offer an incentive for the film's promotion throughout the EU.
The 2012 LUX Prize Selection Panel
Every year, a Selection Panel appointed by the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education decides on the LUX Prize Official Selection and the Competition.
Director and author Radu Mihaileanu, has been appointed Honorary President to chair this year’s LUX Prize selection panel.
Members of the selection panel:
Fatima Djoumer (Europa Cinemas),
Marc Bordure, French producer
José Luis Cienfuegos, Director of the Sevilla European Film Festival
Catherine Buresi, Co-director of the European Film Market at the Berlinale
Michel Demopoulos, Greek film critic
Stéphan de Potter (Cinéart), Belgian film distributor
Marion Döring, Director of the European Film Academy
Jakub Duszynski (Gutek Films), Polish distributor and Co-president of Europa Distribution
Per Ericsson, Head of the Education Department at the Swedish Film Institute
Paul Peter Huth, German screenwriter and critic
Nick James, Editor of the British magazine Sight & Sound
Christophe Leparc, the Secretary General of the Director’s Fortnight in Cannes
Georgette Ranucci (Lucky Red), Italian distributor
Éva Vezer, Hungarian audiovisual expert
Mira Staleva and Karel Och who presented the official selection at the 2012 Karlovy Vary festival.