Europe Commitment to Cinema
European Cinema at the heart of the 65th Festival de Cannes
At the 65th Cannes Film Festival, marked by strong presence of European films in all its selections, Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Culture, renewed its commitment to the cinema. On May 20, she handed the European Union MEDIA Prize to Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, honored for a new project he will achieve in France. She then unveiled the broad outline of the future assistance program intitled "Creative Europe". Surrounded by artists and professionals, Androulla Vassiliou has reaffirmed its support for the 7th Art, setting up with them new bases of European funding for the film industry.
18 films supported by Europe in the different selections of the 65th Cannes Film Festival, out of which, in official competition: De Rouille et d’Os by Jacques Audiard (Belgium, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg), Holy Motors by Leos Carax (France) , Amour by Michael Haneke (France, Austria, Germany), The Angel's Share by Ken Loach (UK, France), V Tumane (In Mist) by Sergei Loznitsa (Germany, Netherlands, Belarus, Russia, Latvia), Paradise:Love (Paradies: Liebe) by Ulrich Seidl (Germany, France, Austria), Jagten (Hunting) by Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark).
"I am delighted that once again, European films are out in force at Cannes," said Androulla Vassiliou. "This is the best reward for our action and the proof that Europe can, through targeted investments, provide added value to the audiovisual and culture".
This year, 18 films supported by the European Union MEDIA Program were selected at the 65th Cannes Film Festival, 7 competing for the Palme d'Or. Works of young talents and established directors like Michael Haneke (Love), Ken Loach (The angels' share), Jacques Audiard (De Rouille et d'Os) and Thomas Vinterberg (The hunt). In 20 years, MEDIA-funded films have won 12 Golden Palms, 13 and 9 Grand Prix Award for Best Director at Cannes.
Asghar Farhadi - First Winner of the European Union's MEDIA prize
The Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou presented the first European Union's MEDIA prize to Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi Sunday at Cannes.
Asghar Farhadi, distinguished in Europe and the world for its film "About Elly" (Berlin Silver Bear 2009) and "A Separation" (Berlin Golden Bear 2011, Oscar for Best Foreign Film 2012), received with his producer Alexandre Mallet-Guy (Memento Films Production) the European Union's Media Award for their new project to be shot in France in French this fall.
"I am proud today to reward Mr. Farhadi for this film project that demonstrates a strong cultural identity and illustrates the opening of the Europe of culture that I defend on a daily basis. After the worldwide success of his masterpiece "A Separation", he offers us a new project as committed as moving and above all, full of universality." said Androulla Vassiliou.
For its part, Asghar Farhadi said, "At a time when some politicians are trying to transform the beautiful rainbow of cultural diversity in the world in a field of differences and confrontations, I see this award given to my next film project by MEDIA as a very encouraging sign. I want to thank the MEDIA program, while congratulating him for his clear vision and open a mutual and respectful exchange between cultures."
