György BÁRON
"I’m happy to have been present at the birth of this prestigious film award that helps and encourages communication among European nations through the universal language of Modern Times: Cinema."
Sonora BROKA
"Films selected for the LUX Prize are a good reflection of the political, social and cultural realities of the countries from the region."
Kirsten DALGAARD
"The LUX Prize gives important identity and visibility to European cinema and affords a mirror of the cultural diversity of the European member states equally beneficial for audiences and artists."
Stephan DE POTTER
"The Parliament's support of films representing the diversity and the values of Europe will benefit the whole film community. By the quality and the messages they bring, the Prize will also favour the spread of culture among all the Member states and to the European citizens."
Michel DEMOPOULOS
“I am happy to be associated with the Lux Prize. This prize is a reward for filmmakers who are contributing to cultural diversity and film creation in Europe.”
Fatima DJOUMER
"I am happy the European Parliament created the Lux Prize. This is the best political guarantee for the cultural diversity of European cinema across Europe!"
Michal DROBNY
"My expectations for the LUX prize are very high. I believe that this Prize will help all nominated films, especially those from small territories, to be promoted and exhibited in many countries across Europe. In addition this prize might help to promote European films in general, and support European cultural diversity and the emergence of a European identity."
Jakub DUSZYNSKI
"11 years of experience in film distribution has taught me to value excellent initiatives geared towards the promotion of films and cinema. LUX Prize is one of them and I am really happy to be able to share my enthusiasm for European cinema with EU Parliament members, who are also passionate about cinema."
Mercedes ECHERER
"The diversity of languages is part of the richness of Europe, but often it can act as a hindrance. To help overcome language barriers, the LUX Prize has an important role. To be committed to European culture is an honourable duty to me."
Denis FREYD
"The LUX Prize is unique in its genre as it brings to light great European talents and facilitates the distribution of their films throughout all the countries and in all the languages of the European Union."
Eve GABEREAU
"The LUX Prize honours the best films of the year being made across Europe. Its focus on the expression of how socio-economic, geographic and cultural issues are affecting Europeans, gives it a unique stature and bestows on its recipients great recognition of their work. It highlights the importance of European cinema within a contemporary context."
Susanne HOFFMANN
"The multitude of European languages is both - cultural wealth and cultural restraint. Through its unique initiative of providing subtitled versions of its prize winners, the LUX Prize supports the cultural diversity of our continent in a very effective way."
Georgette RANUCCI
"One cinema for Europe, one language for cinema."
Mira STALEVA
"It's great to have the LUX Prize as a step in encouraging distribution of European films. Providing subtitling in all European languages will help the European masterpieces reach wider audiences. We all share the same symbolic heritage, the same archetypes, the same stories and values --- and cinema communicates these in the best possible way."
Yvon THIEC
"It is thanks to Boris Eisenstein, Serge’s nephew, that I originally came to cinema. For me, cinema is the same as it was when I was young: something completely fascinating; a window wide open to life and to hope."
Nuria VIDAL
"If Europe wants to be a union, without giving up the diversity of its states, cinema proves to be an ideal tool. Cinema unites through its diversity. This is one of the qualities of the LUX Prize : to recognize the value of a universal art, while at the same time reflecting what is unique."
Doris PACK
« There is no European conscience neither emotion nor European identity if we don’t keep in mind the specific histories of each country, that is to say if we don’t watch European films in order to discover the soul of Europe »
Faith AKIN
« The LUX Prize is the most innovative award for European cinema. The sponsored subtitles enabling the laureate to present his film all around Europe is a great idea, hopefully the European Parliament will continue to promote our diverse and rich cinematographic culture through the LUX Prize »
Kamen KALEV
« Neo-Nazi movements are not more present in Bulgaria than in other European countries. Intolerance is not exclusive to a single country, nor does it belong only to right-wing political forces. All politicians have the same responsibility -to help people outgrow their prejudices and learn to live together. »
Hans-Christian Schmid
« One of the main reasons for me for making and also watching films in cinema is that they can tell an audience how diverse our lives in different countries and circumstances can be. Films need to travel and the LUX Prize can help a great deal to make these films be seen and understood all over Europe. What more could one ask for? »
Philippe Lioret
« The Amsterdam Treaty aimed at establishing an “area of freedom, security and justice” for Europeans. The selection of Welcome by the LUX Prize is an encouraging sign. We see this as a sign of support for the values which the film defends – commitment, solidarity and open-mindedness –against all attempts to go backwards. »
