The official selection of the films is carried out by a panel of 17 persons, most of whom work in cinema-related areas: producers, distributors, cinema operators, festival directors, film critics.
The composition of the selection panel is determined each year by the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education. One-third of its members are replaced each year. The representative of the film which won the previous year's prize is an ex officio member of the panel.
Members of the selection panel
Selection criteria
Members of the selection panel
-
Mr György BÁRON, Hongrie
Film critic
"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".
Mr. Baron is president of the Hungarian Film Critics’ Association (Hungarian Fipresci) and professor at the University of Drama and Film (Budapest). He is also author of several books, essays and studies as well as writer-editor of TV documentaries on film topics.
-
Mr Anthony BOBEAU, France
Journalist with Le Film Français
-
Mrs Sonora BROKA, Latvia
Director and programmer, International Centre for Cinema
"Films selected for the LUX Prize are a good reflection of the political, social and cultural realities of the countries from the region".
"For me, participation in the selection process is a new experience. It is about exploring how Europe can be viewed from various perspectives, employing diverse cinematic styles, genre and narrative forms".
In 2005, after studying Audiovisual Culture at The Latvian Academy of Culture, Ms. Broka joined the team of the Riga International Centre of Cinema and has been working in the Program Department since that time. ICC is the organizer of four cinematic events – Riga International Film festival, Riga Children’s Film Festival “Berimor’s Cinema”, Riga Fantasy Film Festival and Riga Nordic Film Days.
-
Mrs Kirsten DALGAARD, Denmark
Co-president, NatFilm International Film Festival; operator and distributor
"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".Ms. DALGAARD has been involved in European cinema over the last 25 years on most all levels, from acquisition, distribution, marketing and exhibition, to film festivals and organizing work nationally and internationally.
-
Mr Stephan DE POTTER, Belgium
Distributor, Cinéart-Cinélibre
"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".Since his graduation in translation (Dutch and English), International Affairs and Executive Management, Mr. DE POTTER has been active for more than 15 years in Independant Distribution Companies. He joined Cineart in 1997 as General Manager Benelux, in charge of the acquisitions and the theatrical releases in Belgium and The Netherlands.
-
Mr Michel DEMOPOULOS, Greece
Special Advisor on Fiction, ERT Public Television
“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.”Film critic and festival organizer, Michel Demopoulos was director of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival from 1991 to 2004. He currently works as programmer and executive consultant, Fiction, at public television channel ET1.
-
Mrs Fatima DJOUMER, European Union
International relations and events administrator, Europa Cinéma
"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!"Fatima Djoumer has been working in the international film business since 1987. She joined Europa Cinemas in 1993 as Head of International Relations. The mission of Europa Cinemas is to support the circulation of European films outside their country of origin and to foster initiatives aimed at young audiences in an effort to develop their interest in European films. Since 2004, Europa Cinemas has been expanding its film theatre network beyond Europe, particularly in Asia, South America and around the Mediterranean.
-
Mr Michal DROBNY, Slovakia
Operator and distributor, Continental Films
"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".Mr. Drobny is one of the family founders of the film distribution company Continental Film, and is currently General Director. He has been involved in the establishment, creation and programming of the new cinema chain CINEMAX - members of Europa Cinemas chain. As of this year, he is councillor for the new Audiovisual fund in Slovakia as a representative of film distribution and exhibiton.
-
Mr Jakub DUSZYNSKI, Poland
Distributor, Gutek Films
"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."Film distributor, journalist, film critic, screenwriter and law graduate, Mr. Duszynski has worked over the last 11 years as head of acquisitions and creative director for Gutek Film, Poland's leading art house company. He is also Program Director of Poland's major film festival Era New Horizons.
-
Mrs Mercedes ECHERER, Austria
Director, Krems European Film Festival (EU XXL Film)
"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".Ms. Echerer is an actress and a moderator for cinema-movies in television, MEP (1999-2004), EU XXL film.
-
Mr Denis FREYD
Producer, Archipel 35 (Le silence de Lorna, winner of the 2008 Lux Prize)
"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".Through his company Archipel 35, Denis Freyd produces singular, ambitious feature films by young film-makers or such great seasoned directors as Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Abderrahmane Sissako, etc.
-
Mrs Eve GABEREAU, United Kingdom
Co-managing director, Soda Pictures (distribution)
"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."Eve Gabereau is the Managing Director of the UK-based independent distribution company Soda Pictures. Founded in 2002, the company now boasts a library of over 100 films, including many award-winning films from around the world. She has a background in film journalism, festivals and new media; she came to cinema through a love of intercultural communication and visual expression.
-
Mrs Susanne HOFFMANN, Germany
General secretary, Europa Prize
"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."Susanne Hoffmann, born in 1954, has worked for international media festivals since 1984, establishing pan-European networks for creators working in the field of media, thus supporting European audiovisual programs which cross national and cultural borders. She is director of the PRIX EUROPA and Secretary General of INPUT.
-
Mrs Georgette RANUCCI, Italy
Operator and distributor, Lucky Red
"One cinema for Europe, one language for cinema".In the early 80’s, Ms. Ranucci started the Libreria dello Spettacolo, the only bookshop specializing in cinema and theater in Italy. She opened the Alcazar cinema in Rome in 1989 (Europa cinemas theater) and joined the LuckyRed Distribution in 2000. She has organized the Cannes festival in Rome and Milano for the past 15 years, showing the best films of the festival in those two cities, with all the sections of the Quinzaine-Semaine-Competition.
-
Mrs Mira STALEVA, Bulgaria
Programmer, Sofia International Film Festival
"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".Ms. Staleva feels that working in cinema and coming in contact with its inspiring people and ideas, is like working somewhere between reality and magic. She has been connected with cinema for the last 13 years and is still fascinated by it. In the beginning there was the Festival , then the coproduction market developed – she is now involved in Sofia Meetings and company Art Fest, acting as producer, distributor and exhibitor. Mira Staleva is deputy director of Sofia IFF, head of Sofia Meetings, Coproduction market producer, and distributor.
-
Mr Yvon THIEC, European Union
General delegate, Eurocinema
"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."Mr. THIEC is the General delegate for EUROCINEMA, Association of producers dedicated to the promotion of cinema to European Institutions.
-
Mrs Nuria VIDAL, Spain
Film critic
"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."Ms. VIDAL loves cinema and writes about it. Cinema is part of her life because she sees it as a way of discovering the world and explaining society through a language which does not satisfy itself with being a mere reflection of reality, but also tries to reinterpret it through the creation of a work of art.
Selection criteria
- fiction or animation films;
- at least 60 minutes long;
- illustrating or questioning the universality of European values, European cultural diversity, and/or bringing insights into the debate on the European union’s integration process;
- produced or co-produced in countries eligible under the MEDIA 2007 Programme (any European union nation, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland;
- first release between 1 June 2008 and 31 May 2009.