The 27 Stars of European Film

by Fabien Lemercier

21/11/2008 - The best of recent European films will be shown in 80 theatres across France on Sunday, November 23 for the Stars of European Film event, which is sponsored by director Costa Gavras and organised by the Culture Ministry as part of the French presidency of the EU.

The line-up includes 27 non-domestic European features released during the last three years. Viewers will be able to (re)discover the films for the reduced admission price of €3 per person or €5 per couple.

Commenting on this initiative, French Minister of Culture Christine Albanel said that "European film is enjoying a revival". She remarked: "Ten years ago, the market share for US film was 80% in European theatres and today it stands at almost 60%. In France, during November and December, no fewer than 21 European features will be released.”

She continued: "But we still have to work hard to improve circulation of European films within the borders of the EU. The market share for non-domestic films is still on average less than 10%, even if it has increased in recent years. We must dispel the idea that only US films are likely to appeal to European audiences."

For information about participating theatres and screening times, visit the Stars of European Film official website.

Selected films:
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days [trailer, film focus] - Cristian Mungiu
Belle toujours [trailer] - Manoel de Oliveira
Black Book [trailer] - Paul Verhoeven
The Way I Spent the End of the World [trailer] - Catalin Mitulescu
Control [trailer] - Anton Corbijn
The Edge of Heaven [trailer, film focus] - Fatih Akin
Elizabeth: The Golden Age [trailer] - Shekhar Kapur
Golden Door [trailer, film focus] - Emanuele Crialese
Irina Palm [trailer, film focus] - Sam Garbarski
The Lives of Others [trailer, film focus] - Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Life Is a Miracle - Emir Kusturica
The Boss of it All [trailer] - Lars von Trier
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer [trailer] - Tom Tykwer
The Wind That Shakes the Barley [trailer, film focus] - Ken Loach
The Child [trailer, film focus] - Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
The Consequences of Love - Paolo Sorrentino
Laura’s Star - Piet De Rycker and Thilo Graf Rothkirch
The Man Without a Past [trailer] - Aki Kaurismäki
The Sea Inside [trailer] - Alejandro Amenabar
My Brother Is an Only Child [trailer, film focus] - Daniele Luchetti
Once [trailer] - John Carney
Paradise Now [trailer] - Hany Abu-Assad
Esma’s Secret [trailer, film focus] - Jasmila Zbanic
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days [trailer] - Marc Rothemund
The Queen [trailer, film focus] - Stephen Frears
This is England [trailer] - Shane Meadows
Volver [trailer, film focus] - Pedro Almodóvar

(Translated from French)