24/07/2012 - Today in Rome, the European Parliament unveiled the three films competing for the sixth LUX Prize

Today in Rome, during the presentation of 9th Venice Days section of the Venice Film Festival (August 29 – September 9), the European Parliament unveiled the three films of the LUX Prize 2012 Competition and also announced the upcoming events organised in the framework of the initiative.

Standing out from an official selection which included a total of 10 films (news), the three final candidates for the sixth LUX Prize are:

Just the Wind [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bence Fliegauf
film profile] - Bence Fliegauf
Hungary, Germany, France

Io sono Li [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrea Segre
interview: Andrea Segre
film profile] - Andrea Segre
Italy, France

Tabu [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Miguel Gomes
interview: Miguel Gomes
film profile] - Miguel Gomes
Portugal, Germany, France, Brazil

The three films will be screened as special events at the Venice Days, which is renewing its partnership with the LUX Prize for the third consecutive year. The films will also be presented to the 27 young cinema lovers who are taking part in the third edition of 27 Times Cinema, a project designed for 27 young film lovers – one for each of the 27 EU member states.

Hosted in Venice throughout the festival with the support of the LUX Prize, these 27 viewers aged from 18 to 25 attend the screenings and participate in debates inspired by the topics of the films from the Venice Days and, more broadly, from European cinema. The meetings involve directors, authors, film professionals and MEPs. Every day, a blog and a recording of the meeting are published by Cineuropa.org

The European Parliament's Culture and Education Committee Chairwoman Doris Pack, said: "Today, in launching the third edition of 27 Times Cinema and unveiling the three films competing for the LUX Prize 2012, we untie the mooring lines of a vessel which will navigate throughout the European Union. Starting in Venice, these three films will travel through the 27 member states as part of the first LUX FILM DAYS. We strongly believe that the stories told by European Cinema will aid understanding between European citizens, from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean. In these troubled times, better mutual understanding between nations and citizens is increasingly important. This is why sharing the same cultural event and discussion of common issues could be a way to build bridges between people."

The LUX Prize 2012 will be officially presented on 21 November 2012, during a sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg in presence of the filmmakers. In addition to providing the distributors with the subtitles 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 European Union.

Click here to read the interview with Romanian director Radu Mihaileanu, honorary president of the LUX Prize selection panel, and here to watch a report filmed during the panel’s first meeting.