LUX Prize: Supporting culture and the European identity

Why a LUX Prize?

Since 2007, the European Parliament LUX prize casts an annual spotlight on films that go to the heart of the European public debate. The Parliament believes that the cinema, a mass cultural medium, can be an ideal vehicle for debate and reflection on Europe and its future. Cinema is popular, attracts different generations and is affordable.

What does it offer?

The films selected for the LUX Prize competition help to air different views on some of the main social and political issues of the day and, as such, contribute to building a stronger European identity. They help celebrate the universal reach of European values, illustrate the diversity of European traditions and shed light on the process of European integration.

The LUX Prize is becoming a quality label backing European film productions. Its winning films have become hits within the EU and beyond. It has helped publicise films that might have otherwise been seen and discovered by few and has put the spotlight on urgent issues of the day.

When Parliament created the LUX Prize, it decided to focus on distribution because it believes that this is “the Achilles heel of European cinema”. Unlike the largely unified North American market, the film industry in European countries faces huge organizational and economic difficulties which are worsened by language barriers.

As a result, the LUX Prize winner does not receive a direct grant. Instead, the Parliament pays to subtitle the film into the EU’s 23 official languages and for it to be adapted for the visually or hearing impaired. It also funds the production of a 35 mm print for each Member State.

The Selection Panel - a 17 person panel drawn from the film world select the films for the LUX Prize Official Selection - Competition.

The panel includes producers, distributors, cinema operators, festival directors and film critics. The European Commission (MEDIA programme) and the Fund Eurimages of the Council of Europe sit as observers. The European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education appoints the panel members. Each year, it replaces one-third of the members. A representative of the film which won the previous year's LUX Prize is an ex officio member of the panel.

The films for the LUX Prize Competition are proposed by the Selection Panel. They can be also submitted by the Members of the European Parliament and by the spontaneous submission of the Cinema professionals.

The members of the Selection Panel propose and establish the 10 films which will be part of the Official Selection, and in consequence the three films of the Competition.

Those members of the Selection Panel who have participated in the production or commercial exploitation of a film in Competition might have proposed films but may not vote for a film in which they have commercial interest.

The Selection Panel's decisions are based on an outright majority, or, failing that, by a relative majority reached in a ballot. The members are sworn to secrecy till the official announcement of the Selection (end June) and of the Competition (end July).

The LUX Prize eligible films meet the following criteria:

1) They are fictions or creative documentaries (may be animated).
2) They have a minimum length of 60 minutes.
3) They result from productions or co-productions eligible under the MEDIA PROGRAMME produced or co-produced in a European Union country or in Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
4) They help celebrate the universal reach of European values, illustrate the diversity of European traditions, shed light on the process of European integration and provide insights into the building of Europe.
5) Films that had their festival premiere/ first release between 1 June and 31 May.

The European Parliament is a model – and a symbol – of cultural diversity. Its very make-up reflects Europe’s multiplicity of cultures and languages. With 754 seats, the European Parliament is the world’s largest international parliamentary body. It is also the most diverse: its Members represent 27 Member States and speak 23 languages in addition to regional and minority languages.

The Parliament’s legislative powers make it a crucial player in the shaping of EU policies. Its remit covers key issues such as immigration, integration, poverty and freedom of expression and thought.

The LUX Prize and EU policies 

The LUX Prize is an innovative way to explore major European policy areas such as immigration, integration, poverty and violence against women.

Stavros Lambrinidis, vice-president of the European Parliament, in an interview given to cineuropa at the Venice Days 2010, said that LUX Prize films touch on these every day concerns.

He said they educate the public but also European lawmakers. Passing laws is not “a cold process”, he explained. Parliamentarians may read a report on immigration and understand it with their minds but a film can touch their hearts and make all the difference in the policies that follow. Through the LUX Prize, politicians meet, interact and discuss with artists and “we need their inspiration,” he added.

Making policies, passing laws

Parliament decides on new European laws with the Council of Ministers, which represents Member States. Before going to the full plenary session for a final vote, European Parliament members   debate and shape European laws and policies in the Parliament’s numerous committees.

Many of these committees focus on the same topics as those tackled by the films selected for the LUX Prize competition.

The following Parliament Committees in particular concentrate on the social and human rights issues at the centre of the LUX Prize films.

Culture and Education Committee

It deals mainly with the cultural aspects of the European Union. Its remit includes improving the knowledge and dissemination of culture; the protection and promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity; the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage, cultural exchanges and artistic creation; the Union's education policy; youth, sports and leisure policy; and information and media policy. This is the Committee responsible for the LUX prize.

Employment and Social Affairs Committee

Its remit includes working conditions; social security and social protection; health and safety at the work; training; free movement of workers and pensioners; dialogue between employers and trade unions; and all discriminations at the workplace and in the labour market except those based on sex covered by a separate committee.

Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee

It deals with citizens' rights, human rights and fundamental rights within the European Union. Its remit includes the protection of minorities; measures combating all forms of discrimination other than those based on sex or those occurring at the workplace and in the labour market; personal data protection; the entry and movement of persons; asylum and migration; the management of common borders; and measures relating to police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee

It deals with the definition, promotion and protection of women's rights in the Union. This includes equal opportunities in the labour market and treatment at work; the removal of all forms of discrimination based on sex; gender mainstreaming in all policy sectors; and information policy on women. It also looks at the promotion of women's rights in third countries.

Foreign affairs Committee

Its remit includes human rights, the protection of minorities and the promotion of democratic values in third countries.  It has set up a sub-committee focusing solely on human rights to help it in this work.

Development Committee

It deals with the EU’s development and cooperation policy including political dialogue with developing countries, aid to, and cooperation agreements with these countries and the promotion of democratic values, good governance and human rights.

Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee

It deals with environmental policy and environmental protection, public health and food safety issues.

Why a LUX Prize?

Since 2007, the European Parliament LUX prize casts an annual spotlight on films that go to the heart of the European public debate. The Parliament believes cinema is one of the richest and strongest of all cultural expressions and has the potential to break down the walls of fears and insecurity that are surrounding our lives. Cinema is a mirror in which we can recognize how much we have in common with each other, or how curious and interesting our diversities are.

A new challenge: the LUX FILM DAYS

In 2012, the first edition of a new project was launched: the LUX FILM DAYS, consisting in screening 3 films in the 23 languages and the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) in the same time period (autumn 2012). Experienced for the first time ever in November 2012, the three films of the LUX Prize Official Competition 2012 -Tabu, Just the Wind, Shun Li and the Poet - have been screened within LUX FILM DAYS in more than 40 cities of the 27 Member States and subtitled in the 23 languages of the European Union. In many cases the screenings took place in cooperation with film festivals (to name a few -Viennale, Stockholm Film Festival, Thessaloniki Film Festival, Black Night Film Festival, Sevilla Film Festivals), cinematheque or theatres.

For most countries the screenings have been also national avant-premieres. The aim was to invite the audience to watch the films and to express and share their views with other Europeans by voting for the films on luxprize.eu, in other words to take a stand for certain topic and continue debating them on social media.

What does the Prize offer?

When Parliament created the LUX Prize, it decided to focus on distribution because it believes that this is “the Achilles heel of European cinema”. Unlike the largely unified North American market, the film industry in European countries faces huge organizational and economic difficulties which are worsened by language barriers. As a result, the LUX Prize winner has been subtitled into the EU’s 23 official languages and for it to be adapted for the visually or hearing impaired. It also funds the production of a DCP and, in case, of 35 mm print for each Member State.