Henning Kaiser / dpa
Berlin
The multi-day award ceremony for the European Film Prize began with a round of talks. Director Thomas Vinterberg (51) sees his industry as having an obligation to surprise the audience with better films.
“We have to do things that get people to go to the cinema because they want to see something different,” said Vinterberg (“Das Fest”) on Tuesday evening.
He discussed the pandemic, the cinema and competition from streaming services with colleagues in an Internet link. You have to remind people “of the greatness” of the experience of sitting in the cinema together, said Vinterberg – because it can be quite comfortable to stream films and series at home.
“I think what is happening on these streaming services is a creeping inertia of the audience,” said Vinterberg. This is a cultural pandemic that must be taken seriously. Even at art house festivals he finds films that are repetitive or mediocre. Polish director Agnieszka Holland (“Charlatan”) also said that better films were needed.
The European Film Prize will be presented on several evenings this year. The best European film of the year will be announced on Saturday. For example, Vinterberg’s new film “Der Rausch” about men who celebrate alcohol is nominated. Mads Mikkelsen plays one of the leading roles. Two German directors have also been proposed: Christian Petzold with “Undine” and Burhan Qurbani with “Berlin Alexanderplatz”.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201209-99-624201 / 4
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