On Wednesday, the President of the European Parliament (EP) David Sasoli presented the 2021 LUX Audience Award to the team of the film “Collective” at the awards ceremony in Strasbourg.
“After the recent period, people’s desire to come together, for example in cinemas, is becoming more and more important,” said Sasoli, presenting the award.
Upon receiving the award, the director of the “Collective” Alexander Nanau mentioned the victims of the tragedy analyzed in the film and the journalists who revealed it. “We want to fight corruption and we need independent media. Societies do not develop without cultural education and freedom of the press. It is your duty to support the people, to invest in culture and education and to protect journalism, “he said in an address to MEPs.
The film by Danish director Thomas Winterberg was also nominated for the award “More by measure” and a film by Polish director Jan Komas “Body of Christ”.
More than LUX European Audience Film Awards finalists.
The winner of the award was determined by the choice of the audience (50%) and the vote of the MEPs (50%).
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the creative and film industries hard. The screening of the three award-winning films in cinemas was limited and was largely replaced by live screenings.
For the winner of the LUX European Audience Film Award
A film by Romanian director Alexander Nanau “Team” (original name “Colectiv”)
In 2015, a fire at the Colectiv Club in Bucharest killed 27 people and injured another 180. Shortly afterwards, 37 non-life-threatening fire victims died in hospitals. The film follows an investigation by journalists, which reveals both corruption and nepotism in the health care system, as well as people’s courage and self-denial.
“Collective” was also nominated for an Oscar this year as the best film in a foreign language and the best documentary this year.
Press conference and other events related to the LUX Prize
Here it can be watched with the winners, other finalists, representatives of the European Film Academy and the chairman of the EP Culture Committee Sabine Verheien (ETP, Germany).
LUX European Audience Film Award
Aiming to reach a wider audience, the European Parliament LUX Spectator Award granted in cooperation with European Film Academy. Since 2007, the EP has been awarding European films and subtitling films in 24 EU languages. The LUX Film Prize has a good reputation as an award for European co-productions dedicated to current political and social issues. LUX is also involved in the awarding of the Audience Award European commision a Europa Cinemas network.
Additional information
LUX European Audience Film Website
Facebook page of the LUX European Audience Film Awards
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