Organised by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinema, the LUX Audience Award celebrates European cinema and aims to raise awareness about social, political and cultural issues in Europe. This year’s nominees offer an eclectic mix of themes, approaches and visual thrills. The five films are co-produced by more than 10 countries, further displaying European cultural richness. Speech by Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Moderator's intermezzo, and speech by Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

VERHEYEN, Sabine (EPP, DE)

REGNER, Evelyn (S&D, AT)

cinema

LUX European Audience Film Award 2023 (T)

LUX Audience Award 2023 ceremony: speech by Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Moderator's intermezzo, and speech by Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/71161857/1687883500499_I243062Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Good evening and also for me, a warm welcome to all of you joining us in the heart of European democracy in the hemicycle of the European Parliament. This room is a symbolic place, yet also one of action, many laws that make our lives better every single day are voted in discussed in this room. And this is why it is important to us all that the democratically elected winner of this European Film Prize is announced in our heart of democracy. to stand united in diversity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, While insisting so much on democracy during a glamorous film ceremony. Because democracy is the very foundation on which art and life can prosper. Yet democracy is under threat by war, by misinformation, by social divides. Just 30 years ago, Yugoslavia imploded and collapses in a bloody war. The looks winning film of the last year covered this. Aida showed us how much these consequences are still being paid today by everyone.

SOUNDBITE (English), Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Today, we as a European Union represent the hope of stability, peace and well-being be part of the Union, not least with Ukraine also fighting for its independence. At the very same time, what we experience in our Europe could look like an oddly built house with diversities, languages, tradition, history and backgrounds are sometimes difficult to harmonise. But let us not forget, this is not only our house, it is our home. And our home is what we make of it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, As the European Parliament is in this building with its so many voices and languages, diversities and variety, we are building this shared home every single day. This very room echoed, echoes the voices of all Europeans. Thanks to the European elections and the next ones are less than a year ahead in June 2024. There is much at stake. So my call to you is to to take part in the debates, engage in the building of the Europe you want, don't take for granted the peace and well-being.

SOUNDBITE (English), Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, We have the five nominated films at Kara's Burning Days, and we, the West are showing you each in their own way how current circumstances are influencing our lives. Not only members of Parliament voted, but many of you did too. 45,000 of you. And this is the highest rating ever recorded. So this ceremony is therefore also for you. It's a celebration of participation and engagement in something fundamental and at the same time fragile our cinema and our cultural heritage.

SOUNDBITE (English), Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, We are here today with our special guests, storytellers, directors, filmmakers, actors and actresses too, who in these past months allowed us to share emotions, love for European films, all the films chosen for the world, a reminder for us as legislators of the tasks we have to embrace rights and inclusion for all the environmental crisis, corruption and injustice, the histories and responsibilities of our continents, poverty and inequalities. And last but not least, the rights and freedom of expression.

SOUNDBITE (English), Evelyn REGNER, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Thank you for shedding light on this with your wonderful films. I'm truly grateful to be in charge of this award as Vice President to strengthen this bridge between politics and culture so that at the end of the day, all of us can come together to celebrate and. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee, Dear and gentlemen, ladies honourable guests, honourable Vice President Regner. Today we not only celebrate the richness and diversity of European cinema, but also our common European values. Members of the Parliament directed US actors and citizens who all contribute to the success of this unique experience, which is the Lux Audience Award. We are all here together in the name of the European cinema. We are very lucky to have the representatives of five European films here with us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee, The films we honour today have collected the most important prizes, awards and recognitions among the top festivals and competitions, not only in Europe but all over the world. After two long years of closure, once more, the members of the selection panel for the Lux Audience Award succeeded to offer us a pool of films that are really diverse in the tones, the topics narrated and storytelling. I thank them for their restless work of search, discovery and choice, and I salute their courage with a Lux audience award.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee, We, as members of the Parliament have explored European cinema. It has not always been an easy journey as the prize itself that has grown and evolved very quickly and bravely. We have also learned to watch films we might have never seen otherwise. We discovered European audiences and went into a dialogue with them. Moreover, we have fully prepared and more open than us in embracing the proposed films.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee, We should not underestimate the love our citizens have for European film. They are the biggest supporters of the Lux audience Award. This clearly shows in the number of ratings that we have reached this year. 45,000 people voting and rating for the movies. A unique and amazing result. A result we can really be proud of. You can be proud of as audience.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee, Another indicator is the numbers of people that are here with us today for the very first time, the audience as part of the award ceremony. And so many joined us today. Of course, not everybody will love all five films. They are just as diverse as we are in the European Union. However, I would like to make it clear our role is to strongly defend the freedom of expression and creativity of artists and storytellers to ensure that our artists can keep on portraying the stories they feel relevant.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sabine VERHEYEN, Chair of CULT Committee, We will defend our creative industries and our creative human capital, not only by fostering European programmes and national measures of support, but also being vigilant in always reacting against censorship and discrimination. Thank you.