The winner of 2023 LUX Audience Award is announced on 27 June in a ceremony at the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Brussels. Before the ceremony, Lukas Dhont director of "Close" one of the 5 nominated films answers to an interview.

statement

LUX European Audience Film Award 2023 (T)

LUX Audience Award 2023 - Statements by finalists: Lukas Dhont director of "Close"

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SOUNDBITE (English), Lukas Dhont, director of "Close" I think that the starting point for this film was a realization that in the world of young male friendship, we rarely get to see intimacy that isn't immediately sexualized. And I think the lack of seeing that was a reason for me to start writing this film. I've had so many young friendships in which there was so much tenderness.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lukas Dhont, director of "Close" And I think that when I saw young men portrayed on screen, I often saw them in this sort of performance, a performance of masculinity, a performance of an armor. And and I wanted to confront that. But first of all, by showing, I suppose the tenderness of human connection and the need and desire for closeness also in the world of these boys.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lukas Dhont, director of "Close" I feel very honored that Close is one of the five films nominated for the Lux Audience Awards, especially because I think it's a way in which many Europeans go to watch these films in theaters. There were more than 500 screenings organized of all of these films.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lukas Dhont, director of "Close" I think these films, each in their own way, talk about us humans, about our paradoxes and our consistencies, about our need for magic, our need for intimacy, our need to reinvent ourselves and find a place for ourselves. And they're also all European.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lukas Dhont, director of "Close" So I feel very strongly about this award. And I heard that over 50,000 Europeans followed it, which is more than five, five times more than last year. So I feel incredibly honored to be a part of it this year and to have so many Europeans be excited about European films.