Strong EU showing at Berlin film festival
9 February 2007
EU-backed films are strongly represented at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival, where more than half of those competing for the top prizes have received funding from Europe's MEDIA programme.
Speaking at the launch of a new round of MEDIA funding for the next seven years, Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding said that European cinemas were really buoyant. "I am proud that our European films are now enjoying such commercial and critical success."
Over the past 16 years, MEDIA has supported the development and distribution of thousands of films as well as training activities, festivals and promotion projects throughout the continent. The new MEDIA 2007 programme covers the period 2007-2013 with a budget of £500m (€755m).
At this year's "Berlinale", 17 MEDIA-funded films are presented in the various sections of the festival and 8 are nominated for prizes
Nominations in famous international film festivals help raise European films' profile and their widespread distribution throughout member states and outside of the European Union. A total of 4 of the 5 films presently nominated for the award "Best foreign language film" in the forthcoming Oscars of Hollywood - are funded by MEDIA. These are: "After The Wedding", "Days of Glory", "The Lives of Others" and "Pan's Labyrinth".
For more information:
Description of the 17 Media films at the Berlin Film Festival