Lux Prize

The award was created in 2007.[1][2] The name of the prize originates from the Latin word for "light", lux,[3] with the award named in honour of the Lumière Brothers, who invented cinematography.[4] The word origin is related to the aim of the award, which is to illuminate public debate on European integration and to facilitate the diffusion of European films in the European Union".[3]

The symbol of the LUX Prize is the Tower of Babel, and the trophy reflects the shape of a tower. It is "a symbol of history where linguistic and cultural diversity join forces".[4] It was designed by Belgian artist Jocelyne Coster.[2]

The European Parliament believes that films help to instigate debate and raise awareness of socio-political issues in Europe, especially with regard to European integration, thus helping to forge and celebrate a stronger European identity and values. The prize also helps to publicise and encourage distribution of European films in the European Union and throughout the world, which otherwise may not get widespread distribution owing to language and other barriers.[5]

For the first edition of the prize, three films were shortlisted by a 17-member panel, comprising mainly people in the film industry,[2] who viewed 800 feature films produced in Europe in the year from May 2006 to May 2007. The first LUX Prize was awarded to Turkish-born German director Fatih Akin, for his film The Edge of Heaven.[1][5]

The jury members were appointed by the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education, and it was planned that a third of the jury would be rotated each year. All members of the European Parliament were able to watch the final three films, but only those who have seen all three qualify for voting rights.[3]

The producers of the ten shortlisted films are required to provide digital copies in the form of DVDs, Vimeo link, or OpenDCP for the members of the European Parliament. In 2015, the shortlisted Son of Saul was disqualified when the production team refused to provide this, fearing that the film copies would be pirated.[6]

In 2019, there were 21 members on the judging panel. The selection of the first 10 films was announced in March of that year, with the final three selected in July and the winner announced in Strasbourg on 27 November.[4]

Partly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, changes were announced to the name, the selection process and the timetabling of the LUX Award in September 2020. The European Parliament and the European Film Academy would be responsible for the management of the award, in partnership with the European Commission and the Europa Cinemas network. The name was changed to LUX – the European Audience Film Award by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, with the abbreviated version LUX European Audience Film Award.[7] The new format was announced by Sabine Verheyen, chair of the Culture Committee, at the 77th Venice International Film Festival.[8]

There would henceforth be five nominees competing for the award, which would all be subtitled in 24 European languages, but due to the impact of the pandemic on the film industry, only three would be nominated for the first edition. The jury would remain similar, but the winner would be selected jointly by MEPs and the public, with each contributing 50 per cent towards the final vote.[7]

As of 2019, films have to meet following eligibility criteria:[4]

• Fiction or documentary films (may be animated)
• Minimum length of 60 minutes
• Produced or co-produced in a European Union country or in Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
• Illustrates the universality of European values and the diversity of European culture, and raise awareness of social or political issues
• Released for the first time between May 1 of the previous year and June 1 of the current year.

Ten films are shortlisted, and three of these are selected for the final competition. After three (five after 2021[7]) films have been selected from the 10 preselected films, these films are subtitled into the 24 official EU languages, and they are screened in all EU countries during the "LUX Film Days".[4]

In 2020, the European Film Awards Ceremony will take place in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 12 December, when the three nominated films will be announced. The nominated films, after subtitling in the 24 official languages, will then be screened across Europe until April 2021.[7] In March 2021 the "LUX Audience Week" takes place, with simultaneous screenings and debates taking place across the continent.[8] The public will be able to vote by ranking the nominated films, awarding them one to five stars, and the totals will represent 50 per cent of the vote, with the other 50 per cent going to the MEPs.[7]

The winning film will be announced at the LUX Award Ceremony on 28 April 2021, during a plenary sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, as in previous editions. The Parliament President presents the award to the laureate in front of the MEPs and representatives from the other films in competition.[7]

In May 2021 on Europe Day, the winning film is screened after having been adapted for the hearing- and visually-impaired.[8]