“The Broken Circle Breakdown”, a musical love story about a Belgian couple coping with a tragic loss, won the European Parliament’s 2013 LUX Prize for cinema.

 

The LUX Film Prize is awarded every year to films that promote European cinema, values and social issues.

Congratulating the winner, President Schulz said, “By telling stories about who we are or who we could be, European films help to create a cultural consciousness for Europe. Film makers do not need us, European politicians, but we politicians need you, the film-makers. Stories and emotions can help to develop identity. European films boost a feeling of togetherness in Europe.”

Mr Van Groeningen thanked MEPs: “It’s an incredible honour to know that the MEPs actually chose my film, watched it and voted for me. That is why the LUX Prize is a great initiative – it makes you watch films that you would not see otherwise. It makes it possible for films to go to different territories, countries, and many people can see them. That is why we make the movies.”

 The 2013 shortlist of three finalists also included the English film “Selfish Giant, directed by Clio Bernard, and “Miele”, an Italo-French film by Valeria Golino.

Parliament gives the award each year to help promote films that go to the heart of the public debate in Europe.  Films which have made it onto the shortlist have been subtitled in all of the EU’s 24 official languages and were shown to the public during LUX Film Days in all 28 Member States. The final winner is chosen by a ballot of EPs.