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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels/Cannes, 15 May 2013

MEDIA's magnificent seven compete for Palme d'Or

Thirteen films supported by the European Union's MEDIA programme for cinema will be on the big screen at the 66th Cannes International Film Festival (15-26 May), including seven films in competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or (see Annex 1). Among them is Le Passé by , who was the winner of last year's European Union Prix MEDIA for the best new film project. Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, will present the 2013 EU Prix MEDIA to Danish director during the 'European Rendezvous' on Sunday 19 May (See IP/13/419). "I am delighted that European films selected for funding from the MEDIA programme are once again in the spotlight at the Cannes Film Festival. MEDIA stands for a strong European film industry and for cultural diversity. It will continue to support our most talented film-makers as part of the new Creative Europe programme. Our films have a very strong record in competition at Cannes and I am sure that this year will be no exception," said Androulla Vassiliou. In addition to the seven films in competition as part of the Official Selection, there are four MEDIA films in the Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des réalisateurs), one in Un Certain Regard and one in The Critics' Week (La Semaine de la Critique), which aims to discover new talents (see Annex 1). Nine out of the past 12 Palme d'Or winners have received support from the MEDIA programme, including 's Amour last year (see Annex 2).

Background Since 1991, MEDIA (acronym for 'Mesures pour encourager le développement de l´industrie audiovisuelle' – Measures to encourage the development of the audiovisual industry) has invested € 1.6 billion in film development, distribution, training and innovation with the aim of increasing the diversity and international competitiveness of the European film and audiovisual industry. Under the MEDIA programme 2007-2013, € 755 million is being invested in European film- making. Around half of the budget is allocated to distributors who show films made outside their home country, 20% is for the development of new film projects, and the remainder supports marketing and training. Production companies selected for funding from MEDIA receive a subsidy of € 50 000 on average.

IP/13/424

European Rendezvous in Cannes The annual European Rendezvous at Cannes will take place on 19-20 May. The Rendezvous is the main focus of events linked to the MEDIA programme and an opportunity for Commissioner Vassiliou to meet film professionals and policy-makers. The Commissioner will address a seminar on strengthening the cultural exception, hosted by the French national film institute (CNC, centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée) at 10am on 20 May, followed by a European Commission roundtable on cinema and other forms of art (10:30-noon).

Creative Europe – the future of the MEDIA programme 2014 marks the start of a new era for MEDIA as part of the 'Creative Europe' programme. The new programme will continue to provide grants to support film development, training and distribution, as well as launching a new loan guarantee fund aimed at making it easier for the cultural and creative sectors to access finance. Creative Europe is expected to have an overall budget of around € 1.3 billion in 2014-2020, an increase of nearly 9% compared with the existing MEDIA and Culture programmes.

For more information European Commission: MEDIA Programme The Cannes International Film Festival Androulla Vassiliou's website Follow Androulla Vassiliou on Twitter @VassiliouEU

Contacts : Dennis Abbott (+32 2 295 92 58); Twitter: @DennisAbbott Dina Avraam (+32 2 295 96 67) Pierre Laporte / Laurent Jourdren +331 45 23 14 14 / +336 42 82 15 33 / +336 21 04 45 79 [email protected]; [email protected]

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ANNEX 1: Films with MEDIA support selected for Cannes 2013

Official Selection Film title, director and country of production. Figures are the amount in MEDIA funding received so far. Michel Kohlhaas – Arnaud Des Pallieres (France / Germany) MEDIA support: € 57 000

Le Passé (The Past) - Asghar Farhadi (France) MEDIA support: € 110 000

Jeune et Jolie (Young and Beautiful) - François Ozon (France) MEDIA support: € 52 000

La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty) - ( / France) MEDIA support: € 75 000

Borgman - Alex van Warmerdam (Netherlands) MEDIA support: € 44 000

Only God Forgives - Nicolas Winding Refn (Denmark) MEDIA support: € 60 000

Only Lovers Left Alive –Jim Jarmusch (United Kingdom) MEDIA support: € 106 000 Un Certain Regard L'image Manquante - Rithy Panh (France) MEDIA support: € 60 000 Quinzaine des Réalisateurs The Congres (Le Congrès) - (Israel/Germany/Poland/France/Luxembourg/Belgium) MEDIA support: € 232 500

Henri - Yolande Moreau (France/Belgium) MEDIA support: € 110 000

Last Days on Mars - Ruairi Robinson (United Kingdom/Ireland) MEDIA support: € 50 000

Tip Top -Serge Bozon (France/Belgium/Luxembourg) MEDIA support: € 90 000 Semaine de la Critique

Salvo - Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza (Italy/France) MEDIA support: € 112 000

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Annex 2: Films with MEDIA support which received the Palme d'Or 2012: Amour – Michael Haneke (Austria / France) 2009: Das Weisse Band (Le Ruban Blanc) – Michael Haneke (Austria / Germany) 2008: Entre Les Murs – Laurent Cantet (France) 2007: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (4 Mois, 3 Jours, 2 Semaines) – Christian Mungiu (Romania) 2006: The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Le Cent Se Lève) – Ken Loach (United Kingdom) 2005: L'Enfant – Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne (Belgium) 2002: The Pianist (Le Pianiste) – Roman Polanski (France / Germany / Poland / United Kingdom) 2001: La Stanza Del Figlio (La Chambre du Fils)- Nanni Moretti (Italy) 2000: – Lars Von Trier (Denmark)

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