Let’s Go Vote!

European filmmakers launch a manifesto stressing the importance of voting in the upcoming European elections. This manifesto is signed by 500 personalities from the cinema world, including Jacques Audiard, Julie Bertuccelli, Susanne Bier, Costa-Gavras, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Julie Delpy, Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Frears, Valeria Golino, Miguel Gomes, Agnieszka Holland, Alan Parker, Pawel Pawlikowski, Céline Sciamma, Jim Sheridan, Stellan Skarsgaard, Wim Wenders and many others.

The manifesto was initiated by the French Film Directors’ Guild (SRF), the Directors’ Fortnight, the European Film Academy (EFA), the Federation of European Film Directors (FERA) and the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA).

They stress the high importance of these elections, both for fundamental rights and for freedom of creation: “A free and democratic Europe is also a Europe of free thought and freedom of expression. It is our duty to defend it against the rise of extremism and any temptation to downplay the importance of culture, which is an essential cornerstone of the union. From 23 to 26 May, let’s go vote!” Read the full manisto here.

Since its successful pan-European launch in November 2022 Europe’s own film and award season, the Month of European Film has been growing continuously: Starting with 35 partners from 35 countries in 2022, the Month of European Film collaborated in 2024 with 108 partners from 42 countries. The number of screenings of European films within the initiative rocketed from 1,553 in 2022 to 9,310 in 2023 to 16,140 screenings in the 2024 edition. Admissions increased from 61,199 in 2022 to 164,206 in 2023 to almost half a million admissions (467,697) in the last year. The participating partners reported that their activities during the Month of European Film increased audience interest in European films and it also makes them want to programme more European films in the future. This is the result of an evaluation with the participating partners of this unique initiative.

“The European Film Academy senses growing interest in Europe for an ‘award season’ celebrating the best European cinema has to offer,” says Mattthijs Wouter Knol, Academy CEO and Director. “With the Month of European Film we build a network and a window for the simultaneous celebration of European cinema and to bring the diversity of European film closer to home for many people: first of all to their local cinema. Only three years into the initiative we are proud and happy that the Month of European Film is becoming more and more visible across Europe and is attracting a significantly growing number of visitors from Norway to Malta, from Portugal to Georgia. In the upcoming years until the European Film Academy’s 40th anniversary in 2028, we will further build a European ‘award season’ with our partners. It is time to deepen the awareness of European film culture. It is time to bring us as Europeans closer together through the culture and values we share: cinema has that power.”

Feedback from the audience regarding the Month of European Film was also very positive: The partners reported that in an audience survey cinema visitors from across Europe saw the Month of European Film as an important celebration of European culture. They said the Month of European Film has raised their interest in European films significantly and that they would like to see more European films. It also made them feel more united with fellow Europeans.

This year, the Month of European Film will start with the nominations announcement on Tuesday 18 November 2025, with cinemas all over Europe offering a tailor-made programme for their local audience. The Month of European Film will have its grand finale on Saturday 17 January 2026 with the celebration of the European Film Awards in Berlin.

The Month of European Film is an initiative of the European Film Academy supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union, in co-operation with Europa Cinemas, CICAE, MUBI, DAFilms, Festival Scope, as well as numerous other European and local partners.

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