QUO VADIS, AIDA? Wins

The European public and the members of the European Parliament have voted QUO VADIS, AIDA? by Jasmila Žbanić the winner of the second LUX Audience Award.

During a European tour, including virtual screenings and a live Q&A with the filmmakers at the LUX Film Days (March-May) and the LUX Audience Week (28 March – 3 April) the three nominated films have been presented in all European Union countries subtitled in the 24 official languages of the EU. Now the votes of both the European public and the Member of the European Parliament have been counted: In a ceremony during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (France), Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, presented the award in front of the MEPs, invited partners and, representing the nominated films, the directors Sebastian Meise (GREAT FREEDOM), Jonas Poher Rasmussen (FLEE) and Jasmila Žbanić (QUO VADIS, AIDA?).

Accepting the award, the director Jasmila Žbanić stated “I was so shocked that we Europeans allow a war in Ukraine. Please stop the war and take care of countries not in the EU!”

The LUX Audience Award uniquely unites the votes of the European public and those of the Members of the European Parliament. It is presented by the European Film Academy and the European Parliament, and in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas

Berlin / Strasbourg, 8 June 2022.

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.

Contact

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name