22/04/2022 - Set to unspool in Lecce in the autumn, this preview event for the 23rd European Film Festival will screen three finalist films for this year’s LUX Audience Award

The European Film Festival is launching European Film Days in anticipation of celebrating its 23rd edition, set to unfold in Lecce in the autumn. The event - which sees the festival directed by Alberto La Monica reiterating its commitment to broadcasting European film and educating audiences – is scheduled to present three finalist films competing for the 2022 LUX Audience Award, which is handed out by the European Parliament and decided upon by viewers from the Old Continent.

The event will take place over 8 days, in all (5 exclusively for national schools and 3 open to the public), and each screening will be followed by an in-depth discussion about the film. The finalists of the second edition of the LUX Audience Award, as announced on 11 December in Berlin, are: Quo Vadis, Aida? [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jasmila Žbanić
film profile] by Jasmila Žbanić, Great Freedom [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sebastian Meise
film profile] by Sebastian Meise and Flee [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Poher Rasmussen
film profile] by Jonas Poher Rasmussen (article).

These films will be presented to Lecce audiences on 27 April, 4 May and 11 May, respectively. Audiences following European Film Days will get to help decide upon the winning film by expressing their preferences on the event’s dedicated voting platform up until 25 May 2022. Voters will also get the chance to win a ticket to the LUX Audience Award prize-giving ceremony which will take place on 8 June 2022 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

As for the five days dedicated to high school students, on account of logistical difficulties linked to the ongoing emergency situation, the festival will bring the films (and their protagonists) directly to the schools in question. The establishments involved in this initiative are: IIS Oriani-Tandoi, IISS Federico II Stupor Mundi and ITET Tannoia in Corato, and Liceo Tedone and ITET Tannoia in Ruvo, Apulia.

(Translated from Italian)