09/09/2011

The MEDIA Programme will host their first gala screening at the 55th BFI London Film Festival. The film chosen is Nanni Moretti’s We Have A Pope [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nanni Moretti
film profile].

The event will be the centrepiece of UK celebrations for this year’s 20th anniversary of the MEDIA programme that will also include a Europe Loves Cinema that will showcase European classics of the last 20 years in British cinemas.

Agnieszka Moody, Director MEDIA Desk UK said, “Over the years the MEDIA Programme has nurtured the best of the UK’s filmmaking talent, from Mike Leigh and Ken Loach to Danny Boyle and Andrea Arnold. I am delighted to mark the 20th anniversary of the MEDIA Programme with a Gala screening of one of Europe’s most acclaimed directors at the UK’s prime film festival. The Gala is not only a wonderful chance to celebrate MEDIA’s successes over the years, but this partnership with the festival is particularly significant for MEDIA Desk UK, as this is our first year of being hosted by the BFI.”

Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education and Culture said. “This year's London Film Festival is a great opportunity for us to recognise the achievements of the MEDIA Programme over the past 20 years and to highlight one of its chief aims - to encourage audiences to see great European films. We are now in the process of preparing a new MEDIA Programme which will boost support for European filmmakers and respond to the challenges of a fast-changing industry.”

MEDIA’s recent support to the UK includes a €1 million grant to Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech that helped audiences see it in 18 European countries and a 2010 award of €6.7 million that boosted the European cinema releases of more than 40 British films.