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CINEDAYS Closing day

The 1000 films of European cinema

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- This is the number of films shown to youngsters from 26 countries, in events put on by the 600 partners involved in the EU initiative. The Oscar winner, Gabriele Salvatores, and the director, Peter Mullan, were patrons of the closing evening in Rome

Video - closing day


600 partners in 26 countries (figures doubled over last year) have worked together to show young Europeans more than 1000 films. These are the facts and figures from the 2nd edition of Cinedays, which were outlined by the European Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and the Audiovisual Industry, Viviane Reding, during the closing evening of the event, held in Rome.
Reding used the occasion to announce a MEDIA programme initiative. It should be up and running in a very short time, and it will be promoting an operating mechanism to support European films taking part in festivals held outside the European continent. A package of films to be promoted will be outlined, including works that have been awarded by the Academies in the respective countries.

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"It’s a political responsibility to bring cinema to young people”, confirmed the European Commissioner. “We have to teach kids to understand and appreciate the language of European cinema, which is so different from that of the Americans. It’s a language made up of cultural diversity, which is the real wealth of Europe. The idea for Cinedays came from Brussels, but it was actually delivered by men and women who work in the cinema across Europe". Her words were echoed by the Italian minister of culture, Giuliano Urbani, who made an appeal to the world of cinema: "help us to understand our cultural diversity, in a challenge that will enrich us". Italy currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union and Urbani said he had noted a very strong interest in the cinematographic industry shown by his colleagues. "We have to share our experiences and challenges, with the aim of doing better. And this couldn’t be possible without cinema, which has the gift of being able to bring cultures closer together".

The patrons and special guests at the evening were the Italian Oscar winning director, Giuliano Urbani, the Scottish director and actor Peter Mullan, and the Spanish actress Assumpta Serna. For Mullan, if Hollywood films divide people up into goodies and baddies, European cinema has to continue its search for the truth, and not concentrate purely on profit. "It’s true – adds Salvatores – that our view is different, the special quality of our cinema is that it has the space to think".

Read the programme for the evening.

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(Translated from Italian)

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