07/07/2005

For once, Brussels European Film Festival's burning question was not about one film in particular, but, to a certain extent, all European films. Indeed, centre of attention was the 'revival' of the CINEUROPA's portal (after being interrupted for a year) at an official press conference presented to the Belgian and international trade press. An earlier press conference was organized during the recent Cannes Film Festival.

In a warm and sincere speech, Fadila Laanan, the Belgian minister in charge of cinema, underlined the importance of such an information tool promoting European cinema on the net. Cineuropa is living evidence of the cultural diversity that makes the very spirit (and charm) of Europe and within which cinema represents a dynamic aspect.
During the conference, Cineuropa's team, brought by its President, the Belgian producer, Hubert Toint, revealed the rise in the number of pages visited : from 65.000 to 212.000 in four months, with many extra-European visitors, particularly from Latin America and India.
Confirmation that the Cineuropa portal has now become a useful, necessary and active arena in which people can discover and appreciate European cinema, both within Europe and beyond its borders" …

(Translated from French)