Belgian film The Broken Circle Breakdown claims EU's LUX Prize

The Broken Circle Breakdown, the Flemish bluegrass drama directed by Felix Van Groeningen, has won the LUX Prize of the European Parliament. The prize was decided and announced yesterday from Strasbourg. 

Three films were nominated and screened for the 766 members of the Parliament: The others were Italian director Valeria Golino’s drama Miele and the British film The Selfish Giant by Clio Barnard.

Van Groeningen, who also made the internationally award-winning film De helaasheid der dingen (The Misfortunates), said winning the award was “an unbelievable honour” and meant that all MEPs had seen his film. The award comes with additional promotion and a version made for those with hearing and vision difficulties.

All three of the nominations for the LUX prize are being shown across Europe as part of LUX Film Days. The Brussels version took place at Bozar last month. Members of the public can still vote for the LUX Public Mention online and enter for the chance to win a trip to the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic next summer, where the public prize will be announced. 

Earlier this week, The Broken Circle Breakdown won the Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association prize for best foreign language film, and Veerle Baetens made international headlines by winning Best Actress at the European Film Awards in Berlin. The film has won more than 40 awards worldwide and is being widely predicted to earn an Oscar nomination.

www.luxprize.eu