Four EU-funded films are competing in the 69th edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival, which began on 17 September. Inventory by Darko Sinko, Prayers for the Stolen by Tatiana Huezo, The Crossing by Florence Miailhe and 107 Mothers by Peter Kerekes are competing within the Official Selection category. The winners of this year's festival will be announced on 25 September during the Festival Closing Gala. The EU supported these works in their development, international coproduction and distribution through the MEDIA strand of the Creative Europe programme.

They have been coproduced by highly international teams, involving countries both within the EU (Czechia, Germany, France, Slovenia and Slovakia) and beyond its borders (Brazil, Mexico, Qatar and Ukraine). These productions will also be featured within the 30 years of MEDIA campaign, which celebrates the EU's continued support to the audiovisual industry. The campaign, besides promoting content, talent and platforms funded throughout the last three decades, highlights the functioning of the industry behind the scenes and the real impact of EU funding. The Festival will also host a livestreamed edition of the European Film Forum on 20 September: ‘The transformation of the European audiovisual ecosystem: towards a more sustainable and digital industry'.

Five EU-funded titles have received awards in this 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which concluded on Saturday (17 July) with a closing ceremony. Titane, by Julia Ducournau, which received EU support for its development, was the big winner of the night, being awarded with the prestigious Palm d'Or. Additionally, Compartment n.6, by Juho Kuosmanen, received the Grand Prix. Lamb, by Valdimar Jóhannsson and Prayers for the Stolen, by Tatiana Huezo, received prizes in the ‘Un certain regard' category. Furthermore, Olga, by Elie Grappe, was awarded at La Semaine de la Critique competition.

A total of 17 MEDIA-supported films were competing for awards in this year's edition of the festival in several categories, including the official competition, ‘Un certain regard', ‘Out of competition', ‘Cannes Premiere' and ‘Special screening', as well as in the festival's parallel competitions: the Directors' Fortnight and La Semaine de la Critique. Overall, the EU invested more than €2.1 million through the MEDIA strand of the Creative Europe programme for the development and international distribution of these seventeen titles. These and many other productions will be featured within the context of the 30 years of MEDIA campaign, which celebrates the EU's continued support to the audiovisual industry throughout the past three decades, highlighting the work of the industry, both in front and behind the camera, and the true impact of EU support in the sector.

At the Cannes Film Festival, the Commission is launching an awareness campaign aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion in the film and news media industries and at highlighting gender equality and the role of women in the sector. The campaign, titled ‘CharactHer', is the first initiative with a clear focus on diversity and inclusion launched under the framework of the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan. Values and Transparency Vice President Věra Jourová, will participate in the launch event and join the panel discussion on obstacles women face along their careers.

Vice President Jourová said: “As we overcome the pandemic we have to make sure that women take a centre stage of our recovery efforts. With this campaign, we hope that we can inspire many women so that Europe can make the most of all its talents.” Her opening speech will be available here.

Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton added: “When we presented the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan in December, our priority was very clear: diversity must be placed at the forefront of our efforts in the recovery and transformation of the media and audiovisual sectors. The promotion of inclusion is not only our social responsibility, but a crucial piece in our path towards a more resilient and competitive industry.”

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The ‘CharactHer' campaign is set within a broader policy effort aimed at strengthening the Commission's agenda of a Union of Equality via the EU Gender Equality Strategy. The campaign, run in collaboration with Collectif 50/50, will kick-start in the framework of the Cannes Film Festival, where 17 EU-supported films are competing for awards. In the context of the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival, the Commission will also participate in several events within the framework of the Creative Europe MEDIA programme.

More information is available here.