The EP has unveiled three films which will compete for this years LUX Prize, given annually by the EP to support European Cinema, in the framework of Venice Festival. These are "Eastern Plays", by the director Kamen Kalev, which is a joint Bulgarian-Sweden production; "Sturm" by Hans-Christian Schmid which is produced by a German, Danish and Dutch team, and "Welcome" by Philippe Lioret which is a French production.

A vote will be cast in November by the 736 Members of the European Parliament to elect the winner, which will then be awarded the LUX Prize 2009 at the European Parliament on 25 November in Strasbourg.

LUX Prize is a film award established by the European Parliament, where deputies award those movies that illustrate the universality of European values, the diversity of European culture, or try on the construction process of the European Union. The award statuette representing a roll of film is film which is a Tower of Babel as a symbol of multilingualism and cultural diversity, united in the same place with one goal.

The 3 films shortlisted cover immigration, neo-Nazi violence in Europe and the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal.

Eastern Plays

Eastern Plays looks at the growing problem of neo-Nazi violence in Europe. In these film two brothers - Georgi and Itso - find themselves on opposite sides of the spectrum as one is an active racist whilst the other saves a Turkish girl from a beating. Directed by Kamen Kalev it is in Bulgarian, Turkish and English.

Sturm

The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague is the scene of this film directed by Hans-Christian Schmid. Prosecutor Hannah Maynard persuades a young Bosnian girl to testify against an alleged Bosnian Serb war criminal. Amid the threats from Bosnian Serb nationalists, Maynard realises that threats and enemies lurk among her own colleagues. In English, German, Bosnian and Serbian.

Welcome

Simon is a swimming instructor working in Calais who decides to try and woo his wife back by helping a young Kurdish refugee swim the English channel to seek asylum in Britain. As they prepare for this hazardous journey a bond develop between this unlikely couple. Directed by Philippe Lioret the film is in French, English and Kurdish.

After three finalists are chosen in September all 736 Members of the European Parliament will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner which will be announced on 25 November. The Parliament will then pay for the leading film to be subtitled in all 23 official languages of the EU and also help in its distribution by DVD.