Akadimia Platonos, Die Fremde and Illégal have been the three films shortlisted on 27 July for the European Parliament's 2010 LUX film prize, during an event at the Venice International Film Festival. Like past LUX Prize contenders, these films speak to Europeans' hearts and identities, forcing them to ask themselves about cultural and family relations, and the rules by which they live.

The three contenders, unveiled in the "Venice Days" (Giornate degli Autori) section of the Venice International Film Festival, were produced in Greece/Germany (Akadimia Platonos by Filippos Tsitos), Germany (Die Fremde by Feo Aladag) and Belgium/France/Luxembourg (Illégal by Olivier Masset-Depasse).

As with previous winners the 2010 LUX Prize winning film will receive European Parliament financial support for subtitling the film into all the 23 official languages of the European Union (EU), an adaptation of the original version for the visually- or hearing-impaired, and the production of a 35 mm print per EU member state.

This year's contenders will be screened in the Venice Days’ premises (10-11 September), and again at the European Parliament’s Brussels premises (26 October-19 November). Members of the European Parliament will vote for the winning film and the 2010 LUX Prize will be awarded on 24 November by the President of the European Parliament at its headquarters in Strasbourg.

The three shortlisted contenders were chosen by the same panel that made the ten-film LUX Prize 2010 Official Selection on 28 June.

European Parliament commitment to culture

The LUX Prize was established in 2007, as a tangible symbol of the European Parliament’s commitment to the European film industry and its creative endeavours. Since then, the LUX Prize has cast an annual spotlight on films that go to the very heart of the European public debate. Beyond the stories they tell, these films trigger questions for Europeans: the values they share or question, the project of building Europe, and the way they address cross-border concerns such as immigration, justice, solidarity, public freedoms or fundamental rights.  No matter which social issue it illustrates, each film gives a glimpse of Europeans, their lives, their convictions and doubts, and their quest for identity.