The president of the European Film Academy, German director Wim Wenders, highlighted at a public hearing at the Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, the role which culture, and specially cinema, can play in building a shared European identity. Mr Wenders pointed out that Europe is often perceived by its citizens as a political, economic and bureaucratic structure with little place for culture.

In his address, Wim Wenders, president of the European Film Academy, underlined that European administration has now become the image of Europe. This bureaucratic image, he said, might be one of the reasons from increasing euroscepticism. One possible solution for this can be in cinema.

Despite the fact that about 80% of the films shown in Europe are American, about 1200 films are produced each year in Europe, which helps make European culture valued throughout the world. Although Europe can be proud of its cinema, a reason to worry is that, especially for young people movies are synonymous with blockbusters, and European cinema is loosing young audiences.

Mr. Wenders suggested that cinema literacy should be made a compulsory subject in school curricula across the European Union, and idea which was supported by MEPs. He also noted that fewer and fewer films from other European countries are shown in Member States, an issue which has to be urgently tackled. In this sense, initiatives such as the MEDIA programme for European audiovisual sector support as well as the European Parliament LUX Prize are good way to enable people to see films from other European countries.

This hearing also launched the 4-week screening cycle of the three films competing for the 2010 LUX Cinema Prize. The films are Akadimia Platonos by Filippos Tsitos (Greece, Germany), Die Fremde by Feo Aladag (Germany) and Illégal by Olivier Masset-Depasse (Belgium, France, Luxembourg).  Members of the European Parliament will vote to choose the winner and the award ceremony will take place on 24 November in Strasbourg.

Some voices for non-commercial and EU initiatives and news ways of distribution

Polish film distributor Roman Gutek pointed out that for younger and independent film makers it has become more difficult to reach an audience and suggested innovative, more diverse distribution channels, such as the Internet and non-commercial cinemas. Giorgio Gosetti, General Delegate of "Venice Days" at the Venice international film festival, stressed the importance of film festivals as an arena for intellectual debate.

MEPs noted the importance of literacy and broad access to European cinema. Silvia Costa highlighted the challenge of cinema digitalisation and emphasised the need to ensure copyright and remuneration for creative works. Jean-Marie Cavada pointed out that, in the light of rising nationalism, cinema could help greatly to create a European sense of belonging, but for this funding is required, not only at national level but also at European.

Committee chair Doris Pack, stressed that getting people to watch European films is a way to bring them closer to the EU.