Twenty films funded by EU's MEDIA Programme will be screened during the next days at the 63rd Cannes International Film Festival, including six films in competition for the Palme d'Or Award, the highest prize of the Festival.

17 May is the 'European Rendez-vous' at Cannes, when the festival celebrates the best of European cinema. Twenty European films financed by the European Union's MEDIA programme have been selected for screening at the 63rd Cannes International Film Festival, including six films in competition for the Palme d'Or Award.

Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou will announce the winner of the 2010 European Talent Prize, which is awarded to the best project for a film with a European dimension. Together with Festival President Gilles Jacob, she will also meet industry professionals and representatives of the European and international film institutions to discuss funding for film-makers.

Digitisation is a major challenge for cinemas today: a new digital projector and server costs around €75,000, a big investment for many cinemas. Later this year the Commission plans to launch a scheme, through the MEDIA programme, which will contribute up to 50% of this cost for cinemas that screen mostly European films.

Overall, the MEDIA programme will contribute €755 million in support of Europe's film industry from 2007-2013, with a focus on improving the distribution and promotion of European films and strengthening the competitiveness of the sector. Production companies selected for support typically receive grants of €50,000 on average.

Eight out of the past ten Palme d'Or winners since 2000 have received support from the MEDIA programme, including "The white ribbon", winner of last edition's Palme. Several also won Oscars for best foreign film.