Press Release

The jury issued the following statement about the winning film: “We, the Jury have decided to give the Europa Cinemas Label at Karlovy Vary to THE CLASS for its uncompromising honesty and for having moved us as an audience. We find that the director of this film has made an excellent analysis of the hierarchy in the classroom and the struggle between the sexes. The acting is convincing and outstanding. The film gives a true portrayal of the harsh reality for many students around the world”.

Synopsis: Seven chapters from the life of the pupils of an anonymous Estonian secondary school. Introvert Joosep is the butt of crude jokes from his classmates who are irritated by his taciturn nature. The pranks gradually become instances of bullying, which ultimately results in tragedy - to the surprise of everyone, including the audience.

THE CLASS will now receive the support of the Europa Cinemas exhibitors who commit themselves to extend the length of its run on screen and to reinforce the promotion campaign directed at the general audience and the media.

World sales: NON STOP SALES
http://www.nonstopsales.net
info@nonstopsales.net
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This marks the second year that the Europa Cinemas Label is awarded at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival to the Best European film in the main competition programme and in the East of the West section.

The jury consisted of: Wanda Bendjelloul (Sweden), Exhibitor of the Biografen Zita - Folkets Bio (Stockholm), Christian Braschi (France), Exhibitor of the Cinema Royal (Toulon), Leos Kucera (Czech Republic), Exhibitor of the Kino Centrál (Hradec Králové) and Krijn Meerburg (Netherlands), Exhibitor of the De Uitkijk (Amsterdam)
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The Europa Cinemas Label is also awarded in the framework of three other major European events:
Directors´ Fortnight - Cannes, Giornate Degli Autori - Venice, Panorama - Berlin.

2007 EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL AWARD WINNERS:

Berlin (Panorama) : SUMMER RAIN by Antonio Banderas (Spain)
Cannes (Directors´ Fortnight) : CONTROL by Anton Corbijn (United Kingdom)
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For more information about the Label, please contact
Fatima Djoumer : fatim@djoumer.de
Julia Salles : jsalles@europa-cinemas.org