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IN NOVEMBER THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION sponsored the first ever European Cinema Heritage week. Concerned for some time about the need for more European content on both the internet and television and cinema screens, the Commission put its money where its mouth was with an extensive programme. 55 cinemas across 18 European countries, showed films designed to highlight the best of classic European cinema with the aim of attracting young people in particular. In the UK, cinemas in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Nottingham. Manchester and Sheffield took part; Waterman's cinema in west London showed a Jules Dassin and Marcel Carné retrospective. The schedule also embraced television with Channel 4 and BBC 4 showing works by directors such as Bergman and Guediguian as the Commission is keen to encourage public and private sector tv companies to show more European films. Continuing the effort to attract young people to home-grown cinema culture, there were events in schools while directors and actors gave talks and explained their work. Netd@ys, the annual EU internet event for young people was held at the same time and this year its theme was 'education in the visual image and European cinema'. 30,000 schools across Europe carried out projects and exchanged experiences.
Several web sites have been set up to promote the week which the EU hopes will now be an annual affair. The Cined@ys site has a countdown logo followed by a description of the event and a message of support from renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodovar. He pleads for 'public and private broadcasters to show more films from different European countries so that more of us have a better mutual understanding and knowledge of them'. Other links include a map to view programmes in each participating country, details of the opening and closing ceremonies and a trailer for the event, which the European Review was unable to play, plus a large number of partner organisations' logos. The Europa cinemas network includes more details of events held in their cinemas as well as a pop-up window with details of a competition to win cinema tickets and other goodies. The Netd@ys site has a search engine to help you find details of projects in all the participating countries as well as fancy graphics and sound.
Viviane Reding, Education and Culture Commissioner who introduced the week said, 'I hope that the European public will discover the great films which are the key elements of our cultural diversity, and that they will get into the habit of going to see European films. I also see this Week as an opportunity ...to undertake initiatives throughout Europe for education in the visual image'.
The addresses of Web Sites mentioned in this article are as follows:
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The European Film Heritage Week page is at: | |
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The week is part of the EU Commission Media programme whose site is at: |
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