2008 European Film Academy Critics’ Award – FIPRESCI Prize

Today EFA, EFA Productions and FIPRESCI announced the 2008 winner and this year the award goes to:

Abdellatif Kechiche for La Graine et le Mulet (The Secret of the Grain)

As FIPRESCI’s Hassouna Mansouri, Director of the Department for African Affairs, explains, “giving this year’s prize to Abdellatif Kechiche, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) recognizes an author in the purest and simplest meaning of the word. The award not only pays tribute to all those filmmakers who are often marginalized because of their origins, but above all recognizes the talent of those who are committed to a different and independent cinema; those who stand against the war machines and their grip on the industry of the image. With low-budget films - which are nonetheless difficult to finance - Kechiche is involved in a struggle which brings together classic texts like those of Marivaux with the young ‘beurs’ of Nice, the city where he grew up.”

The award will be presented during the 21st European Film Awards Ceremony on 6 December in Copenhagen.

To read the official press release go here.