See the two of the shortlisted finalists for this year’s LUX Audience Awards this season at Scandinavia House! On February 15 we’ll be screening Animal, director Sofia Exarchou’s “darkly intriguing” (The Hollywood Reporter) film exploring the downsides of all-inclusive tourist hotels.
Under the hot Greek sun, the animateurs at an all-inclusive island resort prepare for the busy touristic season. Kalia is the leader of the pack. Paper decors, glossy costumes and dance shows fill the stage. As summer intensifies and the work pressure builds up, their nights become violent and Kalia’s struggle is revealed in the darkness. But when the spotlights turn on again, the show must go on.
This event has been organized by the European Parliament in partnership with Scandinavia House.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Animal is director Sofia Exarchou’s sophomore feature film. Her first feature film Park (2016) premiered at Toronto IFF and San Sebastian IFF, where it won the New Directors Award. Since then, it has participated and won awards in numerous international film festivals, including Rotterdam IFF, BFI, Thessaloniki IFF (Best Actress & Best Greek Film), European Film Festival Palic (Best European Film), Greek Film Academy (Best First Feature & Best Sound Award).
ABOUT THE LUX AUDIENCE AWARD
The LUX Audience Award is a joint initiative of the European Parliament and the European Film Academy in collaboration with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas. Itis the largest audience award worldwide and the only film prize in the world where citizens together with Members of the European Parliament -with each group weighting 50% -can decide who the winner will be by rating the nominated films online.
The LUX Audience Award fosters dialogue and engagement between politics and the public through the medium of film. The nominated films address European values and raise awareness about some of today’s main social and political issues such as mental health, poverty, climate change, freedom of expression, gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights.