06/07/2023 - European Film Promotion seeks to increase the visibility of European films in Latin America through a new initiative

European Film Promotion (EFP) is launching a project called the Latin American Critics Award for Best European Film, and they are on the lookout for passionate Latin American film critics and journalists to join the jury. The aim of this initiative is to enhance the exposure and distribution of European festival hits in Latin America, while also recognising the invaluable role of film critics and journalists in promoting arthouse cinema.

Drawing inspiration from their successful Arab Critics Award for European Films, which has been running for the past four years (read news), EFP now aims to replicate this success in Latin America. By establishing the Latin American Critics Award, EFP hopes to provide Latin American film critics and journalists with a platform to contribute to the promotion and distribution of European films in their region.

Members of the jury will have the opportunity to watch the most outstanding European films from various genres and regions. While there is no financial compensation for participating in the jury, the experience of discovering and evaluating exceptional films is an invaluable reward in itself. Furthermore, being a part of the jury does not necessitate voting every year; participants can choose to abstain if they are unable to watch all the films within a given year.

The Latin American Critics Award for Best European Film will be a mid- to long-term programme that involves several phases. The national film institutes from EFP's member countries will nominate one film each for the award. The nominated films must be feature-length fiction films or documentaries released within the last year and have had their international premiere at renowned festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Venice, or have been shortlisted for the Oscars or EFP in previous years.

In March 2024, EFP will collect the nominations and make approximately 25 films available for jury members to watch online in a private screening room over a period of 4-6 weeks. Following this, the jury members will vote to select three finalists, and in a second round, they will choose the ultimate winner. Throughout this process, EFP will conduct promotional activities to create awareness and generate excitement around the nominated films.

The winner of the Latin American Critics Award for Best European Film will receive the honour at a grand ceremony held during a major Latin American film festival. This recognition will further contribute to the film's visibility and potential for wider distribution in the Latin American market.

If you are a film critic or journalist from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, or Venezuela, EFP encourages you to apply for the jury. To do so, please email EFP director Sonja Heinen at heinen@efp-online.com. When applying, provide a brief resumé, specify the media outlets you work for, share examples of your film-related coverage and reviews, and express your motivation for joining the Jury. Additionally, mention the film festivals you regularly attend in person.