Queer Screen Announces Inaugural Best EU Feature Film Award

It’s awards season at Queer Screen, with a brand-new prize for a feature film from the European Union (EU) announced. The newly established Mardi Gras Film Festival Best EU Feature Film Prize, presented by the Delegation of the European Union to Australia, was awarded to French comedy drama Somewhere in Love (original language title Une vie Rêvée), written and directed by Morgan Simon.

EU prize winning film ‘moves towards the light’

Filmmaker Morgan Simon said he was honoured to be awarded the inaugural MGFF Best EU Feature Film Prize for Somewhere in Love. A touching film about finding oneself, it celebrates everyday love in its many forms and stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Félix Lefebvre and Lubna Azabal.

“Somewhere in Love is dedicated to people who don’t look like much and who aren’t the centre of society’s attention,” he said.

“It’s dedicated to those we don’t believe in. Yet in them lies the definition of freedom and happiness, as well as dignity and honesty. This is a film that moves towards the light, a direction that I think we absolutely need today.”

Strength comes from diversity: EU delegation
His Excellency Mr Gabriele Visentin, the Ambassador to Australia, said over the last five years the delegation here and others around the world have been honouring the EU’s ground-breaking LGBTIQ
strategy.

The $2000 AUD prize for Best EU Feature Film is part of the strategy’s commitment to fighting discrimination, ensuring the safety of LGBTIQ people, and supporting global action on inclusivity and diversity.

The EU’s motto is ‘United in Diversity’ because its members “understand that our social, political and economic strength comes from our diversity”, Mr Visentin explained. “In the EU, equality and non-discrimination are core values and fundamental rights are enshrined in treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.”

Somewhere in Love will close MGFF on Thursday night. Mr Visentin, who announced the prize before the screening of Belgian film Young Hearts on opening night, said he was proud to see 26 films in this year’s Mardi Gras Film Festival program were from EU countries.

Accepting the prize remotely, Mr Simon acknowledged Queer Screen’s strong commitment to filmmakers and the incredible enthusiasm of its staff, board and volunteers. “To the whole team, I say to all of you: thank you!”