wfn.org | L'ENFANT wins 9th John Templeton European Film Award

["Ruth Gill" <rag@cec-kek.org>]

Conference of European Churches - Office of  Communications
Press Release No. 06-02/efg		11 January 2006

L'ENFANT wins 9th John Templeton European Film of the Year Award

The film "L'Enfant" by Belgian directors Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne is
the winner of the John Templeton European Film of the Year Award 2005. The
Award is presented on behalf of the US-based John Templeton Foundation by
the International Church Film Organisation INTERFILM and the Conference of
European Churches, and is chosen by an international jury. It carries the
sum of ? 10,000.- and a certificate of recognition. The winner is
selected from the Ecumenical Awards given at international film festivals
and the "Film of the Month" nominations of the Protestant Film Jury in
Germany and of the Catholic Media Service and the Reformed Media in
Switzerland during the past year.

"L'Enfant" tells the story of Bruno, Sonia and their newly-born son Jimmy,
who live in socially deprived circumstances and gain their income from her
social benefits and Bruno's petty larceny. In a thoughtless moment Bruno
sells the child for adoption. The devastating consequences of this for
Sonia and for their relationship brings Bruno step by step to learn what
it means to grow up. The values highlighted by the jury include Bruno's
remorse and growing sense for responsibility, Sonia's forgiveness and
their mutual reconciliation. Avoiding artificial filmmaking and using only
background noise, the absence of music, realistic dialogue, direct camera
work and a purity of acting go towards making this excellent film, the
explanation for the award states.

The award ceremony will take place during this year's Berlin Film Festival
on Sunday, February 12, 16h30 during a service in the Französische
Friedrichstadtkirche. The film will be shown beforehand in a special
screening at the Hacke'sche Hoefe (14h00). "L'Enfant" won the Golden Palm
at the Cannes Film Festival 2005 and was chosen as the November 2005 "Film
of the Month" by the Protestant Film Jury in Germany.

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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125
Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all
countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in
1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

For information:
Office of Communications
Luca Negro
Conference of European Churches
Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or 791 63 25
Fax +41 22 791 62 27
e-mail Luca.Negro@cec-kek.org