Rithy Pan wins EFA Documentary Award

The European Film Academy announces that the award EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY DOCUMENTARY 2007 - Prix ARTE
goes to the film

LE PAPIER NE PEUT PAS ENVELOPPER LA BRAISE (Paper cannot Wrap up Embers) by Rithy Panh, France

In co-operation with the European cultural channel ARTE, the European Film Academy annually honours an outstanding achievement in documentary filmmaking. This year's jury was made up of Francine Brücher from Switzerland (head of international promotion/Swiss Films), David Fisher from Israel (general director/The New Israeli Film Foundation) and Philip Gröning from Germany (director/producer). They screened all ten nominated documentaries at Berlin's Arsenal cinema and decided on the winner.

The jury statement reads as follows:

"Carefully balancing observational cinema with very well made scenes the winning film depicts the lives of a group of Cambodian prostitutes and their closest surroundings. With infinite respect and great warmth, a near “Brechtian” documentary unfolds, a work of great humanity and impressive artistic competence. Here is the voice of a community who usually remain mute and the mutual respect and care they manage to maintain under conditions of extreme exploitation. The European Film Academy Documentary 2007 - Prix ARTE is awarded to the French director Rithy Panh for his film PAPER CANNOT WRAP UP EMBERS."

The award will be presented during the 20th European Film Awards Ceremony at at Berlin’s Arena on Saturday, 1 December.