European Film Academy Awards French Documentary

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Tuesday, October 16------The European Film Academy, which among other things, bestows prizes for the best European films of the year, has awarded its Prix ARTE for Best Documentary to a French film, LE PAPIER NE PEUT PAS ENVELOPPER LA BRAISE (Paper Cannot Wrap Up Embers), directed by Rithy Panh. The award will be presented during the 20th European Film Awards Ceremony at at Berlin’s Arena on Saturday, December 1. 

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. In explaining their unanimous choice, the Documentary Jury recited the film's "careful balancing of observational cinema with very well made scenes in the depiction of the lives of a group of Cambodian prostitutes and their closest surroundings. With infinite respect and great warmth, this is a work of great humanity and impressive artistic competence."

Sandy Mandelberger, Awards Watch Editor