Brussels, 09/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - In Berlin on 7 December, Commissioner for Culture Androulla Vassiliou presented the European Film of the Year Award, won this year by the film “La Grande Bellezza” by the Italian Paolo Sorrentino. “Blue Is the Warmest Colour” (La vie d'Adèle), “The Best Offer”, “Blancanieves”, “The Broken Circle Breakdown” and “Oh Boy” were the other films in contention for the title. “La Grande Belleza” swept the board at the evening, also winning three other prizes: best director, best editor and best actor. Through the existential doubts of the society king Jep Gambardella, “La Grande Bellezza” casts an eye over the moral decadence of a certain Italy whilst paying tribute to the splendour of Rome. Although it is not openly a political critique, it nonetheless explicitly refers to the excesses and side-slipping of the Berlusconi era. The day before the ceremony, Commissioner Vassiliou hailed the cultural diversity of the European Union, which is expressed through its cinema: “the line-up of shortlisted films for the awards showcases the European film industry's incredible wealth of talent and creativity. The European Union will continue to support the audiovisual sector through the new Creative Europe programme, which starts in January”. Through its MEDIA sub-programme, “the EU will provide funding for (…) the sector and also enable film-makers to safeguard and promote Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity”, she added. The MEDIA programme funded all of the films nominated this year in the main categories. (IL/transl.fl)