Inspired by a successfully and passionately run model in Québec, the Prix collégial du cinéma québécois (PCCQ), Filmfest Hamburg and the European Film Academy (EFA) launched in 2016 the European University Film Award (EUFA) - presented and voted by European university students. The aim of this initiative is to involve a younger audience, to spread the "European idea" and to transport the spirit of European cinema to an audience of university students. It shall also support film dissemination, film education and the culture of debating.
In its First Edition in 2016 it started with 13 universities from 13 different European countries. The Second Edition in 2017 already saw a number of 20 participants, in 2018 the number grow to 22 universities from 22 different countries. While we will launch the Fourth Edition in 2019 with 25 universities from 25 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
Based on the 46 feature films and 12 documentaries eligible for the European Film Award 2019 a committee of film experts will nominate five films from five European countries for the 4th European University Film Award. These five films will be viewed and discussed in the respective university classes and each institution selects its favourite film. One student representative for each of the 25 universities will come to Hamburg for a three-day deliberation meeting in December. During those three days the students will discuss all films together, exchange arguments and vote for the winner. The Award will be presented to the winning director as part of the 32nd European Film Awards in Berlin in December 2019.
The European University Film Award 2019 is made possible with the support of the Joachim Herz Stiftung, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and Creative Europe Desk Hamburg and in close collaboration with the European Film Academy and NECS–European Network for Cinema and Media Studies.
