Speaking at an event organised at the EU parliament in Brussels on the future of cinema Loach began his speech by saying “I want to pay my personal respect to director Andrzej Wajda, who passed away this past weekend at the age of 90. He was very influential for me and for so many filmmakers. He was a model and an inspiration for everyone working in European film.”

Culture Committee Chair Silvia Costa began her speech by saying that we must pay tribute to Andrzej Wajda, who was a fervent European. Polish MEP and Culture Committee member Bogdan Wenta said movingly “The great director Andrzej Wajda was not only a great creator but also a great teacher. He contributed not only to film but also to the transformation of Poland.”

Other filmmakers and MEPs also joined in the tributes to Andrzej Wajda during the event, which was organised in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Lux Film Prize.

The anniversary was marked with a discussion on the future of European cinema at the Committee on Culture and Education at the European Parliament as well as the simultaneous screening of last year’s Lux Prize winner Mustang directed by Gamze Erguven in 28 Europa Cinemas theatres across Europe followed by a Q&A with the director live in all the participating cinemas.

It has also been recently announced that unfortunately Turkey has decided to exit Creative Europe, which it became a partial member of just a year ago. Turkey still remains a member of Eurimages.