Having begun his career in British television, Ken Loach made his first film for cinema, POOR COW, in 1967. His breakthrough came with KES (1970) and FAMILY LIFE (1971). Ever since he has established himself as a politically and socially committed filmmaker with films such as RIFF-RAFF (European Film of the Year 1991), LAND AND FREEDOM (European Film of the Year 1995), and SWEET SIXTEEN (EFA Critics' Award 2002 - Prix FIPRESCI). Among his recent films are AE FOND KISS... (French César 2005), THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY (Palme d'Or in Cannes 2006, IFTA), IT'S A FREE WORLD (2007), and LOOKING FOR ERIC (2009).
The European Film Academy takes great pleasure in presenting Ken Loach with the EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for his outstanding and dedicated body of work.
Ken Loach will be an honorary guest at the 22nd European Film Awards Ceremony on 12 December 2009 in Bochum.
The European Film Awards 2009 are presented by the European Film Academy e.V. and EFA Productions gGmbH with the support of the Minister President and the Minister for Federal and European Affairs and the Media of North Rhine-Westphalia, Filmstiftung NRW, RUHR.2010, the German State Minister for Culture and the Media, the MEDIA Programme of the EU, FFA German Federal Film Board, and TNT Express.
Berlin, 15 September 2009
