Eh! U Film Festival Winner

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER: 

KATYN, an Andrzej Wajda movie

Toronto – Eh!U Meet The Europeans - European Film Festival is pleased to announce its first ever audience award winner. The Magna Audience Award winner, as determined by audience ballot, is KATYN, directed by Andrzej Wajda. KATYN was representing the Republic of Poland in Toronto for the 4th annual edition of the European Film Festival. The winner was named at the close of the Festival.

Sponsored by Magna International Inc., the Audience Award was introduced for the first time in 2008. It underlines the artistic quality of the movies featured at Toronto’s only festival dedicated to European cinema. Votes were cast by ballot following all film screenings.

“It is an honour and privilege for me to express the words of gratefulness and appreciation” the Consul Andrzej Krężel of the Consulate General of Poland in Toronto said. “We are very proud that Katyn is the European Film Festival Magna Audience Award winner. The film touches upon very important historical facts which are particularly significant for Mr. Andrzej Wajda, the director of the film who lost his father in Katyń. On belhalf of Mr. Andrzej Wajda we thank cordially the Audience of the Festival and hope to see you next year.” The Toronto premiere of this Oscar-nominated movie puts Eh!U Meet The Europeans permanently on the North American cultural map.

The 2008 Eh!U Meet The Europeans- European Film Festival attracted approximately 6700 visitors, 60% more visitors than in 2007. Due to theaters’ capacity limitation, staff had to turn away approximately 300 people. For the first time this year, 8000 color brochures were designed, printed and distributed in major public places.

We want to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers for their unconditional dedication night after night, and our sponsors for their valued contributions. In 2008, Eh!U Meet The Europeans – European Film Festival was supported by: Toronto French School, Creative 7, Dale & Lessmann LLP, Le Métropolitain, EYE WEEKLY, Alliance française de Toronto, Lufthansa, Toronto Film & Television Office, CHIN Radio/TV International, Deutsche Welle, France Magazine, CIUT 89.5 fm, the Association of Italian Chefs of Canada, Evanov Radio, Delta Chelsea, Magna, Gamelle Restaurant, Cinematheque Ontario, the National Film Board, GEKO, Promation Engineering Ltd., Humber College and the Vari Foundation.

For two weeks, Toronto’s avid movie-goers are treated to free screenings, thus indulging “the rich and diverse culture of Europe through a selection of its finest and most recent films.” For general questions about Eh!U Meet The Europeans, please contact Pervenche Beurier, Audiovisual Officer at the French Consulate at audiovisuel@consulfrance-toronto.org (T: 416 847 1908).