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LE PETIT LIEUTENANT WINS EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL AT VENICE FESTIVAL

Xavier Beauvois' LE PETIT LIEUTENANT was awarded the Europa Cinemas Label today by a jury of four Europa Cinemas exhibitors at the closing ceremony of the second Giornate degli Autori/Venice Days section at the Venice Film festival.

Sold internationally by StudioCanal, LE PETIT LIEUTENANT is a Why Not Productions presentation of a Why Not Production, StudioCanal, France 2 Cinema production with the participation of Canal Plus and TPS Star. The film stars Nathalie Baye, Jalil Lespert, Roschdy Zem, Antoine Chappey and Jacques Perrin.

This marks the second year that the Europa Cinemas Label has been awarded to the Best European film in the Giornate degli Autori/Venice Days at Venice, and complements the Labels awarded at the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes and the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival.

The jury issued the following statement about the winning film: "This is a powerful, unpretentious drama which gives a perspective not seen before of everyday life in a police station. The ensemble cast of actors is remarkable, and Xavier Beauvois is clearly one of the most talented French directors around."

LE PETIT LIEUTENANT will now receive the invaluable support of extended theatrical exposure and additional promotion from the Europa Cinemas network - 1420 screens in 600 cinemas in 322 cities across 51 countries.

Antoine (Lespert), a recruit from Le Havre, submits a last minute application to join a police station in Paris. He is suddenly immersed in its violent reality - immigrants without papers, violent individuals out of control, an assassination and a brutal attack.

Leading the group of investigators is Vaudieu (Baye), a woman who has returned to duty after having gone through alcohol rehabilitation. She takes Antoine under her wing. Then tragedy strikes and Vaudieu has to fight the memories she used to drown in drink........

"I am delighted that my film has been recognised by such a jury of exhibitors; this prize has real value. In addition, I am married to an Italian, so receiving a prize in Italy gives me a particular thrill!" said director Xavier Beauvois.

Founded in 1992, Europa Cinemas' aim is to support the programming of European films, and to foster initiatives aimed at encouraging younger audiences to develop their interest in European films and cultural diversity.

Previous winners of the Europa Cinemas Label are:
Cannes/Directors' Fortnight

2003:
The Mother (Roger Michell, UK)
Kitchen Stories (Bent Hamer, Norway/Sweden)

2004:
In the Battlefields (Danielle Arbid, France/Belgium/Lebanon)

2005:
La Moustache (Emmanuel Carrère, France)
Berlin/Panorama

2005:
Live and Become (Radu Mihaileanu, France/Belgium/Israel)
Crustacés et Coquillages (Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau/France)
Venice/Venice Days

2004:
Darwin's Nightmare (Hubert Sauper, Austria/France/Belgium)

The Venice Days' jury consisted of Henk Camping (Exhibitor, Filmtheatre't Hoogt, Utrecht, Netherlands); Matthias Brunner (Exhibitor, Arthouse Commercio Movie AG, Zurich, Switzerland); Salvatore Cordaro (Exhibitor, Aurora and Igiea Cinemas, Palermo, Italy) and Mattias Nohrborg, Distributor and Exhibitor (Triangelfilm, Malmo, Sweden).
Born in Northern France in 1967, Xavier Beauvois moved to Paris at the first opportunity, determined to become a filmmaker. After encounters with revered critics Jean Douchet and Serge Daney, he found work as an assistant with André Téchiné and Mañoel de Oliveira. Aged 23, Xavier wrote, directed and starred in his acclaimed début picture, North (1990), which was nominated for a César for Best First Film. He followed up with Don't Forget You're Going To Die (1995), which won the Jury Prize at Cannes and the prestigious Jean Vigo Award. His third and most recent film, To Matthieu (2000), starred Benoît Magimel and Nathalie Baye which, like LE PETIT LIEUTENANT premiered at the Venice Festival.