EU Film Award 2009 presentation
at Australian Film Television & Radio School
23 July 2009

speech by His Excellency Mr Frank Carruet,
Ambassador of Belgium

H.E. Frank Carruet, Ambassador of Belgium, presents the EU Film Award to Rebecca Parker

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear friends,

It is my honour and a pleasure to represent Belgium as the host country for granting the EU Award 2009.

In the framework of cooperation between the Australian Film Television and Radio School in Sydney and the European Union and its Member States, a yearly EU film award has been granted since 2003 to a graduate of the School.

The award enables the laureate to visit one of the major film festivals of the European countries.

This year Belgium grants the EU Award with a visit and participation in the Film Festival of Brussels, a festival that, although in existence since 1974, has been dedicated to European film since 1993.

Today the Festival positions itself as a discoverer of young talent in the European capital.

It established a European competition to stimulate European films of outstanding quality. The official competition exclusively selects first and second feature films, presenting the best of emerging young talent and avant-premières. The Festival is a launching platform, and the wide range of the program reflects the diversity and richness of European film.

As such it can be considered as the pre-eminent occasion for an Australian film post-graduate to enjoy the work of other novice film makers and to broaden a network of professional contacts and colleagues who live the same opportunities and difficulties in their professional field.

The laureate chosen by the jury this year represents the high potential of a promising and interesting film career. Amid talented competitors, Ms Rebecca Parker stood out because of the quality of her film "This Girl in the Desert", because of the maturity of her film vision, and because of her link with the European film dating from her childhood when living in remote regions of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory .

She was influenced by the iconic film makers of the European cinema of Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Her film, as well as her interest in the political and social expression of European film history and her current cinematographic projects, are evidence of this influence. These were determinant factors in the decision of the jury.

It is the high potential of her film future and the quality of her personality that is awarded with the EU Award by the jury of 2009.

Congratulations Ms Parker, it is with pleasure and respect that I herewith officially grant you the EU Award 2009, participation at the Brussels European Film Festival.

Belgium wishes you an enduring and successful film future and lots of opportunities in the fulfilment of your passion, storytelling by filmmaking.

As you enjoyed the full award already during your stay from 16 June to 5 July at the Festival in Brussels, I kindly invite you now to tell us something about your experiences.

response by Rebecca Parker

This page updated July 27, 2009