American Film Institute Announces 2015 AFI European Union Film Showcase Lineup

The American Film Institute (AFI) announces today the complete slate of films for the 2015 edition of its AFI European Union Film Showcase, taking place December 120 at the historic AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. This year's AFI European Union Film Showcase is generously supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States as the presenting partner through the EU's Getting to Know Europe grant. Now in its 28th year, the AFI European Union Film Showcase highlights the year's best European filmmaking, featuring a selection of more than 50 films representing all 28 European Union member states, including international film festival award winners, regional box office hits, debut works by promising new talents and many countries' official submissions for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award .

This year's AFI European Union Film Showcase will open December 1 with Fernando Len de Aranoa's A PERFECT DAY (Spain), a darkly comedic portrait of aid workers attempting to provide clean water during the AFTERMATH of the Balkan War, starring Oscar winners Benicio Del Toro (TRAFFIC, SICARIO) and Tim Robbins (MYSTIC RIVER, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) alongside Olga Kurylenko (QUANTUM OF SOLACE, OBLIVION) and Mlanie Thierry (THE ZERO THEOREM). The film will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Fernando Len de Aranoa and a reception, with support for the evening provided in part by the Embassy of Spain and SPAIN arts & culture.

The Closing Night film, THE TREASURE (Romania), directed by Corneliu Porumboiu (POLICE, ADJECTIVE; 12:08 EAST OF BUCHAREST), is a deadpan comedy of manners that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Prix Un Certain Talent.

The Showcase's Special Presentations section includes Paolo Sorrentino's YOUTH (Italy) starring Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Jane Fonda, Paul Dano and Rachel Weisz; THE LADY IN THE VAN (United Kingdom) starring MAGGIE Smith; Jacques Audiard's Cannes Palme d'Or winner DHEEPAN (France); BODY (Poland) directed by Malgorzata Szumowska, winner of the Best Director prize at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival; 45 YEARS (United Kingdom) starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay, winners of Best Actress and Actor at Berlin; Cannes Grand Prix Winner SON OF SAUL (Hungary); Berlin Silver Bear prize winner AFERIM! (Romania); festival favorite MY GOLDEN DAYS (France) directed by Arnaud Desplechin; Venice Film Festival premiere A WAR (Denmark) directed by Tobias Lindholm (A HIJACKING); and A ROYAL NIGHT OUT (United Kingdom) starring Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Emily Watson and Rupert Everett.

Other highlights include the U.S. premiere of MA MA (Spain) starring Penlope Cruz; DISORDER (France) starring Matthias Schoenaerts and Diane Kruger; THE WAIT (Italy) starring Juliette Binoche; SECOND COMING (United Kingdom) starring Idris Elba; Matteo Garrone's TALE OF TALES (Italy) starring Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly and Vincent Cassel; KILL YOUR FRIENDS (United Kingdom) starring Nicholas Hoult, James Corden and Rosanna Arquette; and Nanni Moretti's MIA MADRE starring John Turturro.

Among the films featured are a number of 2015 Oscar submissions for Best Foreign Language Film, including THE HIGH SUN (Croatia); A WAR (Denmark); 1944 (Estonia); THE FENCER (Finland); SON OF SAUL (Hungary); THE SUMMER OF SANGAILE (Lithuania); BABY(A)LONE (Luxembourg); AFERIM! (Romania); and THE TREE (Slovenia). 2014 Oscar submissions include SIMSHAR (Malta).

Complete list of U.S. premieres:
MA MA (Spain)
EVA NOV (Slovakia)
THE SNAKE BROTHERS (Czech Republic)
THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN (France)
BABY(A)LONE (Luxembourg)
IMPRESSIONS OF A DROWNED MAN (Cyprus)

Complete list of East Coast premieres:
A WAR (Denmark)
THE WAIT (Italy)
YOU'RE UGLY TOO (Ireland)
(BE)LONGING (Portugal)
THE TREE (Slovenia)
SIMSHAR (Malta)

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