Two films supported by the Creative Europe –MEDIA programme were awarded a Silver Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), one of the world’s leading film festivals.

• The Commune (Kollektivet), a co-production from Denmark, Sweden and The Netherlands directed by Thomas Vinterberg, won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Trine Dyrholm
• United States of Love (Zjednoczone Stany Miłosci) directed by Tomasz Wasilewski won the Silver Bear for Best Script. This film was co-produced by Poland and Sweden.

Independent juries also awarded other films supported by MEDIA:

• The film The First, the Last (Les Premiers, Les Derniers) was awarded with the Prize Winner Panorama 2016 by the Ecumenical Jury and Prize Winner 2016 of the Label Europa Cinemas. Directed by Bouli Lanners, the film has been co-produced by France and Belgium.
• The Franco-Swiss film Aloys, directed by Tobias Nölle, won the Prize Winner Panorama 2016 by the Fipresci Jury.
• The Latvian film Mellow Mud (Es esmu šeit), directed by Renars Vimba, won the Crystal Bear for the Best Film awarded by the Youth Jury in the Competition Generation 14plus.

In total, 20 EU-funded films were pre-selected for the competition. Vice-President Ansip, in charge of the Digital Single Market, and Commissioner Oettinger, responsible for the Digital Economy and Society, said: “We congratulate all the winners for such a great success. Their work contributes to our cultural diversity. We will continue to support creativity with our MEDIA programme – which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year – and through our work to create a Digital Single Market. Our aim is help creators succeed in the digital era and promote the circulation of their masterpieces across Europe“.