“This film is a strong call for justice for the women and mothers of Srebrenica who witnessed the atrocious killing of over 8,000 loved ones. Such horrendous atrocities and such a crime against humanity must never be forgotten,” said President Metsola at the ceremony, which took place in the Strasbourg hemicycle.

“The LUX Audience Award builds bridges between our political work and the creative work of filmmakers in Europe. LUX films echo through art the sentiment of the fight for civil rights, human rights, justice, democracy and freedom,” she added.

Accepting the award, director Jasmila Žbanić said: “When I was preparing a film about the genocide in Srebrenica, I was thinking that the war in Bosnia, in Croatia, in our region was the last one in Europe. I was so shocked to learn that we, Europeans, allowed war in Ukraine. I urge you all to find a way to stop the war in Ukraine.”

Srebrenica massacre survivor, president of Mothers of Srebrenica Association Munira Subašić, who also addressed MEPs, said: “In Ukraine, mothers are crying, looking for the bones of their sons. So I beg you to stop the war in Ukraine so that as few mothers in the world as possible have to suffer.”

The other two films shortlisted for the award were: Flee by Danish director Jonas Poher Rasmussen and Great Freedom by Austrian director Sebastian Meise.

Read more about the LUX Audience Award nominees

The winning film was chosen by combining a public vote and a vote by MEPs, with…