Interview with Julie Ward, British MEP, on film education #KVIFF2016

PODCAST | Matt Micucci interviews Julie Ward, British MEP, from the 51st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Julie Ward is a British Member of the European Parliament, serves on the Parliament’s Culture & Education Committee, the Regional Development Committee and the Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights. She is also a member of the Labour Party’s Policy Commission on Education and Children. For a long time, she has been an advocate for film education and film literacy, strongly believing in its

For a long time, she has been an advocate of film education, believing it a cultural asset, a means for cultural exchange as well as a means to lead a child to a path on a career. Yet, for many, the very subject of film education remains a strange and trivial one – that is why our first question to her is “what do we mean when we talk about film education and film literacy.” This question is then followed up shortly after by one on the current state of film education in Europe in general as well as one on what could be done in her opinion to promote it and encourage it. Ward, as an artist as well as a politician, understands that a way in which the concept of film education can be promoted properly is, for instance, with the support of members of the film industry itself, bringing the industry closer to the schools for a more direct interaction. These are, however, dramatic times within the European Union. The UK, following a referendum, has just voted itself out of the EU by a close margin. Does the vote truly reflect the beliefs of the British population? What is going to happen now, what can be done now, and how will this affect, more specifically, her activities as a champion of cultural exchange within the European Union through

These are, however, dramatic times within the European Union. The UK, following a referendum, has just voted itself out of the EU by a close margin. Does the vote truly reflect the beliefs of the British population? What is going to happen now, what can be done now, and how will this affect, more specifically, her activities as a champion of cultural exchange within the European Union through film (and arts)? Listen to the interview to find out!