Cannes 2012: 'The Repentant' Wins Europa Cinemas Label's Best European Film Prize

COLOGNE, Germany - The Repentant, an Algerian/French drama from director Merzak Allouache about a young terrorist seeking redemption, has won the Europa Cinemas Label prize for Best European film running in Cannes' official line-up. The film premiered in Cannes' Directors' Fortnight sidebar.

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The prize means the Europa Cinemas Network, a exhibitors association which represents nearly 3,000 screens in Europe and elsewhere, will provide additional backing to exhibitors to screen the film.

This year's Europa Cinemas jury in Cannes consisted of  Sarah Beaufol of French exhibitor Le Melies; Mexican exhibitor Paula Astorga Riestra of Cineteca Nacional; Erik Hamre of Denmark's Gentofte Kino and Francesc Vilallonga of Spanish exhibitor Cinema Truffaut.

The Europa Cinemas Network, now in its 20th year, also honors European art house films with similar prizes at the Berlin, Venice and Karlovy Vary film festivals.