Tara Brady from the European Parliament, April 14th, 2026
Deaf, Eva Libertad’s intimate depiction of a Deaf woman expecting a baby with her hearing partner, became the 19th winner of the LUX Audience Award at the European Parliament this evening.
It was a surprise victory for the Spanish drama over Academy Award-winner Sentimental Value and Irish hopeful Christy.
In a bustling awards season, especially for Irish contenders, it’s easy to overlook the LUX Audience Awards.
An ocean (and more) away from the red carpet razzle dazzle of Jesse Buckley’s Oscar glory, the LUX ceremony takes place in the European Parliament, where attendees were serenaded by snippets of the theme for Laurence of Arabia, performed by an improbable musical trio comprising saxophone, accordion and double bass.
They do things differently in Brussels.
Speaking to the producers, politicians and press assembled for the LUX Audience Award Ceremony, Neila Riehl, the Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education for the European Parliament, insisted that: “Cinema is not a luxury; it is a vital part of the democratic process.”
Quite unlike the various ritzy ceremonies dotted around Hollywood, the LUX Audience Awards boast five separate recycling bins on site. They are almost certainly the only award ceremony to take place after the Development Committee hearing on the Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon.
That’s not such a tonal swerve. As Brendan Canty, director of Christy notes, the LUX aims to “reward films that make a difference”.
Christy, the eagerly awaited debut feature from Brendan Canty, centres on a Cork teenager finding his path. The film was developed through a hands-on, community-driven process, in collaboration with local young people, including those connected to Kabin Crew and Kabin Studio.
Speaking at the European Parliament, Christy star Diarmuid Noyes paid special tribute to Kabin Studio’s creative director and founder Garry McCarthy, also known as GMCBeats: “The heart of our film is about finding your community,” said Noyes.
For Canty, whose background includes directing ‘Take Me to Church’ for Hozier – currently on 1.3 billion views on YouTube and counting – filmmaking is a collective, grassroots act.
Last year, Christy won the Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival, its local specificity and vibrant community spirit resonating strongly with international audiences.
In December, Christy made the shortlist of five European contenders for the LUX Audience Award. Ireland has only made the LUX shortlist twice before: in 2016, for the unlikely Irish co-production, Bridget Jones’ Baby, and again in 2017 for Nora Twomey’s The Breadwinner, which went on to receive a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards.
Historically, the plucky Cork hopeful follows in the footsteps of sizeable blockbusters. Over the years, the LUX has been variously awarded to The Full Monty, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Slumdog Millionaire, and The King’s Speech.
Since 2020, the award has been organised by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy. What currently makes the LUX unique is that it’s voted on by both the public and Members of the European Parliament, not industry representatives.
The shortlist, which included such muscular rivals as Palme d’Or winner It Was Just An Accident, has been made accessible across the continent, the five films translated into all 24 EU languages, including Irish. The five contenders have now screened 950 times in cinemas across Europe, including Triskel Christchurch in Cork.
