Return to Europe documentary series is awarded the "Erasmus EuroMedia Grand Award"
10 October 2008
Award ceremony for the Grand Award for "Return to Europe". From left to right: Univ. Prof. DDr. Gerhard Ortner, Knut Neumayer (Erste Stiftung), Kristof Bender (European Stability Initiative), Martin Traxl (ORF), Nikolaus Wisiak (Pre TV), Univ. Prof. Dr. Thomas A. Bauer. Photo: Schaub-Walzer
The ten part documentary "Balkan Express - Return to Europe" has been awarded the "Erasmus EuroMedia Grand Award" 2008 for outstanding European media productions by the European Society for Education and Communication (ESEC). The documentary series was selected by an international jury among more than 250 applications from all over Europe. It is an initiative of ERSTE Stiftung and has been co-produced by pre tv, ORF and 3sat in cooperation with ESI. Kristof Bender, ESI senior analyst, represented ESI at the ceremony.
In his laudation, ESEC Chairman Professor Thomas A. Bauer stressed the exemplary way in which the series blends inspired direction and emphatic camera work with sound scientific research and journalistic excellence. He said that the result is a remarkable combination of information, education and entertainment which conveys an appealing message about the complex topic of Europe.
"Return to Europe" is one of the most ambitious TV projects on South Eastern Europe produced in recent years.