Girlfriend in a Coma
The Rome premiere of Girlfriend in a Coma was cancelled at the last minute quoting the risk of “interference” with the Italian national elections in February 2013. This prompted an unexpected cult following among young people, who gathered over 30,000 signatures in a petition against the museum’s decision. This outpouring of support and civil engagement convinced Piras and Emmott of the need and appetite for further debate and discussion prompted by journalistic films. It was thus that the Wake Up Europe! campaign was born.
The Great European Disaster MOVIE
Following the success of Girlfriend in a Coma, Piras’ and Emmott’s second docu-drama, The Great European Disaster Movie, produced in 2014, explored the identity crisis of current-day Europe and the complex challenges that are mounting against the Union’s survival. The film was awarded the prestigious 2016 Civis Media Prize by the President of Germany. It was selected amongst 900 entries of documentaries produced in Europe. Famously the film predicted Brexit, the migrant crisis and the rise of populism.
The Wake Up Europe! Campaign organized and hosted over 300 offline and online screenings of the film in some of the most prestigious universities, cultural institutions and ordinary citizens establishments all across Europe and the world, ranging from Oxford, Cambridge, Eton, Edinburgh, Dublin, Universitè Catholique of Louvain, European University Institute, LUISS and Ca’ Foscari, to civic institutions such as city councils in Finland or the Italian Parliament.
Europe at Sea
In 2017/2018 Wake Up Europe was delighted to work with many institutions and citizens to discuss the most pressing issues around security, migration, the new world’s disorder and the limits of European policies. It organised many high profile screenings and debates of Europe At Sea, Annalisa Piras’ third hard-hitting documentary. Produced by ARTE and SVT, it was the first film documentary allowed full access to the inner working of the European External Action Service, the EU’s foreign affairs ministry. From St. Anthony’s College in Oxford to the Bozar Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, to secondary schools in Italy the film prompted citizens’ debates and reflexions. Europe At Sea called Europeans to examine whether Europe is capable – and willing – to combat the myriad of security and humanitarian challenges within and beyond its borders at a pivotal moment of European history. It was nominated for the 2018 Prix Europa, the ‘Oscar’ of European TV.
The Wake Up Europe Festival
The WUE Festival was created in 2019 by Piras and Emmott , on the strength of the success of a decade of experience of screenings with debates throughout Europe.
Held in Turin (17 to 19 May 2019), and at 10 satellite locations across Europe, just before the European Parliament elections the event called upon citizens to reflect on the shared foundation values of Europe and the meaning of a European civic conscience. Under the patronage of the University of Turin and with the support of Il Museo del Cinema the first Wake Up Europe Festival offered a “selection for reflections” of 10 excellent documentaries followed by high level panel debates between experts, filmmakers and audiences.