The winner, selected by MEPs from among three finalists, was declared during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday by European Parliament President David Sassoli.

Apart from the winner, a co-production of North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia and France, the other two finalists were Cold Case Hammarskjöld by Mads Brügger and The Realm by Rodrigo Sorogoyen.

Sassoli termed the LUX Prize the European Parliament's tool in its endeavour to be able to communicate emotions and use new languages. "Tackling the climate emergency, our colonial past, or discussing our model of society through cinema is a stimulating challenge that must be encouraged," said Sassoli, adding that Europe's is the only parliament in the world that awards a film prize.

God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya tells the story of a young unemployed woman who wins the race for the holy cross during the Orthodox ceremony of Epiphany. She suddenly has access to a religious tradition usually only open to men. The film is seen as a significant contribution to the feminist struggle against conservative societies.

The film won the prizes of the Ecumenical Jury and the jury for the German Film Guild at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival, among others. The Slovenian co-producer of the film is Vertigo.