Going digital: 25th European Union Film Festival all set to open next week

MUMBAI: The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is all set to go digital in its 25th year in India.

The festival will feature 41 award-winning European films in 37 different languages, across six different genres, curated by Veronica Flora, with Valerio Caruso, director of ‘Cineuropa’.

The films are selected from across 26 member states and partner countries, celebrating the most recent cinematic triumphs at Cannes, Locarno, Venice, Berlin and San Sebastian, amongst others.


The virtual festival will be available to stream on Festival Scope from November 5th.

Bifurcated in four sections comprising contemporary European cinema, European masterpieces, shorts on climate change, and a tribute to Indian cinema, each section will carry a selection of award-winning films and critically acclaimed performances for every type of cinephile to enjoy.

The festival will also host a series of workshops, masterclasses, artist talks, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with prominent film directors, actors, and cinematographers of the European film fraternity.

The festival is a joint event hosted by the delegation of the European Union to India, its member states and partner countries. It celebrates and bolsters the EU-India cultural partnership.


“I am delighted to announce the launch of the 25th edition of the European Union Film Festival in India, in collaboration with our Member States. It will take viewers through a journey across Europe as retold by our storytellers. This landmark anniversary is also a testament to our long-standing cultural ties with India,” said H.E. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India.

He added that highlighting individual stories yet reflecting universal experiences, this year’s special anniversary edition will offer a window into the heart of Europe and the power of cinema to negotiate both every day and extraordinary circumstances.

“Thanks to the popular nature of cinema, which is one of the most immediate and democratic art forms we can enjoy, the European Union Film Festival in India aims to be a magic mirror we can use to jointly get through the current challenging times we are witnessing,” said festival curator Veronica Flora.

She added that this year the virtual festival will be showcasing the variety and the complexity of the European Union's culture through innovative film programming, opening paths for further people-to-people and cultural relationships with India and the wealth of its millennial culture.

“We hope this virtual Festival will contribute to make the film sector a key driver for dialogue, especially in the current situation where culture and creativity have become more important than ever,” she said.

Tickets for viewing and access for the Film Festival and the activities will be free for audiences, who can register through the delegation’s website and social media channels.

The film festival will run till November 30th. Once registered, viewers can log in at their convenience and watch the movies at their own pace.