The 29th edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is set to bring the best of European cinema to Hyderabad from December 6 to 15 at Prasad Labs Preview Theatre. The festival was organised earlier in New Delhi with some screenings ongoing in Kolkata. During the festival, 26 films in 31 languages will be screened offering a window into European society and culture.
EUFF will open with the acclaimed French comedy-drama Jim's Story (Le Roman de Jim). Written and directed by Jean-Marie Larrieu and Arnaud Larrieu, the film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
It will also feature films from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine. Highlights include La Chimera, Baan, Afire, What a Feeling, Animal, An Irish Goodbye, Restore Point, The Man Without Guilt, The Teacher Who Promised The Sea, and many more.
Hervé Delphin, the Ambassador of the European Union to India, remarked, "We're thrilled to return to the city that lives and breathes cinema, with its vibrant film industry. The festival will showcase top selection of award-winning European films from renowned international festivals. Europe and India are bound by a shared passion for cinema and storytelling, and the EU Film Festival is a vibrant celebration of this unity.”
Veronica Flora and Valerio Caruso, curators for EUFF 2024, added, “This year’s curation delves into the turmoil of the human soul and the often-unfathomable complexity of daily life and seeks vital pathways toward peace, brotherhood, and solidarity in an increasingly uncertain future. The 29th edition of EUFF India promises to take audiences on a cinematic journey, surprising them with new experiences by presenting a rich array of genres and languages. It explores the unexpected landscapes of the imagination, revealing the ghosts of the present, while celebrating humankind’s resilience and its relentless pursuit of love and collective fulfilment.”
The President of the Hyderabad Film Club K V Rao said in a statement, “We appreciate the Delegation of European Union to India for providing a cinematic window to Europe, showcasing the continent's finest films and fostering cross-cultural understanding.”
The secretary of Hyderabad Film Club, BSS Prakash Reddy further elaborated on the collaboration, “The Hyderabad Film Club has a long association with Delegation to the European Union in bringing the best of European cinema to Hyderabad. The club has conducted 10 European Union Film Festivals, so far, in Hyderabad.”