PANAJI
This year, defying the pandemic, the much-awaited European Union Film Festival (EUFF)’s 25th edition will begin on November 5 with its first-ever virtual edition to be viewed digitally. Featuring outstanding, award-winning European cinema, which the viewers would enjoy from the safety of their homes. As done in the past, this time too, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) is partnering with the European Union for the festival.
Marking its 25th year “ the Silver Jubilee edition in India - the festival celebrates EU-India cultural ties, by bringing the best of European cinema and classics to Indian audiences. Curated by Veronica Flora, with Valerio Caruso, director of Cineuropa, the festival will host 42 critically acclaimed films that explore unique stories, experiences, and histories with artistic storytelling from across 27 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 5 onwards.
Bringing a slice of Europe to India, the Festival will showcase movies from 27 European countries, including 26 Member States, comprising Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Switzerland will also be represented at the Festival. Bifurcated in four sections comprising contemporary European cinema, European masterpieces, shorts on climate change, and a tribute to Indian cinema, each will carry a selection of award-winning films and critically acclaimed performances for every type of cinephile to enjoy. Furthermore, highlighting the cultural diversity of Europe and triggering conversations, it 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.
Recognizing that excellence in European cinema has been forged by legends across the continent, the Festival also presents a distinctive look at Europe’s rich and enviable cinematic history through its section on European Masterpieces. From Agnès Varda’s seminal Cléo From 5 to 7 and Kieslowski’s Three Colours: Blue, to Bergman’s Persona, and Bunuel’s surrealist masterpiece The Exterminating Angel, from Antonio Pietrangeli’s iconic I Knew Her Well to the classic of the Czech New Wave, Milos Forman’s Loves of a Blonde, up to the dramatically current Ali: Fear Eats the Soul by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the Festival will take viewers through an unparalleled journey across Europe as retold by its most inventive and ground-breaking storytellers.
As a tribute to Indian cinema, the Festival will offer viewers a look into the classic and the contemporary, through the section Poetry on Screen: Satyajit Ray and Chaitanya Tamhane, featuring the iconic Aparajito and the award-winning Court.
Given the urgency around Climate Change, six outstanding short movies from across the world, including India, are part of this year’s Festival. They will provide a means to assess how climate change is being felt in different parts of the world. Nila Madhab Panda’s Megha’s Divorce is a particular highlight, among an anthology of six that form part of the film Interdependence.
Tickets for viewing and access for the Film Festival and the activities will be free for audiences. Once registered, viewers can log in at their convenience and watch the movies at their own pace. For viewing movies, the audiences can register online through the Delegation’s website, Festival Scope and social media channels. The registration is absolutely free and one can watch all 42 films on Festival Scope between November 5 to 30. Registrations are open at http://festivalscope.com/signup.html and for more inputs, visit euffindia.com and www.esg.co.in
