Kolkata, November 21, 2024: After a resounding success in New Delhi, the 29th edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) comes to Kolkata, bringing the finest European cinema to the city’s audiences. This annual celebration of European cinema is a vibrant tribute to the Indo-European partnership, highlighting a shared love for art and culture. The festival promises a captivating cinematic journey through 26 award-winning films in 31 languages, offering a window into European society, culture, and people.
Organized by the Delegation of the European Union to India, in collaboration with the Embassies of the EU Member States and regional partners, the Kolkata edition will run from November 27 to December 13, across five iconic venues: Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC), The Creative Arts Academy, Arts Acre – Art Center in Kolkata, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, and Alliance Française du Bengale.
The festival will feature films from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine. This thoughtfully curated selection of films includes some of the most talked-about European movies that have earned recognition at prestigious international film festivals. Highlights include La Chimera, Baan, Jim’s Story, Afire, What a Feeling, Animal, An Irish Goodbye, Restore Point, The Man Without Guilt, The Teacher Who Promised The Sea, and many more.
Showcasing the crème de la crème of contemporary European cinema, the festival marks the India premiere of several European films, including, What A Feeling, Because I Love Bad Weather, Stairway To Heaven, Death is a Problem for the Living, Jim’s Story, Without Air, Black Velvet, The Last Ashes, Blood on the Crown, Baan, Horia and The Man Without Guilt. Dr. Ewa Suwara, the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to India, will be visiting Kolkata on the occasion, inaugurating and attending two screenings: the Latvian movie “Black Velvet” at the Creative Arts Academy (November 28 at 6:30 PM) and the Dutch movie “Como el Viento” at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity (November 29 at 6:00 PM).
Inviting everyone to embark on a cinematic journey through Europe, Hervé Delphin, the Ambassador of the European Union to India, said, “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. This year‘s #EUFF2024 proposes to the Indian public a top selection of award-winning European films from renowned international festivals, offering a unique #WindowtoEurope through the cinematic lens. The festival is happy to return to Kolkata, the land of the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray and a city that truly embodies the passion for cinema and culture. I invite you to EUFF 2024; feel free to walk into any screening, sit in the cinema dark room and embark on a luminous cultural journey of entertainment and reflection with a European touch.”
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.”
One of the most anticipated and loved film festivals, EUFF 2024 promises an eclectic mix of cinema, with each film offering a fresh perspective, an idea, and unique insights into people and cultures that resonate universally. Get ready for captivating storytelling, riveting performances, and stunning visuals that deliver a truly visceral experience.
All films at EUFF 2024 will have English subtitles and will be on a first come, first served basis. Some of the films are rated 18+.