Hyderabad, December 4, 2024: After a remarkable success in New Delhi and the ongoing screenings in Kolkata, the 29th edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is set to bring the best of European cinema to Hyderabad. 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. Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India in collaboration with the embassies of EU Member States and Hyderabad Film Club, the Hyderabad edition will take place from December 6 to December 15 at Prasad Labs Preview Theatre (Road No.2, Banjara Hills).
The Hyderabad edition of EUFF will open with the acclaimed French comedy-drama Jim’s Story (Le Roman de Jim). Written and directed by the talented Jean-Marie Larrieu and Arnaud Larrieu, this cinematic gem made a splash at the 77th Cannes Film Festival with its World Premiere and is sure to captivate audiences in Hyderabad, a city with a passion for cinema. Adapted from Pierric Bailly’s novel of the same name, Jim’s Story is a poignant exploration of human relationships, fatherhood, and life’s complexities. This beautiful film promises to enchant viewers and set the tone for an unforgettable festival experience.
The festival will 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. 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. This diverse selection promises an enriching cinematic experience, offering profound explorations of human emotions, perspectives, and narratives.
Inviting everyone to embark on a cinematic journey through Europe. Hervé Delphin, the Ambassador of the European Union to India, remarked, “Hyderabad, we’re back. We’re thrilled to return to the city that lives and breathes cinema, with its vibrant film industry. The festival will showcase the top selection of award-winning European films from renowned international festivals, offering a unique #WindowtoEurope through the cinematic lens. 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. I invite you to EUFF 2024; feel free to walk into any screening, sit in the cinema’s 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.”
The President of the Hyderabad Film Club Mr. K V Rao said, “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, Mr 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.”
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. 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.
Get ready for captivating storytelling, riveting performances, and stunning visuals that deliver a truly visceral experience.