Expressnews
Chennai, January 13, 2024: The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) returns to Chennai in its on-ground format, after 2019, in collaboration with the Indo-Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF). The 10-day festival will commence on January 19, with screenings scheduled at the Édouard Michelin Auditorium, Alliance Française of Madras. The 28th edition of EUFF promises to take the audience on an immersive journey around Europe, its culture, people, and society through an unparalleled eclectic mix of 28 award-winning films in 25 different languages from 28 European countries. Featuring movies from 18 women directors, the festival celebrates Women in Cinema and the art of storytelling from the woman’s perspective.
After an overwhelming response in New Delhi, the film festival will open to Chennai with the showcase of the Grand Prix-winning French film “Saint Omer”, at the Alliance Française of Madras directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Alice Diop. “Saint Omer” chronicles the journey of young novelist Rama, who attends the trial of Laurence Coly, a young woman accused of killing her 15-month-old daughter. But as the trial continues, the words of the accused and witness testimonies shake Rama’s convictions and call into question our own judgement. Talbot Barré, Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai will inaugurate the festival in the presence of Guest of Honour Dr. Patricia Théry Hart, Directrice of Alliance Française of Madras. S Kannan, President, ICAF and EU Delegation representatives will also join the inauguration.
While Chennai did experience the festival in its virtual format the past few years, nothing compares to watching and experiencing a cinematic narrative unfold on the big screen. Commenting on the upcoming festival, Ambassador of the European Union H.E. Hervé Delphin said: “Europe and India share a common love story with cinema and storytelling. The EU film festival is a Window to European culture, people, society, and themes that are universal in nature. Organised together with the 27 EU member states in true Team Europe spirit, it celebrates the diversity and depth of European cinema and cinema as a common unifier between Europe and India. This year, we also welcome a film from Ukraine to the festival. EUFF is an excellent opportunity to meet the master storytellers, get insight into diverse cultures, and experience a myriad of emotions, all in one place!”
Veronica Flora and Valerio Caruso, Curators of EUFF 2023, said, “Cinema is a journey that we undertake together with people sitting next to us in a theatre or miles away. This metaphorical journey is the central theme of the 28th edition of the European Union Film Festival in India. Through the curated films, our aim is to get the audience to experience what it’s like to sometimes escape reality while sometimes embracing things as they are and explore emotions, humanity and new ideas. The festival also offers an opportunity for the audience to interact with and explore the art of storytelling with exceptional European and Indian filmmakers and artists. The line-up offers evocative, innovative, independent, and offbeat voices across genres such as drama, comedy, sci-fi, documentary, and animation.”
The ‘free for all’ festival in Chennai, organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India, Embassies of EU Member States, and ICAF, brings to its audience an incredible cinematic experience with 28 films in 25 different languages from 28 European countries.
This year, the festival has an excellent line-up of films that have won accolades at top film festivals worldwide, including Cannes, the Academy Awards, the Venice Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, and IFFI, among others. Rich in genre, the EUFF brings some of the best stories and creators from Europe to the Indian audience.
E Thangaraj, General Secretary, Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation said: “We are pleased to be associated with the Delegation of the European Union to India and Alliance Française of Madras in organizing the 28th edition of the European Union Film Festival this year after a gap of nearly four years. We are looking forward to making this edition a memorable one.”
A symbol of the strong diplomatic relationships shared between India and the European Union, the festival facilitates an enriching opportunity for cultural exchange as we celebrate the prowess of European Cinema. This year, through a thoughtful curation of some of the most celebrated cinematic gems of European Cinema, the festival spotlights the extraordinary contributions of women in cinema, while honouring their creativity, storytelling prowess, and significant impact within the film industry.
The films to be screened at the on-ground EUFF 2023 are:
Breaking the Ice – Austria; Tori and Lokita – Belgium; Mother- Bulgaria; Murina- Croatia; The Man with the Answers- Cyprus; Ordinary Failures- Czech Republic; The Quiet Migration- Denmark; Walker on Water- Estonia; Palimpsest- Finland; Saint Omer- France; Talking About the Weather- Germany; Listen- Greece; Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time- Hungary; The Banshees of Inisherin- Ireland; The Eight Mountains- Italy; My Love Affair with Marriage- Latvia; Remember to Blink- Lithuania; Icarus and the Minotaur- Luxembourg; Carmen- Malta; Kiddo- Netherlands; The Perfect Number- Poland; Wolf and Dog- Portugal; Mikado- Romania; She – Hero- Slovakia; Riders- Slovenia; The Beasts- Spain; After Work- Sweden; Luxembourg, Luxembourg- Ukraine
