THE fifth European Film Festival in Fiji will introduce its first-ever outdoor cinema screening this year, as organisers seek to bring European culture to more communities across the country.
Launching the festival, the European Union’s Chargé d’Affaires to the Pacific, Nereo Penalver-Garcia, said the 2026 festival would feature eight family-friendly films from eight European countries and remain free for the public.
“This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and people-to-people contact,” Penalver-Garcia said.
“Despite our geographical distance, we want to bring European culture closer to the Pacific and closer to the Fijian people.”
The festival will showcase films from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia and Spain, offering audiences a mix of live-action comedies, animated adventures and coming-of-age stories.
All films have received a General (G) classification from Fiji’s Censorship Board, making them suitable for audiences of all ages.
While screenings will return to Damodar Cinemas in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa, this year’s festival also marks a significant expansion with the introduction of an outdoor “Starlight Cinema” experience at Pacific Harbour on July 25.
“We’re very happy and looking forward to opening an outdoor cinema in Pacific Harbour for the first time,” Penalver-Garcia said.
Festival screenings will run in Suva from July 16 to 18 before returning on July 23 and 24, with simultaneous screenings planned for Lautoka, Labasa and Pacific Harbour on July 25.
Admission is free, with complimentary popcorn vouchers available for the first 100 moviegoers at each screening.
Damodar Group chief executive Div Damodar welcomed the continued partnership with the European Union, saying it gives Fijian audiences the opportunity to experience different cultures through cinema.
“We’re very proud of the partnership we have with the European Union in bringing different content and experiences to cinemas in Fiji,” Damodar said.
“European films are fantastic, and audiences will enjoy a different cultural experience through them.”
He encouraged members of the public to attend the screenings and share their experiences.
“We look forward to another successful festival this year.”
The European Film Festival is part of the European Union’s cultural diplomacy efforts, using cinema to strengthen cultural understanding and deepen people-to-people connections between Europe and the Pacific.
