THE European Union (EU) has officially launched the 5th European Film Festival in Fiji, bringing eight acclaimed European films to audiences across Suva, Pacific Harbour, Lautoka and Labasa.
Delivering the opening remarks, EU Ambassador to the Pacific Barbara Plinkert said the festival is one of the European Union’s flagship cultural initiatives, bringing a glimpse of Europe to Fiji while strengthening cultural connections between Europe and the Pacific through the power of storytelling.
Celebrating its 5th anniversary in Fiji, this year’s festival features eight films from Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia and Spain, offering a mix of heartwarming comedies, animated adventures and coming-of-age stories for audiences of all ages.
Plinkert said the festival also marks the launch of a new European Union campaign in the Pacific, with a one-minute video highlighting the EU’s partnership and cooperation with Pacific Island countries to be screened before each film.
She said what makes the European Film Festival special is the shared experience of cinema, which builds bridges between cultures that may be separated by distance but are united by universal values such as family, friendship, courage and hope.
The festival opened with the Slovak comedy The Horse, a film that explores the nature of human relationships with humour and sensitivity.
The 5th European Film Festival will continue with free public screenings giving audiences across Fiji the opportunity to experience contemporary European cinema.
