Curator's Note

Cinema has always been a bridge – connecting people, cultures, and ideas beyond geography and language. As the curator of this year’s European Union Film Festival, I am honoured to bring to India a selection of films that reflect the diversity, creativity, and emotional depth of contemporary Europe.

This year’s programme is more than a showcase of award-winning cinema. It is a journey through stories that explore who we are, how we change, and how art helps us understand one another. From the frozen landscapes of Scandinavia to the sun-drenched streets of Southern Europe, each film carries its own rhythm, humour, and soul – but together they reveal something profoundly universal about the human experience: the power of hope and resilience.

For Indian audiences, this festival is a chance to see Europe not as a single continent, but as a mosaic of voices – each distinct, yet connected by shared values of empathy, curiosity, and resilience. You will meet characters who challenge conventions, artists who dare to question the world, and storytellers who use cinema as an act of hope.

We’ve chosen films that invite dialogue – between generations, between traditions and modernity, and between cultures that seem different yet feel deeply familiar. They speak of love and loss, identity and belonging, courage and transformation. These are stories that don’t just entertain – they inspire reflection and conversation long after the lights come back on.

My hope is that the festival becomes a space for discovery: where Indian audiences find not only Europe on screen but also themselves—their emotions, their questions, their dreams. Because in the end, great cinema doesn’t belong to one nation. It belongs to everyone willing to feel, to think, and to see the world through someone else’s eyes.

Welcome to this cinematic journey of hope and resilience across Europe. May it open hearts, spark ideas, and remind us all of the shared humanity that connects us beyond borders.

Artur Zaborski
Festival Schedule

The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is an annual showcase of European cinema, celebrating the rich Indo-European partnership and our shared love for art, culture, and storytelling. Hop on a cinematic journey across Europe, with each film offering a fresh perspective and a window into diverse European culture. Check out our festival schedule and plan your days to have a great experience. See you at the movies!

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Festival Line Up
Happy Poster

Happy

2024, directed by Sandeep Kumar

110 Mins.

PG 13+

Synopsis: Happy follows the story of an undocumented Indian immigrant in Austria, desperately striving to secure a better future for his young daughter while facing the imminent threat of deportation. As the narrative unfolds, the film reminds us that the pursuit of happiness is universal—touching not only those who have little, but also those who seem to have it all.

Austria

Drama

Julie Keeps Quiet Poster

Julie Keeps Quiet

2024, directed by Leonardo van Dijl

100 Mins.

PG 16+

Synopsis: Julie is a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club's players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet. Set against tennis, the film exposes systemic failures in safeguarding the young, with the protagonist’s silence emerging as a defiant act of resistance.

Belgium

Drama

The Trap Poster

The Trap (КЛОПКА)

2023, directed by Nadejda Koseva

95 Mins.

A

Synopsis: A man living in solitude on the banks of the Danube until a wild boar gets trapped near his house and foreign investors want to dump nuclear waste in the local village.

Bulgaria

Drama

Pelican Poster

Pelican (Pelikan)

2022, directed by Filip Heraković

87 Mins.

PG 16+

Synopsis: Josip, a footballer recovering from a career-threatening knee injury at a health spa, finds himself adrift between a self-absorbed physiotherapist, an ex-girlfriend, and a former best friend. When he is mistaken for someone else at a sales conference, he slips into a new identity—discovering fresh perspectives, blurred boundaries, and a chance to rediscover who he truly is.

Croatia

Drama Comedy

The Waves Poster

Smaragda – I Got Thick Skin and I Can't Jump

2024, directed by Emilios Avraam

99 Mins.

A

Smaragda, 46, amid failed relationships and a stagnant career, ponders her legacy. She becomes a kids entertainer at a tourist resort and embraces social media, facing both fame and backlash, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
The film earned the Best Cypriot Film Award at the 2025 Cyprus Film Days International Festival, with Niovi Charalambous winning Best Performance for her nuanced portrayal of the title character.

Cyprus

Drama

Pelican Poster

The Waves (Vlny)

2024, directed by Jirí Mádl

131 Mins.

PG 16+

Synopsis: Prague, 1968. In the International Editorial Office of Czechoslovak Radio, celebrated journalists risk everything to tell the truth. Young Tomáš works among them—not for glory, but to protect his younger brother, whose dream job he now holds. When a recording surfaces that could alter the course of history, the newsroom comes under the Secret Service’s watchful eye. Tomáš must choose: stand with the journalists and risk it all, or safeguard the only family he has left.

Czech Republic

Historical Thriller

Matters of the Heart Poster

Matters of the Heart (Fuld af kærlighed)

2024, directed by Christina Rosendahl

110 Mins.

A

Synopsis: The film follows a middle-class family who, on the surface, have a happy and perfect life. But behind the facade, the family is on the verge of disintegration due to the father’s escalating alcohol consumption. When a grown-up daughter finally confronts the pain she endured as a child, deep emotional wounds surface—and healing becomes both necessary and painful.

Denmark

Drama

Lioness Poster

Lioness (Emalõvi)

2024, directed by Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo

104 Mins.

A

Synopsis: Helena is a paramedic, a professional caretaker who paradoxically doesn’t know how to care for her teenage daughter, Stefi, when she gets on a dangerous and self-destructive path. As a woman of action rather than talk, Helena prepares an extreme plan to secretly kidnap and lock the girl up, far away from all the bad world. But things don’t work out as planned. An unexpected chain of events throws Helena into a state of shock and forces her to find an entirely new meaning for her motherly love. The film won Best Film and Best Screenplay at the 2025 Estonian Film and Television Awards and received the Special Jury Award at the 2024 Warsaw Film Festival.

Estonia

Thriller Drama

The Missile Poster

The Missile (Ohjus)

2024, directed by Miia Tervo

110 Mins.

A

Synopsis: The empowering story of a single mother working at a small-town newspaper who gets drawn into the investigation surrounding the missile crash, which upends life in a small village.

Finland

Comedy Drama

Holy Cow Poster

Holy Cow (Vingt-Dieux)

2025, directed by Louise Courvoisier

90 Mins.

PG 16+

Synopsis: 1899. On a storm-lashed night, Aimée, a young Republican schoolteacher, arrives in a remote Alpine hamlet buried in snow. Met with suspicion and resistance, she is determined to challenge the villagers’ dark superstitions. But shortly after her arrival, an avalanche swallows up its first highlander.

France

Drama

Dying Poster

Dying (Sterben)

2024, directed by Matthias Glasner

181 Mins.

A

Synopsis: Mother Lissy, father Gerd, son Tom and daughter Ellen: the members of the Lunies family are estranged. But confronted with death, they finally meet each other again.

Germany

Drama

Behind the Haystacks Poster

Behind the Haystacks (Piso apo tis thimonies)

2023, directed by Asimina Proedrou

118 Mins.

A

Synopsis: A middle-aged fisherman drowning in debt; a housewife who is seeking the truth in God's Word; a daughter who tries to define her own life within an oppressive environment. Until a tragic incident strikes the family, pushing the three heroes to face their own personal impasses, whilst having to deeply consider the price to pay for their actions.

Greece

Drama

Three Thousand Numbered Pieces Poster

Three Thousand Numbered Pieces (Háromezer számozott darab)

2023, directed by Ádám Császi

96 Mins.

A

A white Hungarian theatre director begins rehearsals for a play with five young Roma actors. The play is meant to tell their real-life stories - of abuse, drug addiction, crime - but as it unfolds, the actors feel their suffering is being exploited rather than faithfully represented. They decide to walk away from the project, only to discover that their director has already sold the show to a major theatre in Berlin. What follows is a surreal, self-reflective journey that blurs the boundary between reality and performance, forcing everyone involved to question who gets to tell a story, on what terms, and at what cost.

Hungary

Drama

That They May Face the Rising Sun Poster

That They May Face the Rising Sun

2023, directed by Pat Collins

111 Mins.

PG 16+

Based on internationally acclaimed Irish author John McGahern's award-winning novel of the same name, That They May Face the Rising Sun is a vivid evocation of nature, humanity and life itself, set in a 1980's rural community in Ireland.

Ireland

Period Drama

Diamanti Poster

Familia

2024, directed by Francesco Costabile

120 Mins.

A

Italy’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards, Familia is a deeply human story about belonging, fragility, and the invisible threads that tie people together.

Italy

Drama

Soviet Milk Poster

Soviet Milk (Mātes piens)

2023, directed by Ināra Kolmane

110 Mins.

A

Young and promising doctor loses everything due to her conflict with the totalitarian Soviet regime – career, love for life and even mother’s instinct denying breast milk to her baby. However, the grown-up daughter becomes her only supporter who tries to help ease mother’s depression and learn to live in the depressive Soviet regime herself. The lifelines of mother and daughter flow in the occupied Soviet Latvia from 1945 to 1989 when the Soviet Union collapses. “I didn’t want to live and I didn’t want her to drink milk from a mother who doesn’t want to live.” The story is based on the bestseller Soviet Milk by the renown Latvian writer and more than 20 book author Nora Ikstena. Soviet Milk has been translated and published in more than 20 countries.

Latvia

Drama

TASTY Poster

TASTY (Gardutė)

2024, directed by Eglė Vertelytė

104 Mins.

PG 16+

Two canteen cooks take part in a cooking competition on TV and dream of the main prize: a Michelin-starred restaurant. As the competition tests their culinary skills, it also puts their friendship—and the whirlwind of unexpected fame—to the ultimate test.

Lithuania

Comedy

Breathing Underwater Poster

Breathing Underwater

2024, directed by Eric Lamhène

101 Mins.

A

Breathing Underwater is an emotional, character-driven drama set in the secretive world of a women's shelter. It tells the story of Emma (Carla Juri) who is whisked away in the dead of night, covered in bruises and unexpectedly pregnant. As she grapples with her pregnancy and her emotional shackles to her husband Marc, Emma rediscovers lost facets of herself through her unlikely camaraderie and strife with the women and children of the shelter. Individual traumas intertwine and despite their differences, a delicate sisterhood emerges as they push one another to fight for their self-worth and independence.

Luxembourg

Drama

Castillo Poster

Castillo

2024, directed by Abigail Mallia

100 Mins.

A

In the gritty underworld of Malta, Castillo tells the story of a man who finds himself ensnared in a dangerous web of crime, corruption, and betrayal. Haunted by a past he cannot escape, his journey forces him to confront brutal moral choices—where the lines between justice and lawlessness blur. As loyalties fracture and hidden alliances emerge, Castillo must navigate turf wars, power struggles, and the seductive pull of illicit influence. His family becomes collateral in a system rigged against him, unveiling painful truths of identity, survival, and the price one pays for redemption. With every decision, Castillo inches closer to a precipice—can he reclaim what’s broken without becoming the monster others fear? In a world ruled by brutality and compromise, one man’s struggle may expose the dark heart of a society built on silent complicity.

Malta

Drama Crime

Memory Lane Poster

Memory Lane (De terugreis)

2024, directed by Jelle de Jonge

98 Mins.

PG 13+

A bitter-aged man reluctantly drives to Spain to pay a last visit to a dying friend, along with his wife who's suffering from dementia. But as their journey unfolds, he slowly starts to soften up and rediscovers the meaning of love.

Netherlands

Comedy Drama

It’s Not My Film Poster

It’s Not My Film (To nie mój film)

2025, directed by Maria Zbąska

100 Mins.

PG 16+

Wanda and Janek’s love story unfolds after the 'happily ever after’ ends. To revive their long-term relationship and overcome a constant crisis they decide to embark on a winter journey along the Polish Baltic coast. This make it-or-break it adventure will test their limits of love in a story filled with humor, touching moments, and unexpected twists.

Poland

Drama

Three Kilometres to the End of the World Poster

Three Kilometres to the End of the World

2024, directed by Emanuel Parvu

105 Mins.

A

Set in a conservative Danube Delta community, a gay teenager’s journey of self-discovery clashes with the traditional values upheld by his parents and neighbors.

Romania

Drama

The Hungarian Dressmaker Poster

The Hungarian Dressmaker (Ema a smrtihlav)

2024, directed by Iveta Grófová

129 Mins.

A

Marika, a Hungarian widow dressmaker shelters a Jewish boy in her home on the Slovak-Hungarian border during the turbulent years of WW2 and the Wartime Slovak State.

Slovakia

Drama

Family Therapy Poster

Family Therapy

2024, directed by Sonja Prosenc

122 Mins.

A

Young stranger disrupts seemingly perfect family's life, exposing their internal issues, fears, and dysfunctional relationships as external chaos invades their once idyllic existence.

Slovenia

Comedy Drama

EL 47 Poster

EL 47

2024, directed by Marcel Barrena

110 Mins.

PG 16+

Inspired on the true story of Manolo Vital, a bus driver who helped create the modern Barcelona during the 1970s city’s boom.

Spain

Drama

The Swedish Torpedo Poster

The Swedish Torpedo (Den svenska torpeden)

2024, directed by Frida Kempff

120 Mins.

Parental Guidance

Summer of 1939. The outbreak of war in Europe is drawing ever closer, but Sally Bauer cannot tear herself away from the sea and her longing to cross the English Channel.

Sweden

Drama Romance

Oxygen Station Poster

Oxygen Station

2023, directed by Ivan Tymchenko

106 Mins.

A

Human rights activist and political prisoner Mustafa, famed for his 303-day hunger strike, is exiled to a remote Soviet labor camp. Facing relentless oppression, he finds strength in his fight for justice and the resilience of the Crimean Tatar community, whose stories of resistance echo his own struggle. Based on a true story, the film unveils the cost of defiance against a totalitarian regime.

Ukraine

Drama Biography

Festival Line Up

What a Feeling

2024, directed by Kat Rohrer

110 Mins.

A

Synopsis: Marie Theres, 52, seems to have it all: a 20-year marriage to her husband Alexander, a teenage daughter, Anna, and a successful career as a doctor. But in a single moment, everything unravels. Her husband walks out, her daughter rebels, she is suspended from the hospital after a near-fatal mistake, and even her friends turn their backs on her. Enter Fa, a bold, free-spirited Iranian woman who runs a carpentry business with her siblings while caring for their elderly mother. Though the two women are complete opposites, they are irresistibly drawn to each other. Both must confront and break free from the self-imposed limitations of their lives if they truly want to find happiness.

Austria

Romantic Comedy

Employee of the Month (L’employée Du Mois)

2022, by Véronique Jadin

78 Mins.

UA 13+

Synopsis: What does employer loyalty really mean? And what does a lifetime of service actually get you? That’s exactly what Inès wants to find out. Inès (45) may behave like a model employee at her job selling cleaning products, but she isn’t recognized or paid properly. Under the blasé gaze of Mélody, the young trainee, she decides to ask Patrick, her boss, for her first raise. But the situation gets out of hand, Mélody tries to intercede and Patrick ends up with a broken skull. The accident looks like a crime. What can be done? What Ines knows how to do best: clean up.

Belgium

Comedy

Because I Love Bad Weather (Защото обичам лошото време)

2024, directed by Yana Lekarska

100 mins

UA 13+

Synopsis: When Irina can no longer bear living in a world of lies, she escapes to the one place that still feels safe—where she is truly happy. On a rainy spring day, Irina returns to the seaside town where she spent her childhood summers. There, she unexpectedly reunites with Boris, a man she hasn’t seen in 20 years. Together, they embark on a journey to rediscover their past that may change their future. Or would it?

Bulgaria

Drama/Romance

EMBRYO LARVA BUTTERFLY

2023,directed by Kyros Papavassiliou

91 mins

A

Synopsis: In a world where time shifts arbitrarily, a couple’s relationship faces constant challenges as their memories of the past, present, and future endlessly change. Penelope and Isidoros live in a reality where today they are lovers, but tomorrow they may be strangers. Here, time doesn’t follow a linear path—days appear randomly from different points in time, blurring the boundaries between past, present, and future, if those ideas even hold meaning. Their relationship exists in a state of perpetual uncertainty, defined by a mutual search for understanding and reassurance. Just beyond their world lies another, where time flows in a straight line. It is possible to cross from this unpredictable realm into the world of linear time, but the conditions for such a journey are unclear, and the cost is steep. This imaginative film explores the paradoxes of time and the complexities of romantic and human relationships.

Cyprus

Drama

Restore Point (Bod Obnovy)

2023,directed by Robert Hloz

115 mins

UA 16+

Synopsis: In 2041, Central Europe stands on the edge of crisis as deep social and economic inequality threaten the fabric of society. A scientific breakthrough now enables humanity to revive victims of violent crimes by backing up their brains every two days. This innovative technology presents a unique opportunity for a driven young detective to delve into the murder of a couple as a restoration team works to bring one of the victims back to life.

Czech Republic

Thriller/Sci-Fi

Sons (Vogter)

2024,directed by Gustav Möller

100 mins

A

The question arises: what takes precedence—the profound personal grief or the duty to one’s job? The idealistic prison guard Eva (Sidse Babett Knudsen) confronts the most challenging dilemma of her life when a young man connected to her past is transferred to the prison where she works. Without disclosing her secret, she requests a transfer to his block, thus unfolding a tense psychological thriller where Eva’s commitment to justice threatens to unravel her morality and jeopardise her future.

Denmark

Drama/Thriller

Stairway To Heaven (Taevatrepp)

2023,directed by Mart Kivastik

107 mins

UA

With his friend’s dying breath, Uu is entrusted with a secret—a way to travel back in time. As an engineer, Uu doesn't believe in miracles, but to his surprise, the method works. In the past, everything is idyllic: an endless summer filled with long hair, girls, and the taste of Jenkki chewing gum. In contrast, his present reality is steeped in autumn—his friends are bitter, the girls are married, and his father is severely ill. Now, Uu must make a life-altering decision: will he live in the nostalgic summer of the past or face the harsh autumn of the present?

Estonia

Drama / Comedy

Death is a Problem for the Living (PELURI – KUOLEMA ON ELÄVIEN ONGELMA)

2023,directed by Teemu Nikki

93 mins

UA 16+

Risto and Arto, the two least-expensive hearse drivers on the market, are watching their lives collapse around them. Risto is addicted to gambling and his marriage is in crisis. Arto recently discovered that he was born with 85% less brain than the average person, and as a result has been abandoned by everyone. Risto and Arto, end up risking everything to win back what they have lost.

Finland

Drama / Comedy

Jim's Story (Le roman de Jim)

2024,directed by Jean-Marie Larrieu & Arnaud Larrieu

101 mins

UA

Synopsis: One evening in Saint-Claude, Haut-Jura, Aymeric unexpectedly encounters Florence, a former coworker who is now six months pregnant and single. When she gives birth to Jim, Aymeric steps in to support her, and they share joyful years together as a makeshift family. However, everything changes when Christophe, Jim's biological father, suddenly reappears. What begins as a potential melodrama unfolds into an odyssey of fatherhood, and what it means to be one.

France

Drama / Comedy

Afire (Roter Himmel)

2023,directed by Christian Petzold

102 mins

A

Synopsis: While vacationing by the Baltic Sea, writer Leon and photographer Felix are intrigued by Nadja, a mysterious young woman staying at Felix’s family holiday home. Nadja quickly captivates Leon, not only with her passionate affair with lifeguard Devid but also through her brutally honest insights, which force him to confront his artistic shortcomings. As Leon and Nadja grow closer, an encroaching forest fire threatens their group, challenging Leon to explore whether he can genuinely care for anyone beyond himself.

Germany

Comedy/Romance/Drama

Animal

2023,directed by Sofia Exarchou

116 mins

A

Synopsis: Under the scorching Greek sun, animators at an all-inclusive island resort gear up for the bustling tourist season. Kalia, the group leader, oversees the creation of paper decorations, vibrant costumes, and captivating dance shows. As summer progresses and the pressure mounts, the nights grow tumultuous, exposing Kalia’s inner turmoil amid the chaos. Yet, when the spotlight shines once more, the show must go on, forcing Kalia to navigate the delicate balance between performance and personal struggle.

Greece

Drama

Without Air (Elfogy a levego)

2023,directed by Katalin Moldovai

105 mins

A

Synopsis: An innocent movie recommendation by a literature high-school teacher, Ana Bauch, ends up in an accusation put forth by a parent to the school’s principal. This sets off a series of events that cause Ana to slip away from the ground she thought was solid.

Hungary

Drama

An Irish Goodbye

2022,directed by Tom Berkeley & Ross White

23 mins

UA

Synopsis: On a farm in rural Northern Ireland, estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan are compelled to reunite after the unexpected death of their mother. However, when they stumble upon an unfulfilled bucket list left behind by her, their fraught reunion takes an unexpected turn. As they set out to complete the list, the journey forces them to confront their past, and re-investigate their fractured relationship.

Ireland

Drama / Comedy

La Chimera

2023, directed by Alice Rohrwacher

130 Mins.

A

SYNOPSIS: Everyone has their own Chimera, something they try to achieve but never manage to find. For the band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods and archaeological wonders, the Chimera means redemption from work and the dream of easy wealth. For Arthur, the Chimera looks like the woman he lost, Beniamina (Yile Yara Vianello). To find her, Arthur challenges the invisible, searches everywhere, and goes inside the earth—in search of the door to the afterlife of which myths speak. In an adventurous journey between the living and the dead, between forests and cities, between celebrations and solitudes, the intertwined destinies of these characters unfold, all in search of the Chimera..

Italy

Drama/Comedy

Black Velvet (Melnais samts)

2024, directed by Liene Linde

92 Mins.

UA 16+

Synopsis: Marta is now in her 30s and has long abandoned her cinematic dreams. Stuck in a routine job, she spends her days caring for her chronically ill cat, dealing with her stoner boyfriend, and telling her friends that she'll soon start writing her new script. Secretly battling functional depression, Marta continues to dream of making films, drawn to the therapeutic power of storytelling, yet paralysed by her own fear. When her friend Kaspars returns to town, Marta is thrust into a series of increasingly chaotic events. In this dark comedy, Marta is forced to confront the inevitable question every filmmaker faces: if you want to direct films, can you first direct yourself out of your own depression? The film explores the life of a millennial woman navigating the complexities of adulthood while chasing her long-held dream.

Latvia

Drama

Five And A Half Love Stories In An Apartment In Vilnius, Lithuania (Penkios su puse meilės istorijos, nutikusios viename Vilniaus bute)

2023, directed by Tomas Vengris

112 Mins.

A

Synopsis: An empty flat in Vilnius becomes a temporary home for guests from Israel, Hungary, Poland, and Ireland. With each online booking, new stories of love, hate, hope, and guilt unfold within the aging walls of the building. Through a series of vignettes, the film explores the intricate dynamics of desire and love, as seen through the brief but intense experiences of five Airbnb guests—each in the midst of their own romantic entanglements and personal crises. As these fleeting encounters intertwine, the apartment becomes a silent witness to the complexities of human connection.

Lithuania

Drama/Romance

The Last Ashes (Läif a Séil)

2023, directed by Loïc Tanson

120 Mins.

A

Synopsis: For centuries, Luxembourg has endured successive authoritarian and foreign regimes, leaving its population ravaged by waves of famine and disease. In the desolate northern region, the GRAFF family, led by a strict patriarch, governs an isolated village that has survived endless hardships. The family's iron rule, founded on piety and oppression, ensures the villagers' survival, but at a steep cost. Twelve-year-old Helene, unwilling to accept these suffocating laws, plans her escape with the help of Jon, the youngest Graff son, who shares a deep bond with her. As they seek freedom, the questions loom: Can Helene truly escape this isolated, patriarchal stronghold? What will become of her family? And what is it like to live in a dystopian world where survival demands the sacrifice of freedom and individuality?

Luxembourg

Drama/History

Blood on the Crown

2021, directed by Davide Ferrario

102 Mins.

UA

Synopsis: Set in the turbulent aftermath of World War I in 1919, the film explores the Maltese people's uprising for independence from British rule. As tensions boil over, the citizens of Malta rise against their colonial oppressors, demanding self-determination. The British Army is deployed to crush the riots, leading to a violent and bloody clash that the British government attempts to conceal. Over 100 Maltese citizens are accused of inciting the violence and imprisoned, becoming symbols of resistance in the fight for freedom. The film examines the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who dared to challenge power, setting the stage for Malta’s eventual path to independence.

Malta

Drama

Como el Viento

2023, directed by Jacqueline van Vugt

108 Mins.

UA 13+

During the ferry crossing from Morocco to Spain, three storylines intertwine, linked to the characters' fear of loss and love for one another. The Moroccan, Spanish, and Dutch characters strive to connect to their loved ones, however, their helplessness leaves room for the inevitable. Fear of loss shapes their destinies. As the boat docks in Spain, the drama unfolds as the characters come face to face with the consequences of their actions.

Netherlands

Drama

Dangerous Men ( Niebezpieczni dżentelmeni)

2022, directed by Maciej Kawalski

107 Mins.

UA 13+

Synopsis: Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński, Witkacy, Joseph Conrad, and Bronisław Malinowski—four prominent figures of the Zakopane bohemians—awaken after a night of heavy drinking. Their splitting hangovers cloud their memories, leaving them clueless about the night's events. The

Poland

Drama/Comedy

BAAN

2023, directed by Leonor Teles

100 Mins.

UA 13+

Synopsis: When Home stops feeling like one, wandering becomes routine. Time, space and emotions implode, blurring Lisbon with Bangkok. Past, present or perhaps future intertwine in a story that begins when EL meets K.

Portugal

Drama

Horia

2023, directed by Ana Maria Comanescu

108 Mins.

UA 13+

Synopsis: After a heated argument with his father, Horia, a teenager from a small Romanian village, makes a bold, impulsive decision: to leave home and travel across the country on his father's old Mobra moped in pursuit of the girl he loves. Along the way, his journey takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Stela, a clever and mischievous young girl. Forced by circumstances to travel together, the two navigate a series of challenges and obstacles, turning what began as a solo road trip into an adventure of unexpected companionship and self-discovery. Through heartbreak, humour, and the open road, what do Horia and Stela discover? Do they remain the same people after this journey?

Romania

Adventure/Drama

The Man Without Guilt (L'uomo senza colpa)

2023, directed by Ivan Gergolet

112 Mins.

UA 16+

Synopsis: Angela, a compassionate and dedicated carer, has spent years tending to others while carrying the weight of her own grief. A widow, she lost her husband to an asbestos-related illness—a fate shared by many workers in the community. The man responsible for the deadly conditions, now elderly and crippled, is admitted to the hospital. When his son approaches Angela with a job offer to care for his father, she accepts. Fuelled by a quiet rage and the hope of revenge, Angela steps into the role. What happens next? Does she remain a carer or uses that as an opportunity to take revenge?

Slovenia

Drama/Thriller

The Teacher Who Promised The Sea (El maestro que prometió el mar)

2023, directed by Patricia Font

105 Mins.

UA 13+

Synopsis: Ariadna (Laia Costa) discovers that her grandfather has been searching for the remains of his father, who disappeared in the Civil War, for a long time. Determined to help him, she travels to Burgos, where they are exhuming a mass grave in which he could be buried. During her stay there, she will learn the story of Antoni Benaiges (Enric Auquer), a young teacher from Tarragona who before the war was her grandfather's teacher. Through an innovative pedagogical method Antoni inspired his students and made them a promise: to take them to see the sea.

Spain

Drama/Biography

UFO Sweden

2022, directed by Victor Danell

115 Mins.

UA 13+

Synopsis: A rebellious teenager, placed in foster care, is determined to uncover the truth about her father's mysterious disappearance. Convinced that he has not died but has been abducted by aliens, she seeks out a group of ufology enthusiasts who share her obsession with the unknown. Together, they embark on an extraordinary journey filled with tension, drama, and unexpected adventures as they navigate the fringes of belief and scepticism.

Sweden

Sci-Fi

HOW IS KATIA? (Yak Tam Katia?)

2022, directed by Christina Tynkevych

102 Mins.

A

Synopsis: Anna is a 35-year-old single mother, working hard to provide a better future for her daughter Katia. A sudden turn of events makes Anna question her moral compass in a society where everyone has lost their own.

Ukraine

Drama

Title of the Masterclass 2

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Masterclasses & Conversations
Masterclasses &
Conversations

Film screening of Five And A Half Love Stories In An Apartment In Vilnius, Lithuania

Panel Discussion – “Longing and desire: On screen”

Drawing from the themes in Tomas Vengris’ and Yile Yara Vianello’s films, this panel explores the nuanced ways in which filmmakers develop narratives around relationships, love, and the often complex tension between personal desires and societal expectations. The panel will be moderated by Padmapriya Janakiraman, founder of Padma’s Lit Club, bringing her unique perspective to guide the conversation on how these filmmakers portray intimate, relatable human experiences that resonate with audiences across cultures.

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6:30 PM: Film screening of Five And A Half Love Stories In An Apartment In Vilnius, Lithuania

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM : Workshop: Immersive, day-long session

As part of EUFF 2024, join us for an immersive workshop with Lithuanian-American filmmaker Tomas Vengris and Indian novelist-screenwriter Alina Gufran. Discover what makes characters memorable, learn to shape dynamic arcs, and bring worlds to life on screen. Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, or storyteller, this session will sharpen your craft and inspire new dimensions in your creative process.

Film screening of Blood on the Crown, Malta

Panel Discussion

Discussion : Revisiting history through a filmmaker’s lens

Moderated by : Aaradhana Kohli, Padmapriya Janakiraman in association with Padma’s Lit Club ,discussant Pedja Miletic

Exploring how filmmakers integrate historical events into cinematic storytelling with a focus on depicting nationally significant moments while skilfully intertwining personal and fictional narratives.

Blood on the Crown, directed by Davide Ferrario (Malta)

Panel Discussion: From Books to Films Moderated by Padmapriya Janakiraman, discussants Patricia Fonts, Pierric Bailly, and Vikas Swarup in association with Padma’s Lit Club

A hybrid panel focused on the exchange of ideas and business discussions that enable the cinematic adaptation of literary works—both fiction and non-fiction—from various languages.

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08 November 2024

6:30 PM: Film screening of Five And A Half Love Stories In An Apartment In Vilnius, Lithuania

8:10 PM: Panel Discussion - “Longing and desire: On screen”

Drawing from the themes in Tomas Vengris’ and Yile Yara Vianello’s films, this panel explores the nuanced ways in which filmmakers develop narratives around relationships, love, and the often complex tension between personal desires and societal expectations. The panel will be moderated by Padmapriya Janakiraman, founder of Padma’s Lit Club, bringing her unique perspective to guide the conversation on how these filmmakers portray intimate, relatable human experiences that resonate with audiences across cultures.

About Penalists

Yile Yara Vianello

Yile Yara Vianello is an Italian actress. Born in Bahia (Brazil) in 1999, she soon moved to Italy, where she spent her early years growing up in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. It was there that she first met Alice Rohrwacher and made her debut in auteur cinema at the age of 12, playing the lead role in Corpo Celeste (Cannes Film Festival 2011). After the high school’s years, she returned to the screen as the protagonist in Danilo Caputo’s Semina il Vento (Berlinale 2020). Shortly afterward, she appeared in Laura Bispuri’s Il Paradiso del Pavone (Venice Film Festival, Orizzonti section, 2021). Her recent projects include Il Vento Soffia Dove Vuole by Marco Righi (Karlovy Vary Film Festival 2023), La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher (Cannes Film Festival 2023), La Bella Estate by Laura Luchetti (Locarno Film Festival 2023), and L’anno dell’Uovo by Claudio Casale (Venice Film Festival 2023). In 2024, she received the Italian Rising Star award at the David di Donatello Awards. Discovered at the age of twelve by Alice Rohrwacher in her stunning debut film Corpo Celeste, Yile Yara Vianello embodies the mystery in the cinema of the multi-award-winning Italian director, nurturing her acting career and her films characters through an experiential journey rooted in the school of life.

Tomas Vengris

Tomas Vengris is a Lithuanian/American filmmaker. He received his BA from Columbia University and completed his M.F.A. in directing at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, CA. His directorial debut Motherland, a Lithuanian, Latvian, German and Greek co-production, won the European Audience Award in the ArteKino Film Festival, BEST FILM in the Baltic Competition at the PÖFF Black Nights Film Festival and was selected in the Narrative Category for the 2020 European Film Awards. His AFI Thesis film, Kalifornija was a national finalist in the Student Academy Awards. His short film, Squirrel, premiered in the Berlin International Film Festival followed by a US premiere at SXSW. Tomas has worked as an editor under several internationally acclaimed directors, including Terrence Malick, Kelly Reichardt, Macon Blair, and Lena Dunham.

Padmapriya Janakiraman (moderator)

Padmapriya is a dancer and actor working for the past 15 years in the Indian film industry with main lead credits in more than 60 films across 6 languages. She has won the President of India’s medal for acting and her films have travelled to international festivals like Venice and Toronto. Trained in business administration in India and public policy at New York University with work experience spanning the arts, private and not for profit sectors, she founded Collective Crew or CC in late 2022. The for-profit venture is a new age media and entertainment start-up focused on promoting and producing books to screen women-centered content sourced primarily from Indian literature. CC is driven by the belief that ‘diversity’ is key to good entertainment as it promotes both relatability and novelty. As part of Collective Crew mission, Padmapriya has initiated a not-for-profit effort, Padma’s Lit Club, to build a thriving economy for female authors and publishing houses while changing gender perceptions through the power of diverse, women-centered stories. She is the founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective that works towards creating equal space and opportunities for women in cinema.

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8 & 9 November 2024

Day 1 6:30 PM: Film screening of Five And A Half Love Stories In An Apartment In Vilnius, Lithuania

Day 2 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM : Workshop: Immersive, day-long session

As part of EUFF 2024, join us for an immersive workshop with Lithuanian-American filmmaker Tomas Vengris and Indian novelist-screenwriter Alina Gufran. Discover what makes characters memorable, learn to shape dynamic arcs, and bring worlds to life on screen. Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, or storyteller, this session will sharpen your craft and inspire new dimensions in your creative process.

About the Facilitators

Tomas Vengris

A Lithuanian-American filmmaker with an MFA from the American Film Institute. His acclaimed directorial debut, Motherland, received the European Audience Award at the ArteKino Film Festival and Best Film in the Baltic Competition at PÖFF Black Nights Film Festival. His second feature, Five & a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, won Best Film at the Rebels With a Cause Competition at Black Nights Film Festival.

Alina Gufran

Alina Gufran, is a Delhi based novelist and filmmaker. Alina’s debut novel, No Place To Call My Own, is set to release in January 2025. Her film Leela premiered at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam in 2024 and has screened at several international festivals, including San Sebastian and Riga International Film Festival. She also curated an Anthology of Climate Fiction from South Asia, exploring eco-anxiety, indigenous knowledge, and human ties to climate change.

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10 November 2024

4:00 PM: Blood on the Crown directed by Davide Ferrario (Malta)

5:45 PM: Panel Discussion
Discussion : Revisiting history through a filmmaker’s lens
Moderated By: Aaradhana Kohli, discussant Pedja Miletic

Exploring how filmmakers integrate historical events into cinematic storytelling with a focus on depicting nationally significant moments while skilfully intertwining personal and fictional narratives.

About Penalists

Pedja Miletic

Pedja Miletic is a passionate and dynamic film producer whose love for storytelling goes beyond the screen. He actively pursues narratives that celebrate the diversity of human experiences, with a strong focus on amplifying underrepresented voices. Born in Belgrade and having lived in Cape Town, Pedja has called Malta home for over two decades.
Known for his versatility, Pedja has successfully navigated various genres, from gripping historical dramas to dark comedies. His collaborative approach and talent for assembling skilled teams has earned him great respect within the industry. He takes a hands-on role in each project, working closely with directors, writers, and post-production teams to ensure the full realization of every creative vision.
One of Pedja's standout achievements is his work on the award-winning film Blood on the Crown, featuring Harvey Keitel and Malcolm McDowell. The success of this project paved the way for new collaborations with both seasoned and emerging talents. Pedja’s relentless pursuit of excellence makes him a true catalyst in the ever-evolving world of cinema.
With over 600 TV commercials, 14 documentaries, and 5 feature films under his belt, Pedja’s work is available on platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. Notably, Blood on the Crown is available in the U.S., Canada, Greece, Portugal, and the Middle East, and this will mark the film’s first official screening in India.

Aaradhana Kohli Kapur

Aaradhana Kohli Kapur is an alumna of The School of International Relations, Jawahar Lal Nehru University and Mass Communication Research Centre , Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi. She is essentially a documentary film maker and has made films on contemporary history, environment and gender. She also curates and organizes film festivals, skilling workshops and conversations around Climate Change, sustainability, gender and media.
She founded Enable India Foundation a communication praxis` and works largely with urban poor women and children in outreach programmes. Her ikigai is Digitally Yours -an initiative to reboot education for digitally deprived, children with little or no access to devices and "Climate Change...I'm living it" designed as a series of skilling workshops for women and girls from urban poor and tribal communities to make films on mobile phones on how Climate Change is impacting their lives and livelihoods. She also curates Kirtaniye -The Invisible Divine a festival of women's voices in Gurbani Sangeet.
Aaradhana has been closely associated with IAWRT Chapter India's Asian Women's Film Festival held annually at India International Centre, New Delhi since its inception and recently handed over charge as the Managing Trustee of the India Chapter of the International Association of Women in Radio &Television (IAWRT), a not-for-profit professional organization of women working in electronic and allied media. It is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

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12 November 2024

4:00 pm: Blood on the Crown directed by Davide Ferrario (Malta)

5:45 pm: Panel Discussion - From Books to films moderated by Padmapriya Janakiraman, discussants Patricia Fonts (Spain- join virtually), Pierric Bailly (France- join virtually), Vikas Swarup (India) in association with Padma’s Lit Club

A hybrid panel focused on the exchange of ideas and business discussions that enable the cinematic adaptation of literary works—both fiction and non-fiction—from various languages.

About the Facilitators

Patricia Font

Patricia Font, director and screenwriter from Barcelona. In 2015 received the Goya Award for Best Short Film for Café para llevar (Coffee to Go). She’s directed series such as Pulseras Rojas (Red Band Society), Citas (Dates), Les de l’Hoquei (Hockey Girls), La templanza (The temperance) and Moebius. Her feature films are Gente que viene y bah (In family I trust), Pared con Pared (Love divided) and El maestro que prometió el mar (The teacher who promised the sea).

Pierric Bailly

Pierric Bailly, grew up in a small village lost in the middle of the forest. After briefly studying cinema in Montpellier, he began working in a factory, while writing. He is the author of seven books, all published by P.O.L, including L’homme des bois in 2017, Les enfants des autres in 2020 (currently being adapted for the cinema), Le roman de Jim in 2021 (adapted by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu in 2024) and La foudre in 2023. He now lives between Lyon and the Jura, in the locations of his novels.

Vikas Swarup

Vikas Swarup (born 22 June 1961) is a retired Indian diplomat and acclaimed writer, best known as the author of Q & A, which was adapted into the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. He retired in 2021 as Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, having also served as India’s High Commissioner to Canada and as the Ministry's spokesperson. Swarup joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986 and held various posts across Turkey, the U.S., Ethiopia, the U.K., South Africa, and Japan. His other novels, Six Suspects and The Accidental Apprentice, have been widely translated, with Six Suspects adapted into a popular web series. Swarup is a frequent speaker at literary festivals and institutions worldwide. His most recently published book is titled The Girl with Seven Lives.

Padmapriya Janakiraman (moderator)

Padmapriya is a dancer and actor working for the past 15 years in the Indian film industry with main lead credits in more than 60 films across 6 languages. She has won the President of India’s medal for acting and her films have travelled to international festivals like Venice and Toronto. Trained in business administration in India and public policy at New York University with work experience spanning the arts, private and not for profit sectors, she founded Collective Crew or CC in late 2022. The for-profit venture is a new age media and entertainment start-up focused on promoting and producing books to screen women-centered content sourced primarily from Indian literature. CC is driven by the belief that ‘diversity’ is key to good entertainment as it promotes both relatability and novelty. As part of Collective Crew mission, Padmapriya has initiated a not-for-profit effort, Padma’s Lit Club, to build a thriving economy for female authors and publishing houses while changing gender perceptions through the power of diverse, women-centered stories. She is the founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective that works towards creating equal space and opportunities for women in cinema.

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