EU Film Festival kicks off next week

The best of European cinema will be on show during the European Union (EU) Film Festival at Ster-Kinekor, Maerua Mall, in Windhoek.

The festival takes place from 18 September to 13 November, and will screen one of eight acclaimed European films every Wednesday. It will close with a special screening of the Namibian film, ‘Lukas’.

This year’s festival theme is the ‘Year of Skills’.

During a press conference at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek on Tuesday, representatives from the Delegation of the European Union to Namibia introduced their selected films through a trailer and a brief overview.

The featured films are ‘Semmelweis’ (Hungary) ‘Primadonna’ (Italy), ‘Primeira Obra’ (Portugal), ‘Delicieux’ (France), ‘15 anos y un dia’ (Spain), ‘Fallen Leaves (Finland), ‘Dangerous Men’ (Poland), ‘Le Prince’ (Germany) and ‘Lukas’ (Namibia).

“The reason why we host these film festivals every year is not only to celebrate the art of film-making but also because film is one of the best ways for people to understand each other. This is true not only between the EU and Namibia but within Europe as

well,” said the EU deputy head of mission to Namibia, Ian Dupont.

“In addition to the screenings, we’re also supporting capacity building with the theme,” Dupont said.

“For that, we’ve partnered with the Namibia Film Commission and KinoNamibia, where we have empowered young Namibian film-makers by providing a platform for content creation from script to screen. We also hope to organise another training on film-making with handheld cameras.”

The festival will commence with a screening of the Hungarian film ‘Semmelweiss’, which tells the story of a pioneering Hungarian doctor’s groundbreaking work against postpartum infection.

While Hungary is not one of the Delegation of the European Union to Namibia’s member states, it joins the festival as the country currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Though each film’s trailer teases an intriguing cinematic excursion, the Embassy of Finland’s Alma Pyymäki issued a particularly passionate introduction to this year’s Finnish selection.

“’Fallen Leaves’ (2023) is a film by one of Finland’s most celebrated film-makers, Aki Kaurismäki. He’s known both nationally and internationally for his unique film-making style. He directs, writes and produces his films, each recognisable by his signature visual minimalism, deadpan humour and profound thematic richness,” said Pyymäki.

‘Fallen Leaves’ has fascinated audiences both in Finland and beyond. The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture (Non-English Language) and Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy (Alma Pöysti) at this year’s Golden Globes. At the Cannes Film Festival, ‘Fallen Leaves won the Jury Prize and, according to the influential magazine, Time, it was the best film of 2023.

“The film is a melancholic romantic comedy, a love story but not the kind you usually see on screen. The film doesn’t shy away from heavy themes like job loss, alcoholism and marginalisation, yet at its core, it remains a heartwarming story of two people finding love,” says Pyymäki.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to introduce Finnish film-making through ‘Fallen Leaves’ on 23 October. This surely is a film not to be missed.” – martha@namibian.com.na ; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com