European Film Festival SA: 16 Films Spotlighted

The eagerly anticipated tenth edition of the European Film Festival in South Africa promises an extraordinary showcase of cinematic excellence, with a meticulously curated lineup of 16 new and critically acclaimed films from around the world.

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This year’s festival spotlights many European nations, with Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine taking centre stage. Notably, the festival will also feature a compelling African-European co-production film set in the heart of Sudan.

Screenings are scheduled to captivate audiences at The Labia in Cape Town and Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg. Additionally, Durban’s Ster-Kinekor will host a select program of films exclusively available for in-theatre viewing, enriching the festival experience.

Sandra Kramer, the European Union’s ambassador to South Africa, expresses her enthusiasm for this year’s event, emphasizing its role in showcasing “some of the most acclaimed productions to have emerged from the film industries in the European Union and Europe.” She underlines that these films are a testament to cinematic prowess and offer thought-provoking perspectives on universal issues, resonating with South Africans and global audiences alike. She hopes the festival will foster stronger connections between Europe, South Africa, and its neighbouring countries, Eswatini and Lesotho, sparking vital discussions and fresh ideas in an ever-evolving world.

Under the thematic banner of ‘Transition,’ the festival’s diverse selection of films strives to artistically encapsulate individuals’ myriad transformative experiences during these turbulent and fast-paced times. Peter Rorvik, the festival’s co-director and curator, elucidates the essence of transition in our lives, where it manifests as awakenings, renewal of purpose, shifts in self-understanding, and reevaluations of life’s trajectory. Transition serves as a response to change, a process of managing change, or even catalyzing change. Rorvik believes that this year’s film lineup artfully explores these facets of transition, offering audiences a profound cinematic journey into life’s milestones, growth, and turning points, fostering connections with our own life narratives and those of our fellow travellers.

The European Film Festival 2023 is a collaborative endeavour presented by the European Union National Institutes for Culture, the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa, and the participating European embassies. The cultural agencies of the British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, Diplomatic Representation of Flanders, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut, and Italian Cultural Institute further enrich it.

This year’s festival boasts two films that received the prestigious Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, adding an extra layer of prestige and excitement. For a comprehensive list of the films featured in this year’s festival, visit the festival’s official website at eurofilmfest.co.za.

Event Details:

• Date: October 12th to 22nd
• Location: The Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
• Website: thelabia.co.za

Don’t miss this exceptional cinematic journey at the European Film Festival 2023, where storytelling and artistry intersect to illuminate the universal theme of transition in our ever-evolving world.

Source: European Film Festival South Africa to showcase 16 films this year

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Photo: Supplied by Cape Town ETC