After an online and hybrid screenings of the past Cine Europa due to the pandemic, the EU Delegation, the EU Member States Embassies, together with Goethe Institut Manila are proud to present the 26^th edition of Cine Europa which will run from June 16 to July 16, 2023, but this time 100% physical screenings.

As expected, the longest and biggest film festival of the European Union in the Philippines, the Cine Europa will draw more viewers, especially from the European movie pundits to watch the various acclaimed movies to be shown at Cine Europa 26.

This year, Cine Europa brings 28 multi-awarded films from different EU Member States, as well as our guest country, Ukraine. These films may be watched onsite in our venue partners in Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao. 

The following are the schedules and venues for the Cine Europa 26:

June 16 to 18: Shangri-la Plaza 

June 21 to 23: Film Development Council of the Philippines, Kalaw, Manila  June 24- 25: Cultural Center of the Philippines – Open grounds June 30 to July 2: Rizal Open Park Auditorium – Luneta Park  

July 5 to 7: SM Cinema Cebu 

July 8 to 9, and July 12-16: Film Development Council Iloilo 

July 14-16: Film Development Council Negros (Bacolod)  July 14-16: Film Development Council Davao 

As always, the EU is grateful to its loyal partners – the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the National Parks and Development Committee, the Cultural Center of the  Philippines, Shangri-La Properties, and SM Cinemas. 

Cine Europa 26 opens to the Filipino audience with the film Historja – Stitches for Sapmi from Sweden, that will be screened at Cinema 3, Red Carpet Cinemas, Shangri-La  Plaza, on 16 June 2023, 7:30pm. This Swedish films is a documentary about the Sami female artist Britta Marakatt-Labba, whose art showcases the past and the present of Sami culture, and how reindeer husbandry is being affected by the global climate crisis. 

The other films that will be screened at Cine Europa 26 are: 

1. Murina, from Croatia and Slovenia, is a coming of age film about a teenager,  her father, and an old friend with a life-changing deal.

2. My Love Affair with Marriage, a co-production from Latvia and Luxembourg  – an animated feature film for adult audiences focusing on young Zelma and  her quest for a perfect love and lasting marriage. 

3. Sweat, from Poland, follows Sylwia Zając, a celebrity fitness motivator who is  looking for true intimacy. 

4. Rien à Foutre (“Zero Fucks Given”), from Belgium – a fictional film that follows Cassandra, a flight attendant that was floating through her life until she is forced to confront situations, she is running from. 

5. Ensilumi (“Any Day Now”), from Finland – another fictional film that follows and Iranian family that lives in a refugee centre and their process of filing for asylum. 

6. Miss Viborg, a film from Denmark about two women from two different  generations that have an unlikely friendship and become companions in healing  and hope. This film was awarded the Best Nordic/Dutch Film Award in the  Santa Barbara International Film Festival. 

7. The Cleaners, from Germany – a sinister documentary about the work of  “content moderators”, follows an organisation in Manila that operates in the  industries that require content moderators 

8. Szelíd (“Gentle”), from Hungary, is a fictional documentary about a female  bodybuilder whose dream is to win Miss Olympia. 

9. Ramona, from Spain, is a comedy about the immortal feud between sense and sensibility. 

10. Io Sto Bene, a co-production between Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium and Italy that shows parallel destinies and a future full of peace for them both. 

11. Dodo, from Greece – a comedy about a dodo bird (species that disappeared 300  years ago) making a reappearance that will spiral a family’s boundaries out of their control. 

12. Róise & Frank, a film from Ireland about a widowed Róise who believes that  a stray dog embodies the spirit of her late husband Frank – a warm-hearted and  witty tale about finding hope in dark places 

13. Moi dumky tykhi (“My thoughts are silent”), a Ukrainian film that explores the eternal problem of parents and children, by showcasing a mother and son relationship where the son wants to move to a different country. 

14. Lyuksemburh, Lyuksemburh (“Luxembourg, Luxembourg”) – a Ukrainian comedy about two children in search for their father in Luxembourg. 

15. Marocco/Mikado, a co-produced drama from Romania and the Czech  Republic about a father-daughter relationship faced with chaos and irreversible outcomes.

16. OSS 117: From Africa with Love — OSS 117 is France’s finest secret agent and he’s heading to Africa for what could be the trickiest mission ever! 

17. Os Demónios Do Meu Avô, an animated film co-produced by Portugal, Spain and France that follows Rosa and her journey back to her native village on the border between Spain and Portugal. 

18. Srdce na dlani, a comedy from the Czech Republic about falling in love where  love pays no mind to age or place. It follows the characters as they navigate  through love’s hope and beauty but also its complications and obstacles. 

19. Imad’s Barndom (“Imad’s Childhood”) – a documentary co-produced from Sweden, and Latvia about a family that was released from ISIS captivity and placed in a displaced persons’ camp in Kurdistan. 

20. Golata istina za grupa Zhuguli (“The Naked Truth about Zhugui”), from  Bulgaria – a fictional film about a band that disbanded 30 years before and is  being rounded back together for a 50^th anniversary concert. 

21. Girl, from Belgium – a film about a 15-year-old that dreams about becoming a ballerina, Lara. 

22. Bėgikė (“Runner”), a co-production from Lithuania and the Czech Republic about Marija and her frantic search for her boyfriend, in what is described as a  story of sacrifice and the achievement of total freedom. 

23. Mitra, a film from the Netherlands about Haleh and the woman that betrayed her and caused the death of her daughter in Iran 37 years ago – a story about revenge and friendship. 

24. Kratt, from Estonia is about a magical creature who will do whatever its master says, with the quest to buy a soul from the devil. 

25. Smagen af sult (“A Taste of Hunger”) from Denmark, about a family their  gourmet restaurant and their quest for a Michelin Star. 

26. Olmo, from Italy – a short story about an 80 year old, Olmo, and his 8 year old  grandson, Giulio, and their search for an old tree 

27. Le Variabili Dipendenti, another short from Italy, about two characters, Pietro  and Tommaso, who are curious and are getting to know each other 

So what are you waiting for? Follow us on Cine Europa Philippines https://twitter.com/cineeuropaph and Instagram and enjoy Cine Europa 26 at its finest!

Dr. Ana-Isabel Sanchez-Ruiz, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, will do the honour of opening the film festival on September 14, 2022 in SM Seaside, Cebu City.

“Film is deeply rooted in Europe’s culture which we are very proud about. It mirrors our identity and speaks a lot about our heritage and what we are”, said Dr. Sanchez-Ruiz.

Cebu has been one of the pioneer host cities of the film festival when Cine Europa was brought outside Manila in 2001.

For the past 25 years Cine Europa has been the hallmark cultural event of the European Union Delegation to the Philippines. Beyond showing European films, this programme has become a platform to strengthen EU-Philippine cultural relations and collaboration with Philippine cultural institutions and other partners.

With the COVID-19 pandemic easing up, the silver anniversary edition of Cine Europa will follow a hybrid format, opening doors both physically and virtually to every Filipino, while endeavoring to ensure the safety and health of everyone.

On its silver year, Cine Europa brings a whopping 30 films from 15 EU Member States for FREE! These films may be watched onsite in select venue partners in Cebu City, Metro Manila, Iloilo and Palawan, or online upon signing up at www.cineeuropaph.com.

The EU Delegation thanks its constant and valuable venue partners such as SM Cinemas and SM City Cebu Seaside, hosts this year to the festival’s opening, the Film Development Council of the Philippines , and the National Parks and Development Committee, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, which will feature Cine Europa films in their indoor and outdoor venues.

The EU Delegation, the European Union Member States Embassies together with Cultúr Éireann, Irish Film Institute, Goethe-Institut, Instituto Cervantes de Manila and the Philippine-Italian Association, have curated a set of award-wining films showcasing different genres that will attract every viewer, with a particular emphasis this year on youth in celebration of the European Year of Youth 2022, and with the guest participation of an Ukrainian film in solidarity with Ukraine and its people, victims of an illegal war of aggression and invasion by Russia.

The launch film for Cine Europa’s Silver Anniversary comes from Cyprus and Greece, entitled “Páfsi (Pause)” set to first be screened on 14 September at 6:00pm.

Páfsi (Pause)” is a dramatic film that focuses on a middle-aged woman and her fantasy world that she uses to escape her real world misery. But what happens when the lines between fantasy and reality start to blur? Directed by Tonia Mishiali a Cypriot whose work focuses on women’s and social issues.

The other films in this silver anniversary edition are:

    Sanremo a co-production between Slovenia and Italy. Another dramatic film that will tug on your heartstrings. This film revolves around Bruno, his condition that causes him to forget, Duša and Gigliolia Cinquetti’s song “Non ho l’età”

    Libertad (Freedom), from Spain, a film about friendship and how two different people from different places and different lives can create a unique friendship. 

    Mysi Patri Do Nebe (Even Mice Belong in Heaven) a co-production of the Czech Republic, France, Slovakia and Poland. The only animated film in this year’s roster of films. This film focuses on unlikely friendships that stem from enemies but in turn become inseparable friends

    Kapsalon Romy (Romy’s Salon) is described as a well-made, inter-generational film full of tenderness when dealing with the nature of the disease. Directed by Mischa Kamp who won the Golden Calf Award for Best Director in the Netherlands Film Festival. It is a co-production of the Netherlands and Germany

    From Ireland is the film, Bicycle Thieves: Pumped Up, a comedy about a hot-headed pizza delivery cyclist. This film is described to be part investigative thriller, part heist and part magical-realist action comedy. Promising a wild ride from start to finish.

    Nematoma (Invisible), a film from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and Spain a drama that has dancing, deception, and revenge. The choreography of this film is described to be as important as the script.

    Lola Vers La Mer (Lola), a film from Belgium and France, winner and multiple nominations of the Magritte Awards from the Académie André Delvaux of Belgium, which recognize cinematic achievement in the film industry.

    Aatos Ja Amine (Gods of Molenbeek) from Finland, Belgium and Germany, a documentary that is described to look at area deprived neighbourhood in Brussels at knee’s hight or through the eyes of children.

    Las Niñas (Schoolgirls) from Spain, a multi-award winning drama that focuses on two girls that form a friendship, and their lives in the 90s. Director Pilar Palomero has said that during filming she and her actresses felt like girls again

    Marina is a Belgian biographical film that is based on the life of Italian Singer Rocco Granata who moved to Belgium when he was young.

    From France is Un Triomphe (The Big Hit), a comedic story of Etienne, an actor who runs a theatre workshop in a prison and brings together an unlikely troupe on tour with a final performance in Paris

    Seltsimees Laps (The Little Comrade) from Estonia is a children’s film that shows Leelo, a six year old that is separated from her mother and vows to be on her best behaviour in the hopes of bringing her mother back.

    Dating Amber, an Irish film set in the mid-90’s, is a love letter to all the kids who grew up in a small town and who needed to escape in order to find or be themselves

    Tytöt Tytöt Tytöt (A Girl Picture) from Finland a coming-of-age film released in 2022, nominated in multiple International Film Festival and a winner in the Sundance Film Festival

    Nech Je Svetlo (Let There Be Light) from Slovakia and the Czech Republic is a drama about Milan, his teenage son and his journey to find the truth about what happened and about himself

    Oskar & Lilli – Ein Bisschen Bleiben Wir Noch (Oskar & Lilli – Where No One Knows Us) from Austria is described as a bittersweet odyssey about how Oskar and Lilli Chechen refugee kids and the many ways of perceiving the world to survive.

    La Vita Facile (Easy Living) from Italy a comedy about a young woman, a bizarre American and an Illegal immigrant set between the French and Italian Boarder

    Granny Project from Hungary is described as a seven-year long investigation of three young men coming into terms with their heritage through the lives of their grandmothers. Both a coming-of-age story for the three young men and a coming out of age story for their grandmothers

    Bashtata (The Father) a co-produced film from Bulgaria and Greece is a comedy about Vasil, his son Pavel and their journey with the loss of Ivanka, Vasil’s Wife and Pavel’s mother.

    Never Gonna Snow Again from Poland described as a dark fairy tale about a masseur who hails from the East and enter the lives of residents in a walled off community, going door-to-door to heal these residents using his hands

    Im Feuer (Sisters Apart), co-produced by Germany and Greece, is about a German soldier and native Kurd who volunteer to train female Kurdish soldiers in Iraq to fight ISIS with a hidden personal agenda

    Exil (Exile), a German filmfrom Director Virar Morina, describes the importance of the protagonist’s personality as he integrates into a new society.

    Dopunska Nastava (Extracurricular) from Croatia a dark comedy about a father-daughter relationship and a school hostage crisis

    Klondike from Ukraine, described as an angry war film about a Ukrainian family living on the boarder of Russia and Ukraine as their village gets taken by armed forces, and an international plane crash in 2014.

    The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, from Sweden, is a documentary set in 1970 as filmmaket Luchino Visconti travelled Europe looking for the perfect boy to personify absolute beauty.

    Luzzu from Malta, a drama about a Maltese fisherman and his wooden luzzu boat focusing on his livelihood and family traditions from generations before him

    Sluzibnici (Servants) a co-production between Slovakia, Romania, Czech Republic and Ireland, is a film about Michal and Juraj, students at a theological seminary in Czechoslovakia, and their story as the possibility of dissolution of their school looms over them.

    Krajina Ve Stinu (Shadow Country), a co-produced film from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, is a fictional tale about killings, a growing evil and the roles of humility and hope in one’s life.

    The Spiders’ Man, from Italy, is a dark comedy about two half-brothers and their American friend and their encounter with a group of inexperienced thugs.

Come onsite to our venue partners’ locations to watch all these exciting films or register at www.cineeuropaph.com and watch all these films online right in your homes.

Cine Europa is also in Facebook and Instagram as Cine Eurpa PH and @cineuropaph, respectively