A month-long festival, a new venue in the heart of Singapore and new partnerships mark the 33rd edition of the European Film Festival (EUFF). Presented by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Singapore, EUFF shines the spotlight on European cinema by bringing films to Singapore reflecting Europe’s creativity, inclusivity, and diversity. The EUFF runs at The Projector (Cineleisure) from 23rd April to 25th May 2024. W

With its new screening location, the festival moves to the heart of Singapore, making it more accessible to the general public. This year’s festival presents 24 films from 24 countries over a longer festival period, reflecting on the variety of perspectives, histories, languages and cultures from across Europe.

This year’s opening film shines a spotlight on Featured Country Belgium, with the film Here. Directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Bas Devos, this is a moving tale of fleeting encounters aided by hot soup and humble plant life. In suburban Brussels, Stefan, an unassuming Romanian construction worker prepares to leave for home. He clears out his fridge and cooks a pot of soulful borscht, passing it on to fellow kindred spirits, sowing love one bowl at a time. A chance encounter with bryologist Shuxiu blossoms into a friendship as she opens his eyes to the once-invisible growth of mosses that thrive in the city’s crevices.

EUFF offers a range of movie genres including drama, historical drama, documentary, musical, comedy and family-friendly films from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. Films screened are recent, and have had success in their country of origin and often internationally.

Take for example the critically-acclaimed Fallen Leaves from Finland, an arthouse romantic comedy set in modern-day Helsinki, where two lonely souls in search of love meet by chance. What follows next is a series of mishaps from lost phone numbers to mistaken addresses. Filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki’s 20th feature film features charming working-class characters whose lives are presented with a dash of rock and roll. Reconciling a range of emotions, this moving romance tugs at the heartstrings.

Meanwhile, Denmark whets the appetite with The Cake Dynasty. Directed by Christian Lollike, the film follows Niels Agger, a baker frustrated by life. His cake factory is on the brink of ruin and his numerous suicide attempts have failed. His wife, Else, tries to modernise the family-held factory with the help of her daughter and her blasé boyfriend with a new business strategy: Healthy weight-loss cakes. Niels is anything but enthusiastic about this concept and is much more interested in the new cleaning lady Zeinab who introduces him to her culture and calorie-rich confectionary. This satirical comedy addresses universal themes of family, health mania and culture clashes.

Says Iwona Piórko, European Union Ambassador to Singapore: “I believe EUFF resonates with audiences here because European films are truly a celebration of cultures. Through this much-loved festival we showcase the best of contemporary European cinema as well as the richness of the craft of filmmaking from across Europe. There is beautiful unity in our diversity. The movies not just entertain but cover issues of global relevance and speak of values and experiences that are universal and recognisable to all.”

“EUFF is a window into the intriguing world of European cinema and also offers a platform to young Singapore film-makers. We need ever more ways of championing the inspiring ideas of youth. In this context, this year, the festival broadens its partnership with Singapore filmmakers with its new partnership with the Film Facilitation Programme run by *SCAPE, an organisation that supports the development of Singaporean youth. This complements the existing partnership with film schools: Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Film & Media Studies; Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) School of Art, Design and Media; LASALLE College of the Arts Puttnam School of Film and Animation.“

EUFF, which started in 1991, is among the longest running foreign film festivals in Singapore. Through the compelling narrative of cinema, the festival promotes dialogue, encourages conversations and exchanges while upholding core EU values of respect for human dignity and inclusivity.

European Film Festival 2024 runs from 23rd April to 25th May 2024 at at The Projector at Cineleisure, 8 Grange Rd, Singapore 239695. Tickets and full line-up available here