The 2025 European Film Festival kicks-off on Friday, 31^st January 2025, with an invitation-only opening night at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia head office, featuring a red carpet gala. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia has sponsored the event by providing its state-of- the-art multipurpose hall with more than 2000 seat capacity, its technical and marketing team.

The opening movie is “Zátopek" from the Czech Republic. This a multi-award winning film tells the story of the Czechoslovak long-distance runner, Emil Zátopek, a three times Olympic gold medal winner, nicknamed the “Czech Locomotive”. The opening night will count with the exceptional presence of leading Ethiopian long distance runners.

2025 is a unique year as its marks the celebration of both the 50^th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between EU and Ethiopia and the 25^th anniversary of the European Union-African Union Partnership. For this exceptional year, this will be the largest edition of the Festival ever in more than 20 years of uninterrupted screening, bringing together a record 21 EU Member States' embassies and three European cultural institutes, demonstrating a strong "Team Europe" approach to cultural exchange in the country. Ukraine, United Kingdom, Armenia and Norway are also participating.

All the 28 European and two Ethiopian short films will be screened at the Italian cultural institute, with the exception of the French film which will be screened at the Alliance Française. Many of the films have been screened at major international film festivals, and demonstrate a fine blend of fiction, documentaries and animation. All films are screened in their original language, subtitled in English.

More information and the agenda can be found at https://www.facebook.com/euffethiopia/ https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/african-union-au_en?s=43

This year's edition of the Festival is made possible by the generous contribution of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, which is celebrating its customer’s month from January 2 to February 2, as a testimony to a shared commitment to visual arts and culture as a bridge between people and cultures. The opening event is also made possible thanks to the sponsoring of leading private sector goods and services providers.

Journalists are invited to attend the Film Festival Opening starting 04.00 PM at the Commercial Bank Headquarters.

For more Press & Information enquiries

Solomon Kebede, EU Delegation to Ethiopia Press & Information Officer  [email protected] +251911684101

Biruk Feleke, EU Delegation to the African Union Press & Information Officer 

[email protected] +251911514809

Birhanu Hailu, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Corporate Communications, [email protected] +251942017038