Organised by the EU Delegation to Eswatini in partnership with Alliance Francaise and seven EU Member States (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, Ireland and Italy), the festival, which was launched back in May 2024 with the screening of a local movie, The Dream, offered an exciting line-up of seven European films and one local movie.

Viewers were spoiled for choice throughout with blockbuster movies from the participating EU Member States. The German movie, The Last Execution, opened these open-air screenings on 23 October with Italian movie, There is Still Tomorrow, bringing down the curtain on the last day. Also featuring on the last day was a recent local production, Baka Ngwane – with a story relating to the very history of emaSwati as a nation.

Other movies included Comedy Queen from Sweden, Binti from Belgium, Small Country: An African Childhood from France and Superfurball from Finland.

The festival’s theme of “Inclusivity, Diversity and Human Rights”, offered a cinematic reflection on issues of human rights, cultural exchanges and collaborations, particularly in local creative industry.

The program of the festival was supplemented by workshops as well as music performances.

EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, in his closing remarks, emphasised the importance of art and culture. He also expressed the hope that the festival could help promote film culture in Eswatini and give an impulse to the film industry in the Kingdom, thus contributing to youth empowerment and job creation.

Minister Nzima, in his keynote speech at the closure of the festival, appreciated the EU’s support to the country’s creative industry through the film festival, as well as through many other activities.