Europe on Screen Film Festival 2024 Officially Begins

75 Latest Films from 28 European Countries to be Screened Over 10 Days

The 24th EU Film Festival “Europe on Screen (EOS) 2024” officially begins today (7/6) at GoetheHaus, Jakarta. The opening ceremony of EOS 2024 was graced by H.E. Denis Chaibi, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Fabien Penone, the French Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr Ingo Schöningh, the Head of Cultural Programmes at Goethe Institut for Southeast Asia, Marlina Machfud, Film Specialist of the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, as well as Meninaputri Wismurti and Nauval Yazid the Festival Co-Directors of EOS 2024.

EOS 2024 is being held for 10 days starting on 7 June until 16 June 2024 in eight cities across Indonesia: Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Malang, Medan, Sidoarjo, Surabaya and Yogyakarta. Film enthusiasts can enjoy the screening of 75 films from 28 European countries, free of charge.

H.E. Denis Chaibi, the EU Ambassador to Indonesia, said: “The 24th edition of Europe on Screen attests the growing enthusiasm of the Indonesian public for European films. We take great pride on the quality and variety of films showcased in this year’s Festival: from award winning feature length films to exciting short animations and thought-provoking documentaries made by emerging film talents as well as established masters of European cinema.”

“There is a widening interest from young people in Indonesia in filmmaking. This is why with the Europe on Screen Film Festival, we have also gone one step further, which is to foster dialogue. We want European and Indonesian filmmakers to inspire each other; and with Europe on Screen, we can facilitate opportunities for cooperation, creativity and diversity,” added Ambassador Chaibi.

Chicken for Linda!, a French animated film by Sébastien Laudenbach and Chiara Malta, was the EOS 2024 opening film. It tells the story of a mother's effort to fulfil her child's request for a meal that reminds her of her late father. The animated comedy film won Best Feature at the 2023 Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Meilleur film d'animation at the 2023 César Awards.

“We are delighted that Chicken for Linda! has been selected as the opening film for EOS 2024. This outstanding French animated film from 2023 perfectly showcases how European films with their unique and humorous stories can be enjoyed by Indonesian audiences of all ages,” said H.E. Fabien Penone, the French Ambassador to Indonesia.

In addition to screening the latest European films, EOS 2024 welcomes festival guest Eamon Little, an Irish screenwriter of the film That They May Face the Rising Sun. Mr Little will present a workshop explaining the world of screenwriting. He will also hold three Q&A sessions after the screening of his films. A number of European film directors will participate virtually in the “EOS 2024 Film Talk: IGLive” to discuss their films that are screened in the festival.

Meninaputri Wismurti, the Festival Co-Director of EOS 2024, said: “One of the fun parts in attending a film festival is getting to meet the filmmakers. We always try to bring the people behind the films we screen at Europe on Screen, so that the audience can chat with them in-person or online. By doing so, we could exchange information or gain new knowledge about the international film industry.”

Another programme of EOS that has gained a lot of support from the public and film enthusiasts is the Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP), which is entering its seventh edition this year. Regarding SFPP, Marlina Machfud, Film Specialist of the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology who is also one of the jury members of EOS 2024 SFPP, said, “I am proud to support EOS 2024 who has created a platform for Indonesian young filmmakers with its Short Film Pitching Project, which important in creating and sustaining new generations of Indonesian filmmakers. Besides that, as a fan of European films, EOS has become an important film festival in Indonesia that focuses on screening rare and unique films from Europe which never meet audiences in our local cinemas.”

EOS 2024 will also screen three short films which won last year’s EOS SFPP competition. The premiere of the three winning films will be held at GoetheHaus on Sunday, 9 June 2024 at 14.00 WIB, free of charge. These films are:

• Tinah Buys Cigarette directed by Gugun Arief from Banyuwangi
• Firman Firman directed by Kurnia Alexander from Jakarta
• How to be a Man directed by William K from Tangerang

“Many film enthusiasts are looking forward to the screening of the three short winning films of the EOS 2023 SFPP. The journey of the winners has just begun and will not stop here. They are inspired to follow in the footsteps of previous EOS SFPP winners whose films are successfully screened in various short film festivals in Indonesia and other countries,” said Nauval Yazid, the Festival Co-Director of EOS 2024.

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