EU Film Festival “Europe on Screen” returns with virtual lineup of 54 films and special events
EU Film Festival “Europe on Screen” returns with virtual lineup of 54 films and special events
The 21st edition of European Union (EU) Film Festival, Europe on Screen (EOS) returns in an online format on 15-27 September 2021 via festivalscope.com. This year, the festival will screen 54 films: 53 films from 25 European countries and 1 compilation of Indonesian short films from winners of the EOS Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP) 2020. All films can be streamed for free and accessible for audiences from all regions in Indonesia. In addition, prominent European filmmakers will join the festivities in the film talk events.
“Last year was the first Europe on Screen to go virtual and it was a great success in spite of the obstacles related to the pandemic. For the second year in a row, we will be hosting this year’s 21st edition virtually while preserving the quality of the festival with films and filmmakers aplenty. We are delighted and ready to showcase the best of European cinema to audiences all across Indonesia,” said Margus Solnson, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the EU Delegation to Indonesia.
“We are happy to see the enthusiasm towards the festival and the European films we bring are always on the rise, especially as we have shifted to being an online festival since last year,” said EOS Co-Festival Director Nauval Yazid, during the press conference, “This year, we also open opportunities for film students and for the public to participate and learn about the film industry through our Instagram Live session and workshops in the Road to EOS programmes,” added EOS Co-Festival Director Meninaputri Wismurti.
The festival will commence on 15 September 2021 with the opening film “Any Day Now” – a touching family drama from Finland – directed by Hamy Ramezan. It will conclude on 27 September 2021 with the closing film “We Are The Thousand” – a rousing musical documentary from Italy – directed by Anita Rivalori.
EOS continues to lend its support to the Indonesian film industry and the creation of the next generation of Indonesian filmmakers through its Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP), a programme that gives partial production funding for emerging filmmakers. The EOS SFPP, which started in 2018, has given birth to outstanding short films that have travelled to international and national film festivals. For SFPP 2021, entries to the competition had exceeded expectations and were submitted from various parts of Indonesia. During EOS 2021, a shortlist of eight SFPP entrants will be invited to pitch their short film ideas in front of a jury panel comprising local film professionals. Three winning projects will be awarded the partial production funds.
These are the eight shortlisted entries for SFPP 2021:
- Bibir Merah Siapa yang Punya, Pontianak
- Catch to Release, Jakarta
- Frikadeller, Bandung
- Irama Rama, Surabaya
- Mr Boulanger, Jakarta
- Potion 77, Jakarta
- Santa Koes, Tangerang Selatan
- What Ceti Does (Riwayat Ceti), Bogor
Whereas the three Indonesian film professionals serving as this year’s jury members are:
- Kamila Andini, director of “Sekala Niskala”, awarded Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury at the Berlinale International Film Festival in 2018
- Yosep Anggi Noen, director of “The Sciences of Fictions”, awarded Golden Leopard-Special Mention at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2019
- Edwin Nazir, producer of “The Science of Fictions” which was screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2020.
The pitching session will be open to the public and held on Friday, 24 September 2021 at 09.00 WIB.
“There are more opportunities to make film, from pitching forum, workshops and other newly developed means that are technology-friendly,” said Yosep Anggi Noen. “The challenge is to create a more relevant story and to elaborate diverse story telling in Indonesian short films,” he added.
Ahead of the festival, EOS has held a number of Instagram Live talks as part of “Road to EOS 2021” with Indonesian and European film practitioners sharing their experiences in the international film industry.
Upcoming workshops, scheduled as part of “Road to EOS 2021”, are:
- Monday-Tuesday, 6-7 September 2021 at 14.00 WIB
Acting Workshop with Vincent Riotta (supporting actor for “The Two Popes”, Barcelona Film Festival’s Best Actor winner and Premio Flaiano prestigious awards)
- Wednesday-Saturday, 8-11 September 2021 at 14.00 WIB.
Audio Visual Workshop with Alessandra Pastore (producer, educator, member of European Film Academy and speaker for Torino Film Lab in 2014, 2017, 2018)
- Wednesday-Saturday, 13-14 September 2021 at 14.00 WIB.
Film Editing Workshop with Cédric Zoenen (film editor for Albert Berger and “Valley of Souls”)