EU Film Festival returns with European films & Namibian stories

The EU Film Festival is back in Windhoek from 20 October, with European films, 10 Namibian short films and a few new additions to the programme, including community screenings and training for local filmmakers.

The festival runs every Tuesday and Thursday until 19 November at the Goethe-Institut Namibia. Come along for a cocktail at 18:00, with screenings starting at 19:00.

Eight EU Member States are taking part this year: Finland, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Estonia and Poland. Ireland, the current EU Council Presidency, will open the festival with Mrs Robinson.

This year, Namibian films will also take their place alongside the European features. Ten local short films have been selected to open the screenings, giving audiences a chance to discover homegrown talent and filmmakers an opportunity to share their work with new audiences. The selection is part of a collaboration with the Namibia Film Commission and the Filmmakers’ Association of Namibia.

For Alexandre Baron, Head of Partnerships at the EU Delegation to Namibia, the festival is about bringing people together through film and making more room for local talent. “This year, we are changing things up a little. We are bringing European and Namibian cinema closer together, opening the festival to new audiences and putting more focus on the people and talent behind the films,” he said.

Tjiuna Daringo, Chairperson of the Filmmakers’ Association of Namibia, said the festival offers a chance to celebrate Namibian stories while connecting local filmmakers with the wider film industry.

The festival will also reach beyond its usual venue. A children’s screening will take place at the Goethe-Institut Namibia on 6 November, followed by community screenings at HISA Centre on 24 November and the College of the Arts (COTA) in Katutura on 26 November.

There is also something for those working behind the camera. From 9 to 13 November, the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) will host a five-day training programme on cinematic sound design and co-production. The programme is being organised with the Namibia Film Commission and Tallinn University’s Baltic Film, Media and Arts School, with support from Estonia.

The training is part of the festival’s wider effort to support local filmmakers and help develop skills in Namibia’s creative industry.

The EU Delegation thanks the Goethe-Institut Namibia and the FNCC for making their venues available free of charge, as well as the Namibia Film Commission, the Filmmakers’ Association of Namibia, community partners, participating EU Member States and festival project manager JAM EVENTS for helping make the festival happen.

Whether you are looking for a good film, want to discover Namibian talent or simply fancy an evening at the cinema, there is plenty to look forward to. Come along, bring a friend and discover a few new stories along the way.