European Film Festival Returns to TT in May
Port of Spain-April 26, 2022: For the 26th year in a row, the European Union missions in Trinidad and Tobago – the Embassies of France, Germany, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union Delegation – will host the European Film Festival (EFF). This year’s event features 15 films from countries across Europe. Apart from the usual Spanish, Dutch, German and French selections, this year’s Festival will also feature films from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ireland, Italy and Malta. The Film Festival begins on May 1 and will run until May 31. Films will be streamed via the FestivalScope platform, with some also available via the website of the Embassy of Spain. Access to all the films will be free of charge to the TT viewing public.
The European Film Festival is the oldest film festival in Trinidad and Tobago, and is the cultural highlight of the EU calendar. The films to be featured in EFF 2022 will cover a number of genres and themes, all serving to offer a peek into the lives and the culture of the people of Europe. Issues such as LGBTI rights and discrimination, migration and climate change/environmental protection are among the themes explored.
The Dutch miniseries, ‘The Swell’, for example, which drew millions of viewers when it was shown in Europe, will be screened as a 3-part film. The series, described as ‘a gripping contemporary story,’ explores what happens when the national flood defences of The Netherlands and Belgium start to collapse because of a violent storm. It explores the disastrous consequences of flooding and how people must cope with rebuilding not just their individual lives, but also their entire countries as well. This severe flooding, in essence, reflects what could occur in small island developing states like Trinidad and Tobago if storms and rising sea levels caused by global warming were to occur. This film is a ‘must-see’ for the Festival.
A welcome addition to the EFF for 2022, after two years of absence, is the return of movies for language students now that schools have fully reopened. In Festivals past, these screenings at MovieTowne were always a popular feature. This year, however, the film will be offered online instead of at the movie theatre. Spanish language students can enjoy ‘Campeones’ or Champions. This is a hilarious, yet touching film about a coach working with a group of mentally disabled students. This film will be accessible from the website of the Embassy of Spain.
Festival fans can also look forward to the return of in-person screenings, as the Spanish film, ‘Mamá Cumple 100 Años’ will be shown at the NALIS Amphitheatre on May 27th. The screening is free and open to the public. Ticket information will be available on the website of the Embassy of Spain.
More information about EFF 2022, the films to be featured as well as the streaming links, can be accessed from the Facebook and Instagram pages of the Festival.