1 Oct – With 19 award-winning movies for its 2019 edition, the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is set to return to Malaysia starting from this October. This year marks the film festival's 20th anniversary in the country, having been showcasing the best of European cinema to Malaysian audiences since its first edition in 2000. Like previous years, the 20th edition will be bringing animation, drama, romance, comedy, adventure, family films and documentaries to the big screen in Malaysia, the wide ranging programme a testament to Europe's continued creativity and diversity. "Europe has never been just one, but many cultures, languages and lifestyles. Through EUFF, we celebrate our cultural diversity. We put culture at the centre of our international partnerships around the world, including with Malaysia," said H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia, at the press conference held at GSC Mid Valley earlier today. She added that they hope the movies will not only entertain, inspire and teach local audience about European Culture but also open people's eyes to how both European and Malaysian people enjoy cultural diversity. The movie list for EUFF 2019 is comprised of titles from 15 European countries as well as non-European Union countries Switzerland and Norway. Most of the movies are joint-productions between European countries and many are courtesy of a project by the European Commission managed by a Consortium formed by Goethe-Institut (lead), Institut Français and Cineuropa, the portal for the promotion of the European cinema. Mr. Matthias Vanheusden (Charge d'Affaires a.i, Embassy of Belgium to Malaysia), H.E. Mr. Kreso Glavac (Ambassador of Croatia to Malaysia), H.E. Mr. Frederic Laplanche (Ambassador of France to Malaysia), H.E. Mrs. Gunn Jorid Roset (Ambassador of Norway to Malaysia), and Mr. Maciej Tumulec (Charge d'Affaires a.i, Embassy of Poland to Malaysia) were all present this morning to introduce their respective country's selection for this year.
Mr. Maciej Tumulec said that he was proud that yet another Polish movie has been selected as the opening film, alluding to the fact that "Jack Strong" will be screened at the film festival's launching ceremony in Penang this month's end. Last year, the country's "Loving Vincent" was the opening film for the launch in Kuala Lumpur. Opening the film festival this year at the Kuala Lumpur launching ceremony will be Romania's "Beside Me", directed by the first Romanian disabled filmmaker, Tedy Necula. Meanwhile, France's "Invisibles" ("Les Invisibles") was screened at this morning's press conference. Based on a documentary, the feature film tells of a group of social workers who are doing everything they can to help the women from a homeless shelter integrate back into society. Ticket sales for EUFF 2019 will begin this 10 October. The tickets for "Invisibles" are sold at prevailing GSC prices, while tickets for the other EUFF titles are sold at RM9 each (normal seats). However, six movies, namely "Lada Kamenski" (Croatia), "Winter Flies" (Czech Republic), "Ailo's Journey" (Finland), "The Romantic Exiles" (Spain), "Don't Stop Me Now" (Italy), and "As Needed" (Italy), will be screened for free. Coupons for the free screenings can be downloaded or screenshot from www.euff.com.my and redeemed at the participating GSC ticketing counters on a first-come, first-served basis. EUFF 2019 is organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia, in collaboration with the embassies and cultural institutions of 13 European Union Member States, and Norway and Switzerland, with support from Cinema Online as its local partner once again. EUFF 2019 will kick off in Kuala Lumpur from 17 to 27 October, at GSC Mid Valley, GSC Pavilion KL, and GSC 1 Utama. It will then head to Penang's GSC Gurney Plaza from 31 October to 6 November. Get movie showtimes and more info on the European Union Film Festival 2019 right HERE.