Europa Film Festivals (EFF)
Peripheral Visions
Europa Film Festivals – History
Europa Film Festivals is a network of European Film Festivals which seeks to stimulate and encourage the development of film festivals in Europe. The EFF network originated from a Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture programme project and first met at a conference during the 2017 Galway Film Fleadh. The network will provide a formalised system for sharing information, strategies and culture amongst festivals and will represent a strong voice in Europe. Its primary purpose is to shape, develop, reach and agree common positions and perspectives on key issues. In doing so, the network will be able to develop resources, business models, best practices and information exchange infrastructures to support members in the emerging film ecosystem.
Europa Film Festivals
Alexis Juncosa (Chair Person)- Luxembourg City Film Festival, Luxembourg
Miriam Allen – Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland
Alejandro Díaz Castaño – Gijon International Film Festival, Spain
Hester Terpstra– Noordelijk Film Festival, The Netherlands
Kathrin Kohlstedde – Filmfest Hamburg, Germany
Andy Dimopoulou – Athens International Film Festival, Greece
Anais Emery – Geneva International Film Festival, Switzerland
Guilhem Caillard – Festival de Films CINEMANIA, Montreal, Canada
Milja Mikkola – Midnight Sun Film Festival, Finland
Carolina Salas – Stockfish Film Festival, Iceland
Europa Film Festivals & Europa International
at the Luxembourg City Film Festival March 2020
Luxembourg City Film Festival Alexis Juncosa Luxembourg City Film Festival
From 4th to 14th March 2021, Luxembourg City Film Festival will celebrate its 11th edition. Since its inception in 2011, Luxembourg City Film Festival has been committed to showcasing a vast panorama of contemporary cinema of undeniable artistic value, featuring fiction features, documentary films, a young audiences programme, a strand dedicated to Luxembourgish productions, and, since 2016, virtual reality experiences in a dedicated VR Pavillion In short, international ‘festival hits’ condensed into a packed programme of world and European premieres, exhibitions, workshops, masterclasses, special evening events, and even concerts. This eclectic mix proved successful in building a loyal following of local film aficionados and industry professionals. Lux Film Fest also managed to burst the ‘film bubble’ by exposing the general public to cinematic experiences that normally wouldn’t make their way to cinemas and offering them the chance to meet renowned international guests.
Miriam Allen Galway Film Fleadh
The Galway Film Fleadh CLG, hosts two annual film festivals. The first in July – a week long event that attracts local, national and international audiences; the second is the Junior Film Fleadh in November – aimed specifically at young people.The GFF, now in its 32nd year, is a multi-faceted film festival, with a two-fold purpose: to be a platform for quality international cinema, and an advocate for Irish national cinema for which the Fleadh’s identity is now synonymous. In addition, the Junior Film Fleadh caters for young people as a distinct cinema going audience offering an engaging and diverse programme reflecting their unique sensibilities. The GFF provides showcase opportunities, promoting the profile and status of filmmakers and artists while enhancing the appreciation of cultural cinema through an all-inclusive educational, entertaining and enjoyable festival.
Milja Mikkola Midnight Sun Film Festival
Founded in 1986 by Finland’s celebrated authors of cinema Aki and Mika Kaurismäki, the longest running feature film festival in Finland and the biggest cultural event in the northern region. Already the 35th edition, the festival presents an unique selection of European cinema from contemporary highlights to rediscoveries of classics with spellbinding guest line-up. Big names, discoveries of contemporary cinema, a high cultural diversity: a paradise for any film lover in an unexpected intimate landscape. An awakening of impressions, ideas and emotions. With its strong international appeal and regional importance MSFF plays a vital part in shaping the cultural landscape of northern Finland. For going beyond festival dates, MSFF widens its reach with significant all year round activities such as the ongoing cooperation with University of Arts in Helsinki which makes the festival program part of their educational curriculum and further develop the online platform with Finnish Broadcasting Company among other activities.
Alejandro Díaz Castaño The GIJÓN/XIXÓN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (FICX)
Gijón’s International Film Festival is a meeting point for independent cinema, maintaining its commitment to films that offer a personal and genuine character, most of which are not guaranteed visibility elsewhere. These films should be seen in Gijón, here and now, because they might not reach commercial theaters or online platforms. The films constitute alternative, surprising and human cinema that reveals and moves the viewer. Despite being more than 60 years old, FICX is an event conjugated in the present that looks to the future: In the face of quantity, quality; in the face of accumulation, filtration; in the face of depersonalization, proximity; in the face of competitiveness, collaboration and the implementation of specific actions with other events, in a clear commitment to sustainability in terms of format and resources. Beyond conventionalism, labels and debates on genres and narratives, Gijón’s Internacional Film Festival is once again committed to honest cinema that dives into yesterday and brings up today to rebuild tomorrow.
Kathrin Kohlstedde Filmfest Hamburg
Filmfest Hamburg is a film festival for the public, frequented by more than 40,000 cinema fans every year. Over the course of ten days in autumn, around 140 national and international feature films and documentaries are shown on eleven screens for their world premiere, European premiere or German premiere. In twelve permanent and annually changing sections the programme ranges from cinematically sophisticated arthouse films and innovative mainstream cinema to a colourful film and events programme for the youngest cinema visitors. As a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue, a large number of the films are presented in person by the film creators in Hamburg. Numerous events make Filmfest Hamburg an important meeting point for cinema enthusiasts and the film industry alike. Albert Wiederspiel has been the Festival Director since 2003.
Hester TerpstraNoordelijk Film Festival
Noordelijk Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in The Netherlands, existing over 40 years and taking place in the heart of Leeuwarden – capital of Friesland and European Capital of Culture in 2018. It’s an adventurous, exciting meeting place for film enthusiasts, filmmakers and stories from all over Europe. It honors it’s name (‘Noordelijk’ is Dutch for northern) by presenting a strong focus on a broad Northern-Europe. In five days, the festival screens a selection of mainly fiction films, documentaries, shorts and occasional retrospectives. It offers a platform and launch-pad for professional (regional) talent, students and even amateur filmmakers through screenings, competitions and meetings. Alongside the northern focus there is a range of smaller sidebar programmes, presenting interesting films from the rest of Europe as well as hosting international guests, live music, talk shows, The 48 Hour Film Project, exhibitions, film & food events, school screenings, great parties and a unique atmosphere.
Andy Dimopoulou Athens International Film Festival, Greece
The Athens International Film Festival Opening Nights, was founded by the Athens Film Society (a Non-Profit Organisation) with the intention of highlighting lesser-known aspects/genres of independent cinema, introducing audiences to some of the best productions of the year and establishing itself as the ideal opening of the upcoming movie season. The Festival was launched in September 1995 and continues successfully. According to a CINEMA magazine survey, the Festival audience roughly consists of 60.000 film-goers, who are interested in learning about the latest movie trends and viewing the most successful productions of the season before anyone else. Our goal is to present them with a handpicked selection of independent productions from all over the world.
Guilhem Caillard Festival de Films CINEMANIA, Montreal, Canada
The CINEMANIA festival was established in 1995 and has continued annually. The festival is dedicated soley to quality French language feature films emanating from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal and other French speaking regions. All films screened must beNorth American, Canadian or Quebec premieres and are all subtitled in English. The festival takes place every November during a period of 11 days opening on the first Thursday of the month. All films are mainly screened in the Imperial cinema, downtown Montreal and in Cinématheque Québécoise, Cinéma du parc and Théatre Outremont.
Anais Emery Geneva International Film Festival, Switzerland
Since its inception in 1995, Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) has been supporting the role of independent authors in creative processes. At the crossroads of genres and disciplines, a place to experiment, get together and celebrate, the Festival showcases a program featuring films, TV series and digital arts for ten days every year. It also devotes considerable attention to innovation, music and up-and-coming talent in its various programs. Located in the heart of the international city of Geneva, GIFF contributes to the development of the Swiss and international digital industry thanks to its professional program, the Geneva Digital Market, as well as its PLUGS program, which brings together a series of events organized each year in partnership with other international festivals, markets and institutions. Recognized as a strategic player in the development of audiovisual arts in Switzerland, GIFF has enjoyed the active support of the City and the State of Geneva, the Federal Office of Culture, SSR SRG, Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council, Swissperform as well as many private stakeholders.