
Subscribe & Follow
Jobs
- Junior Colourist and Online Video Editor Johannesburg
- Producer / Account Manager Cape Town
European Film Festival 2021 goes virtual again

A selection of 18 films from Europe, 13 of which have been directed by women, will be screened free of charge, providing a window onto what is fresh and new in the film industries of the respective countries. Four new participants – the Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland and Ukraine – will complement those from last year: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, along with the return of Portugal.
This is reflected in the theme of this year’s festival, Healing Journeys. Healing – be it mental, physical, spiritual or societal – is vital to the human condition, to our humanity, to our existence. This applies in both South Africa and in Europe, where despite our different contexts and histories, there exists common experience and a mutual need for healing.
The films on show will present, through the lenses of European filmmakers, a snapshot of experiences of re-establishing oneself after sometimes traumatic and possibly cathartic experiences. They deal with journeys that include organic growth, transition, and processes of self-discovery. Many include a healthy dose of humour, bringing some possibly much-needed laughter into our lives. Much of the humour is of a more cerebral nature … films that make you smile and think at the same time.
Essentially, these films present stories of hope, humanity and thought-provoking intrigue, showcasing new work by some of Europe’s most accomplished filmmakers alongside exciting new talent.
“We are deep into our second year of confronting the threat of Covid-19, both in terms of our lives and our livelihoods. It has been difficult … everyone is affected. This year’s European Film Festival has been inspired by overcoming difficulty and challenge. Its theme, Healing Journeys, seems rather appropriate for our times. I take this opportunity to invite you – irrespective of whether you are a repeat or a first-time viewer –to join us on this year’s exciting cinematic, and healing, journey,” says EU Ambassador Riina Kionka.
For more, go to www.eurofilmfest.co.za.
Related
Fame Shorts Film Festival calls for submissions for 2025 edition 18 Feb 2025 Ernest Cole – Lost and Found to open 2025 Joburg Film Festival 11 Feb 2025 Keith Shiri appointed lead curator of Film Africa 2024 9 Oct 2024 Your guide to October's film releases and European Film Festival 1 Oct 2024 11th European Film Festival lineup revealed 19 Sep 2024 Joburg Film Festival 2025 dates set, opens call for submissions 12 Sep 2024
