The much-anticipated 29th European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is set to bring a captivating lineup of 26 European films to New Delhi, kicking off on November 7 and running until November 16, 2024.

This year, the festival will launch with ‘La Chimera’, a charming blend of fantasy and comedy directed by Alice Rohrwacher.

The film, which competed for the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, explores themes of lost love, relationships, life, and death, following a lovelorn Englishman on his whimsical adventures with a gang of treasure hunters. In attendance will be lead actress Yile Yara Vianello, who is traveling to India for the opening night.

Director Alice Rohrwacher shared insights into the story’s inspirations, saying, “The proximity of sacred and profane, of death and life, that characterized the years in which I was growing up has always fascinated me. This layered story is my way of exploring the question of what we should do with our past.” This film completes Rohrwacher’s trilogy, a journey into Italy’s cultural heritage and modern life, creating a poignant commentary on the power of the past to shape the present.

The festival, organized by the European Union in collaboration with member states and regional partners, aims to deepen cross-cultural bonds between Europe and India. EUFF 2024 showcases the diverse cinematic styles of European countries, offering Indian audiences a “Window to Europe.” With films spanning themes from complex human relationships to gender identity and self-discovery, the festival embodies EU’s commitment to cross-cultural exchange and diplomatic outreach through storytelling.

The festival will take place across three iconic venues in New Delhi—India Habitat Centre, Instituto Cervantes, and Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan. The curated lineup includes acclaimed films such as:
• What a Feeling (Austria)
• Employee of the Month (Belgium)
• Because I Love Bad Weather (Bulgaria)
• Stairway To Heaven (Estonia)
• Death is a Problem for the Living (Finland)
• Jim’s Story (France)
• Black Velvet (Latvia)
• Without Air (Hungary)
The films will screen in 31 different languages, with all screenings featuring English subtitles. Each screening will be on a first-come, first-served basis, though some films carry an 18+ rating due to mature content.

EUFF celebrates the growing diplomatic ties between India and the European Union by showcasing cultural nuances and shared values. As an immersive cinematic experience, EUFF 2024 goes beyond entertainment to foster cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. The festival marks the India premieres of several films, including ‘Blood on the Crown’ (Malta), ‘The Last Ashes’ (Luxembourg), and ‘The Man Without Guilt’ (Slovenia), offering fresh perspectives from European filmmakers.

A mix of established directors and new voices, the festival includes films like:
• An Irish Goodbye (Ireland)
• Animal (Greece)
• Horia (Romania)
• Dangerous Men (Poland)
• UFO Sweden (Sweden)
EUFF 2024 offers Indian audiences a cinematic journey across Europe, diving into films that explore universal human themes through the unique perspectives of European filmmakers.