20th edition of European Union Film Festival launches in KL

17 Oct – Following the launch ceremony held yesterday evening, the 20th edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) is now officially running in Malaysia throughout this October until early November.

"19 very good journeys through Europe," H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia, said of the 19 titles that are showing at the film festival.

In her speech during the launch, H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez expressed hopes that the films of EUFF will stir audiences' feelings and continue to strengthen unity in diversity, as the films are "about people, about all of us, about being together to try and understand each other better."

The opening film for this year's EUFF is a good example of her words as Romanian film "Beside Me" is all about strangers forming a closer bond and having a better understanding of each other, once they begin interacting and communicating.

Meanwhile, GSC CEO Ms. Koh Mei Lee said in her welcome speech, "It's not every day that we want to enjoy Hollywood, Marvel, superheroes and Rambo movies."

"At GSC, we've always been passionate about showing relatable movies that have more heart, which help further our insights and understanding of the world and its people," she continued, adding that this is why GSC continues supporting film festivals in Malaysia, bringing in seven in total this year alone.

With EUFF 2019 being the fifth in line, there are two more film festivals for cinephiles in Malaysia to look forward to this year.

Among the 19 films for this year, six are screened for free: "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).

Tickets for the other EUFF titles are sold at RM9 each (normal seats), while the tickets for "Invisibles" are sold at prevailing GSC prices.

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 continuing support from Cinema Online as its local partner.

After finishing its run at GSC Mid Valley, GSC Pavilion KL, and GSC 1 Utama from 17 to 27 October, EUFF 2019 will head on North to Penang's GSC Gurney Plaza from 31 October to 6 November.