EUROPEAN UNION FILM FESTIVAL TURNS 30

The Canadian Film Institute (CFI), the Delegation of the European Union to Canada and the Embassies of EU Member States are proud to present the 30th annual European Film Festival (EUFF). The festival gets underway on November 20th and runs through December 10th at the ByTowne Cinema.

For the first time in its three-decade history, the EUFF will feature films from each and every European Union Member State: all 28 countries are participating, including the EUFF debut from Malta. It is also the first time the festival will be held at the historic ByTowne Cinema.

“For three decades, the film festival has offered an opportunity for moviegoers to experience the European way of life through a unique collection of dramas, documentaries and comedies,” said European Union Ambassador Marie-Anne Coninsx. “We have successfully built a European cinema tradition in Ottawa thanks to our colleagues at the Diplomatic Missions of EU Member States, our friends at the Canadian Film Institute and our loyal Canadian audience.”

The EUFF kicks off with the screening of Luxembourg’s edgy, contemporary coming-of-age film, BABY(A)LONE, on Friday November 20th at 7:00PM.

Special guest filmmakers coming to Ottawa for the EUFF to present their work this year include Luxembourgish director Donato Rotunno (BABY(A)LONE), Italian director Andrea Jublin (BANANA) and Austrian producer Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu (FEVER). All films are Ottawa premieres.

Each screening will take place at the ByTowne Cinema, located at 325 Rideau Street in Ottawa. All tickets and passes are available at the box office every night of the festival. Admission is $13 for the general public and $9 for CFI members and seniors. Discounted prices are also available to ByTowne Members. Beer and wine will be sold before each film.

“This year’s EUFF is particularly exciting for us,” said Tom McSorely, Executive Director of the Canadian Film Institute. “Not only is it the 30th anniversary, but it is the first year that we have all 28 EU countries participating, and to top it all off, the first year it will take place at the ByTowne Cinema – all in CFI’s 80th year. We have a great selection of films from the best of European Cinema. We’re also thrilled to have three European guest filmmakers attending from Italy, Luxembourg and Austria. We’re so happy to see Europe represented in so many ways this year. ”

For complete line-up and for more information, visit EUFF.CA or CFI-ICF.CA The Canadian Film Institute (CFI) was incorporated in 1935 as a federally-chartered, nongovernmental, non-profit cultural organization. It is the oldest film institution in Canada and the second oldest film institute in the world. More information can be found online at CFI-ICF.CA

Established in 1976, the European Union Delegation to Canada is a fully-fledged diplomatic mission with a public diplomacy mandate designed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the European Union as well as EU-Canada relations. Its Ambassador represents the European Union in Canada.