Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The European Film Festival returns to the UAE, with screenings from May 18 to 24 at Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation and, for the first time, in Ras Al Khaimah.
The festival is organised by the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE, in partnership with the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah Art, and with the participation of the EU Member States Embassies and Cultural Institutes.
The festival invites audiences to explore Europe through film, presenting a curated selection of titles ranging from award-winning productions to emerging voices in European cinema.
The programme highlights the richness and diversity of Europe’s film industry, and is accompanied by a selection of Emirati short films.
Gloria (Italy) In 1800, at a girls’ school in Venice, isolated and supposedly mute domestic servant Teresa discovers the joy that music can bring, teaming up with a group of talented girls.
Guardians of the Mountains (UAE) Set in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah, the film follows the Hebsi, Shehi, and other tribes whose traditions, from stone homes to the Nadba call, have endured for centuries. It reveals civilisation not as cities or monuments, but as the stories, rituals and bonds carried across generations.
Namoos (UAE) traces an Emirati woman’s first competitive camel race through fragments of memory and motion.
Unsaid (UAE) Two childhood friends meet seemingly to catch up, but one of them is carrying a secret that changed the other’s life in ways he never knew.
A Real Job (France) Benjamin, a PhD student in need of money and under the pressure of his parents, becomes a substitute teacher in a middle school. Without any experience and faced with a weakened institution, he discovers the difficulties of the profession.
Elvis Starling (Slovenia) Elvis, 14, misunderstood by the world, swears by comics, chemistry and Hana, the most beautiful girl in school. His life changes completely when his parents divorce.
Plastic Fantastic (Germany) The global plastic crisis is dismantled and reassembled in a well-researched film that not only points to the problems, but also to possible solutions. Probably the most important climate film of the year, with an attentive eye on greenwashing and climate racism.
The Village next to Paradise (Austria) A newly formed family confronts challenges while pursuing individual goals and facing the intricacies of modern life, relying on love, trust and resilience to guide them.
Close Your Eyes (Spain) A famous Spanish actor, Julio Arenas, disappears while filming a movie. Although his body is never found, the police conclude that he has suffered an accident at a cliff by the sea. Many years later, the mystery is brought up once more by a TV programme that tries to evoke the actor, offering as a scoop, images of the last scenes in which he participated, shot by his close friend, director Miguel Garay.
The Taste of Freedom (Ukraine) A young cook runs away to pursue her dream of becoming a chef at a prestigious restaurant in the city. Though when she stumbles upon a cookbook from 1929, authored by the legendary chef Olga Franko, her life takes an unexpected turn.
Kensuke’s Kingdom (Luxembourg) Young Michael, shipwrecked on a remote island, must adapt to life alone. Over time, he feels another presence, learning that this world is home to both unimaginable danger and beauty.
The Secret of Pin-Up Island (Romania) An AI-driven, cutting-edge therapy revolutionises depression treatment for women. Alesia’s subconscious embarks on a virtual journey where reality and fantasy intertwine, forcing her to confront past demons to reclaim her mental health.
Superpowers for your mind (Netherlands) Lev, an insecure boy, leads a dull life with annoying parents who restrict him. However, everything changes when his cool, rebellious grandma shows up at his doorstep and sweeps him away on an exciting adventure to discover his own superpowers.
Runner (Lithuania) Marija is on a frantic search for her boyfriend, cut loose during his latest psychotic episode. Armed with patience and love, she chases random clues through the city. A story of sacrifice and the achievement of total freedom.
The Theft of the Caravaggio (Malta) Orpheus wakes to discover a priceless Caravaggio painting stolen from St. John’s Cathedral in Valletta while under his watch. With the city on edge, a detective is brought in from Washington to aid the local police in solving the case.
Invincibles (Czechia) A passionate coach and manager drives the whole country crazy in an underrated sport during the World Para Ice Hockey Championship. With a consistently sold-out arena and fantastic atmosphere, emotions are everywhere.
Lakelands! (Ireland) After an attack on a night out, Cian, a young Gaelic footballer, struggles to comes to terms with a career-ending injury. Lakelands follows him as he undertakes a search for his own identity in a small town in the midlands, where football is a religion and identity is defined by what you can do on the pitch.
Stelios (Greece) Legendary Greek singer Stelios Kazantzidis, a Pontic refugee child who overcame challenges through talent and resilience, explores music, relationships, hardships and a devoted fanbase.
The Queen and the Smokehouse (Poland) As she confronts her health issues, Miecia, the owner of an iconic Polish smokehouse, comes face to face with the consequences of a lifetime devoted to work.
