EU Film Festival Returns to Hyderabad with a feast of 23 Award Winning European Movies

Hyderabad :  The European Union Film Festival starts in Hyderabad today, 1 July, 2016 with a premier of Film from The Netherlands “Michiel DeRuyter”. Organized by the Delegation of the European Union and embassies of EU Member States, the festival is being held in partnership with Hyderabad Film Club, Sri Sarathi Studios Preview Theatre & British Council in Hyderabad. The Festival will be inaugurated  today, 1stJuly at 6 pm at Sri Sarathi Studios Preview Theatre of Hyderabad by Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Secretary to Government of Telengana, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications Department in presence of other prominent guests – Mr. Parchuri Venkateswara Rao, Film Writer, Actor & Director; Mr. C. Kalyan, President, South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, Chennai;Mr. Thanikella Bharani, Film Writer, Actor & Director; Mr. Veerasankar, President, Telugu Film Directors Association; Ms. Ranjana Rudra,Head of British Council for Hyderabad& Telangana; Mr. P.S. Krishnamohan Reddy, Film Director &Secretary, Chitrapuri Colony; Mr. K.V. Rao, Director, Sri Sarathi Studios Pvt. Ltd& Advisor Hyderabad Film Club; Mr. Allani Sridhar, Film-maker & President, Hyderabad Film Club & Mr. Bh.S.S. Prakash Reddy, Secretary, Hyderabad Film Club

The European Union Film Festival will be hosted in Hyderabad across two venues – Sri Sarathi Studios Preview Theatre and British Council from 1stJuly to 10th July 2016.

In its 21st edition, the festival features 23 exceptional new and award winning European films from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.This year the festival will screen movies from varied genres ranging from the comedy of the absurd to gripping drama, unexpected romance and heart-stopping action.

Speaking about the success of the European Union Film Festival in India, H.E. Mr. Tomasz Kozlowski, Ambassador of the European Union, said: “Films have a universal appeal. The European Union Film Festival has won a special place in the Indian film calendar and in the hearts of viewers by showcasing the wry, the unexpected, the beautiful and even the tragic events of ordinary lives in unfamiliar settings.”

Mr. Bh.S.S.Prakash Reddy, Secretary of Hyderabad Film Club said “Delegation of European Union has bestowed great honour on us and this a great opportunity for Hyderabad Film Club & local  partners like Sri Sarathi Studios Preview Theatre and British Council to make this event a grand success for the film lovers from the twin cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad. He added the film lovers would be delighted to choose films of their choice from a bouquet of 23 international and award winning films.

The EU film festival 2016 brings to Hyderabad a selection of some of the finest and most riveting films coming out of Europe today. Highlights from the festival include the stories of a ten year old abandoned boy ‘Jack’ who picks up his six-year-old brother and finds his way to life on his own; a great soldier of Rome who is despised by his own people and forced to turn to his enemy to find acceptance and an out-of-work illusionist who has a life-changing experience when he meets a young woman in Scotland.

Inaugural Movie – MichieldeRuyter | Admiral

MichieL DeRuyter is an animated film from Netherlands directed by Mr. RoelReiné. This film revolves around a plot when the young republic of The Netherlands is attacked by England, France and Germany, and faces its own civil war no less, only one man, Michiel de Ruyter, can lead the county’s strongest weapon: the Dutch fleet.

This film is produced by Klaas de Jong in 2015 and has been nominated for few international awards including:

•     Nominated for Tiantian Award for Best Picture, Beijing International Film Festival 2015

•     Nominated for Audience Award, Hamburg Film Festival 2015

Entry at all the venues will be on a first come, first served basis. However, for the British movie ‘Coriolanus’ to be screened at the British Council, registration should be done by sending an email to Easwaran Nampoothiri at easwaran.nampoothiri@britishcouncil.org

The festival, having successfully concluded in Delhi, Chennai, Chandigarh & Mumbai, is currently running in, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad and will traverse further through Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Pune, & Jodhpur till August 14, 2016

Synopses of the movies can be found here:                                             http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/india/documents/euff2016_brochure.pdf

EUFF dates and venues in other cities will be announced on the website and Facebook pages of the EU Delegation in the coming days at:

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/india/more_info/euff_2016_en.htm

www.Facebook.com/EUinIndia

The films to be screened at the EUFF are –Austria – Jack; Belgium – Les Rayures du Zèbre (Scouting for Zebras); Cyprus – Block 12;Czech Republic -Three Brothers;Denmark – StilleHjerte(Silent Heart); Finland – Ollaanvapaita(Urban Family); France -  L’illusionniste(The Illusionist); Germany – Jack;Greece – Wild Duck; Hungary – Utóélet (Afterlife); Ireland – The Irish Rebellion; Italy – Michiamo Maya(My Name Is Maya); Latvia – Mother, I love you;Lithuania – Edeno Sodas (The Garden of Eden); Luxembourg – Dead Man Talking; Malta – Simshar; Netherlands – Michiel De Ruyter(Admiral); Portugal – Cats Don’t Have Vertigo; Slovakia – Rytmus – A Dream from the Block; Slovenia – Sailing to Paradise; Spain – Flamenco From The Roots; Sweden – Återtraffen(The Reunion);United Kingdom – Coriolanus.

Screening Schedule for Hyderabad

(1^st– 10^th July 2016)

1.       Mr. OskariSipola, Director of ‘Ollaanvapaita’ (Finland)

OskariSipola

“Urban Family is a musical, a drama, a comedy. Mixed genre films arenot that usual in Finland, but India is a place more than used to them.That’s why I couldn’t be more excited to have our film shown there.”

Director’s biography: Born March 10th 1984, OskariSipola has directed 18 short films and two feature films, as well as numerous TV episodes, music videos and commercials. He has graduated Master of Arts from the University of Arts and Design Helsinki, majoring in directing for film and television.

Director’s filmography:

Urban Family (2015), Male Behavior (short, 2011), August (2011), Yours the Rest of My Life (short, 2010), Our Little Brother (short, 2009), Wings and Teeth (short, 2009), Enemies Within (short, 2009), In Between (short, 2008), Extreme Men (short, 2007), Precious (short, 2007), Tomorrow (short, 2007), Separate (short, 2005), Miia (short, 2004), Her Name Would Be Kaisa (short, 2003), Boy From the Past (short, 2002), Saltwater (short, 2002), Let Me Be (short, 2001), Kaarlo’s Angels (short, 2001), Surfacing Angel (short, 2001), Misery Loves Company (short, 2000)

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2.       Mr. Miro Drobný Director of ‘Rytmus’ (Slovakia)

Even though the musical film is the story about the most famous Central European rapper Rytmus, the film is as universal and

Miro Drobný

versatile that people in any country can identify with it. Love, family, dreams or forgiveness are the messages a viewer in Slovakia, anywhere in Europe or in India will understand. The film was also filmed in New Delhi so I am pleased that the European Film Festival 2016 made it possible for the Indian viewers to see it. I believe it can bring thought provoking and inspiring information

Director’s Biography

Director, screenwriter and producer Miro Drobný works mostly with children and film production. His most successful project is the animated series Sheeplive broadcast in 26 countries. He is the author of original literary scenarios, several projects and books focusing on children and youth. He has authored several educational and travel series for Slovak television channels. Documentary film RYTMUS A Dream from the Block is his film debut. The film became the top box office movie both in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, ranking it amongst the most successful films of the last decades.