European Film Festival Returns to Addis Ababa after 2-year Hiatus 

ADDIS ABABA –  The annual European Film Festival is set to return to Addis Ababa after a two year absence due to the global COVID-pandemic.

The film festival, a part of the Europe Day celebration activities, will be held during the next three consecutive weekends, beginning this Saturday, the European Union delegation in Ethiopia said today.

The ‘Europe Day’ is marked on 9th of May annually. 

The date marks the anniversary of the signing of the ‘Schuman Declaration’ on 9 May 1950, that set out the plan to secure long-term peace in post-war Europe and begin the past to what is now the European Union. The EU celebrated its 72nd anniversary this year. 

As in the previous years, the EU Delegation to Ethiopia and to the African Union are organizing a series of activities to mark 9 May Europe Day 2022. 

The activities include the 20th edition of the European Film Festival.  

The films will be shown at VAMDAS Entertainment Movie Theater free of charge at a first-come-first-serve-basis – except for the opening night on Friday.

This year’s festival showcases 18 prime movies selected by the following participating European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.  

“The broad selection of movies portrays Europe’s diversity in arts, culture and history, always in connection to the wider world,” said the Delegation. 

The French Film “the Big Win” will be screened on the opening night and a movie entitled ‘Beyond – an African Surf Documentary’ will conclude the festival on May 22. 

Apart from European movies, the festival plans to show selected short movies by Ethiopian graduates from the Degree Program on cinema at Addis Abeba University before the main feature films.

All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles.