European Union's Film Festival

 List: Cine Europa's 2025 film lineup

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte 

The Delegation of the European Union of the Philippines formally launched the 2025 Cine Europa through a media briefing at the Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet cineplex in Mandaluyong City. This is the 28th edition of the delegation's annual film festival that was shortly interrupted by the global pandemic.

Since its inception, Cine Europa screened critically-acclaimed films that showed audiences the European way of life, its perspectives, and aspirations; with some culled from real people and historical events. 

The 2024 Romanian film "Three Kilometers to the End of the World," was previewed during the media launch. Emanuel Pârvu's family drama dissected LGBTQIA+ issues and religious dogma from a very conservative standpoint. This multi-awarded Slovenian film debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival.

This year's lineup of film entries are:

- Family Therapy (Slovenia)

- Sea of Hope (Czech Republic)

- Fathers & Mothers (Denmark)

- "Four Souls of Coyote (Hungary)

- The Peasants (Poland)

- Je'Vida (Finland)

- Nova & Alice (Sweden)

- Three Kilometers to the End of the World (Romania)

- Animal (Greece)

- Chiara Lubich (Italy)

- Curated Thief (Ukraine)

- Dragonkeeper: Guardiana de Dragones (Spain)

- Tarrac (Ireland)

- Jippie No More (Netherlands)

- Beyond the Blue Border (Germany)

- A Real Job (Un Metier Serieux) and

Just the Two of Us (L'Amour et les Forêts ) - France

"Only 16 of the 27 member states of the European Union have entries, except for France which has two. The other 11 members have no diplomatic offices in the Philippines. For instance, Portugal has a bustling movie industry but could not show their movies with us in the festival because they don't have an embassy here in the Philippines," explained Robert Leon, information officer of the European Union Delegation.

"Slovenia joined the festival last year. Our entry this year, "Family Therapy," is a cross European co-production between Italy, Croatia, Norway, and Serbia, with a Slovenian directing the movie. This movie took seven years to write, based on the experience of the director. It will be the opening film for the Cebu screenings," shared Dragan Barbutouski, deputy head of mission for the Embassy of Slovenia.

The 28th Cine Europa Film Festival will unfold at the Shang Mall Red Carpet cineplex from September 8 to 17. The Cebu leg runs from September 13 to 16. Check the Cine Europa social media pages for screening schedules (date/time).