The European Union Film Festival 2025 returns to India with its landmark 30th edition, offering cinema enthusiasts an extraordinary opportunity to experience the finest of European storytelling. This year’s festival celebrates three decades of cinematic collaboration between Europe and India, presenting 28 acclaimed films from all European Union member states and Ukraine. The festival will commence in New Delhi on October 31, 2025, and continue through November 9 before travelling to Bengaluru and Hyderabad, bringing diverse narratives and cultural perspectives to audiences across these major Indian metropolitan cities.
Also Read: European Union Film Festival 2025
Other: Trump Modi Friendship
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India in collaboration with embassies of EU member states and regional partners, the European Union Film Festival 2025 represents more than just a cinematic showcase. It stands as a testament to the enduring cultural bonds between two of the world’s largest film-producing regions, fostering dialogue, understanding, and artistic appreciation through the universal language of cinema.
Comprehensive Film Selection Spanning 28 Nations
The European Union Film Festival 2025 presents an exceptional lineup featuring one film from each EU member state and Ukraine, totalling 28 distinctive cinematic experiences. Each film has been carefully selected to represent the unique cultural voice and storytelling tradition of its country, offering Indian audiences a comprehensive window into contemporary European society, values, and artistic expression.
The diverse program includes Finland’s “The Missile,” a darkly comic portrait of small-town life; Germany’s “Dying,” an intimate exploration of mortality; Denmark’s “Matters of the Heart,” which delves into family trauma and reconciliation; and Austria’s “Happy,” a moving story about an undocumented Indian father fighting for his daughter’s future. Belgium contributes “Julie Keeps Quiet,” examining systemic abuse in sports, while Bulgaria presents “The Trap,” a rural morality tale that challenges conventional wisdom.
Croatian entry “Pelican” offers a heartfelt comic journey of self-discovery, and the Czech Republic’s “The Waves” transports viewers to the Prague Spring of 1968 through a gripping historical thriller. Estonia’s “Lioness” unfolds as a tense mother-daughter thriller, while France’s “Holy Cow” tells a powerful Alpine story of courage and independence. Greece’s “Behind the Haystacks” examines faith, debt, and generational conflict through poignant family drama, showcasing the thematic depth that defines the European Union Film Festival 2025.
Premier Venues Enhancing the Festival Experience
In New Delhi, the European Union Film Festival 2025 will be held across four prestigious cultural venues, each contributing to the festival’s sophisticated atmosphere. The India Habitat Centre, known for hosting significant cultural events, will serve as one primary location. Instituto Cervantes, celebrating the Spanish language and culture, provides another venue for film screenings. The Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, representing German cultural exchange, offers excellent screening facilities, while the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre completes the quartet of venues, ensuring audiences experience these European films in settings that reflect the cultural richness the festival represents.
All films at the European Union Film Festival 2025 will be screened with English subtitles, making them accessible to diverse audiences. Entry operates on a first-come, first-served basis, encouraging film enthusiasts to arrive early for their preferred screenings. Some titles carry an 18+ rating, reflecting the mature themes and artistic integrity that characterise contemporary European cinema.
Celebrating Indo-European Cultural Collaboration
Ambassador Hervé Delphin of the European Union to India emphasised the festival’s significance, stating that the European Union Film Festival 2025 marks a truly special milestone celebrating 30 years of cultural exchange, creativity, and dialogue between Europe and India through cinema. He highlighted that films have always been powerful unifiers, and recent years have witnessed deepening collaborations between Indian and European filmmakers, bringing together diverse perspectives through co-productions.
The ambassador noted that Europe and India, as two of the world’s largest film industries, share rich cinematic traditions and a long history of collaboration and cross-fertilisation. The European Union Film Festival 2025 serves as more than just a showcase—it represents an invitation for audiences to engage with cinema that is thought-provoking, inspiring, and deeply human, celebrating creativity, diversity, and the timeless power of storytelling to connect people across borders.
Curator’s Vision for Bold Storytelling
Curator’s Vision for Bold StorytellingArtur Zaborski, the festival curator for the European Union Film Festival 2025, described this year’s selection as both bold and deeply moving. He characterised the program as a celebration of courage, imagination, and joy—a tribute to the resilience and creativity that define contemporary Europe. According to Zaborski, these films cross borders and generations, weaving together stories of identity, love, hope, and defiance.
The curator emphasised that even in turbulent times, people continue to dream, create, and find beauty in everyday moments. Each screening at the European Union Film Festival 2025 invites audiences to see Europe not merely as a continent but as a living mosaic of emotions, struggles, and triumphs. The program radiates both strength and tenderness, exploring the joy of being human in all its complexity. Zaborski believes audiences will leave inspired, moved, and uplifted, reminded of cinema’s extraordinary power to connect through empathy, laughter, and wonder.
Additional Featured Films and Diverse Narratives
The European Union Film Festival 2025 continues with remarkable entries from across the continent. Hungary presents “Three Thousand Numbered Pieces,” while Ireland offers “That They May Face the Rising Sun.” Latvia contributes “Soviet Milk,” exploring historical trauma, and Lithuania brings “Tasty” to screens. Luxembourg’s “Breathing Underwater” examines resilience, while Malta presents “Castillo,” and the Netherlands offers “Memory Lane.”
Poland’s entry, “It’s Not My Film,” provides meta-commentary on filmmaking itself, and Portugal contributes “Bad Living,” examining contemporary social challenges. Romania presents “Three Kilometres to the End of the World,” while Slovakia offers “The Hungarian Dressmaker,” a period piece rich in cultural detail. Slovenia’s “Family Therapy” explores intimate relationships, Spain contributes “Ei 47,” and Sweden presents “The Swedish Torpedo.” Ukraine rounds out the program with “Oxygen Station,” adding vital contemporary Eastern European perspectives to the European Union Film Festival 2025.
Access and Festival Information
The European Union Film Festival 2025 operates with free entry on a first-come, first-served basis, democratizing access to these acclaimed international films. After the Delhi screenings conclude on November 9, 2025, the festival will travel to Bengaluru and Hyderabad, though specific dates for these cities have not yet been announced. This touring format ensures that film enthusiasts across multiple Indian cities can experience European cinema’s richness and diversity.
The festival offers Indian audiences a rare opportunity to experience Europe’s most celebrated films on the big screen, as it remains one of the few festivals in India dedicated exclusively to European cinema. The European Union Film Festival 2025 presents an award-winning selection exploring themes of resilience, hope, identity, and life’s celebration, reflecting the full spectrum of human experience through masterful cinematic storytelling.
Conclusion: A Window to Europe
Conclusion: A Window to EuropeThe European Union Film Festival 2025 represents far more than a series of film screenings—it embodies three decades of sustained cultural dialogue between India and Europe. Through 28 carefully curated films representing distinct national voices and artistic visions, the festival creates bridges of understanding and appreciation. As audiences in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad engage with these powerful narratives, they participate in a continuing tradition of cultural exchange that enriches both regions, demonstrating cinema’s unparalleled ability to transcend geographical boundaries and create meaningful human connections.
