It usually takes place in the months of October or November, but this year the European Film Festival (EFF) will run from May 15-18 at MovieTowne Port-of-Spain and from May 22-28 in MovieTowne, Tobago.
There is a lineup of 27 films, many of which are award-winning titles by some of Europe’s top filmmakers.
EFF which showcases some of the latest movies coming out of Europe, is now in it’s 17th year. It is organised by the European Union (EU) Member States with diplomatic missions in T&T like France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, UK and the EU Delegation.
This year the UK is the coordinating mission of the EFF, and a number of the more highly anticipated films in the festival are British selections. One such is The Angels’ Share, directed by Ken Loach, one of Britain’s most acclaimed filmmakers. The film follows the fortunes of Robbie, a young offender from Glasgow who tries to turn his life around by getting involved in the whisky industry. A brilliantly judged blend of hard-hitting social realism and feel-good humour, The Angels’ Share won the jury prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Another film to look out for is the French comedy 2 Days in Paris. Written, directed by and starring Julie Delpy, it tells the story of a Frenchwoman on vacation in the city of love with her American boyfriend and the decidedly unromantic events that befall them.
From Spain there’s the poignant animated feature Wrinkles, directed by Ignacio Ferreras, about the friendship between two elderly gentlemen who live in a nursing home. Adapted from a prize-winning graphic novel, the film won the award for best animated film at the Goyas, Spain’s equivalent of the Academy Awards, in 2012.
Among the films from Germany this year is Barbara, a drama written and directed by one of that country’s best young filmmakers, Christian Petzold. The story of a doctor in 1980s East Germany secretly planning to defect, Barbara won the prize for Best Director at last year’s Berlin Film Festival.
The Netherlands provides one of the festival’s films for children, the inspiring Cool Kids Don’t Cry, directed by Dennis Bots. Tackling the subject of leukemia, the film centres on Akkie, a young, football-loving girl who is diagnosed with the disease and strives to overcome it with the help of her classmates.
In a Better World, an acclaimed drama, rounds out this overview of the EFF. The film is the story of Anton, a doctor who works in a refugee camp in North Africa, and his family, who live in Denmark. Directed by Susanne Bier, In a Better World won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film in 2011.
Tickets for all screenings are $30 each, with tickets for children and students in uniform priced at $20.
European Film Festival 2013
Schedule for Week 1
MovieTowne, Port of Spain
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
11.00am Hands Up Director: Romain Goupil (France / 2010 / French, with English subtitles / Drama / 90 minutes / PG13)
1.00pm Uncle Hank Director: Elbert van Strien (The Netherlands / 2012 / Dutch, with English subtitles / Comedy, Drama / 92 minutes / 14+)
03.30pm 18 Meals Director: Jorge Coira (Spain / 2010 / Spanish and Galician, with English subtitles / Comedy, Drama / 101 minutes / 16+)
05.30pm Cheerful Weather for the Wedding Director: Donald Rice (UK / 2012 / English / Comedy, Drama / 93 minutes / PG)
08.00pm Barbara Director: Christian Petzold (Germany / 2012 / German, with English subtitles, Drama / 119 minutes / PG13)
THURSDAY, MAY 16
11.00am Fast Girls Director: Regan Hall (UK / 2012 / English, Drama / 91 minutes / PG)
1.00pm The Snows of Kilimanjaro Director: Robert Guédiguian (France / 2011 / French, with English subtitles / Drama / 107 minutes / 14+)
3.30pm Chinese Take-Away Director: Sebastián Borensztein (Spain / 2011 Spanish and Mandarin, with English subtitles / Comedy / 93 minutes / 13+)
5.30pm The Death of Carlos Gardel Director: Solveig Nordlund (Portugal / 2011, Portuguese, with English subtitles, Drama / 82 minutes / GA)
8.00pm The Gang of Oss Director: Andre van Duren (The Netherlands / 2011 / Dutch, with English subtitles / Crime drama / 110 minutes / 16+)
FRIDAY, MAY 17
11.00am Wrinkles Director: Ignacio Ferreras (Spain / 2011 / Spanish, with English subtitles / Adult animation / 89 minutes / PG13)
1.00pm Corn in Parliament Director: Jean Stéphane-Bron (Switzerland / 2003 / German and French, with English subtitles / Documentary / 90 minutes / GA)
3.30pm Winter Sleepers Director: Tom Tykwer (Germany / 1997 / German, with English subtitles / Thriller / 122 minutes / 18+)
5.30pm In a Better World Director: Susanne Bier (Denmark / 2011 / Danish, Swedish, English and Arabic, with English subtitles / Drama / 119 minutes / 16+)
8.00pm The Angels’ Share Director: Ken Loach (UK / 2012 / English / Comedy, Drama / 101 minutes / 16+)
SATURDAY, MAY 18
11.00am Lessons of a Dream Director: Sebastian Grobler (Germany / 2011 / German and English, with English subtitles / Youth drama / 113 minutes / GA)
1.00pm Cool Kids Don’t Cry Director: Dennis Bots (The Netherlands / 2012 / Dutch, with English subtitles / Family drama / 96 minutes / GA)
3.30pm Dear Alice Director: Othman Karim (Sweden / 2010 / Swedish and English, with English subtitles / Drama / 97 minutes / 14+)
5.30pm My Brother the Devil Director: Sally El Hosaini (UK / 2012 / English / Drama / 111 minutes / 16+)
8.00pm 2 Days in Paris Director: Julie Delpy (France / 2007 / French and English, with English subtitles / Comedy, Romance / 96 minutes / 16+)
SUNDAY, MAY 19
11.00am The Entrepreneur Director: Giuliano Montaldo (Italy / 2006 / Italian, with English subtitles / Thriller / 94 minutes / 14+)
1.00pm Fast Girls Director: Regan Hall (UK / 2012 / English, Drama / 91 minutes / PG)
3.30pm Eleanor’s Secret Director: Dominique Monfery (France / 2009 / English / Animation / 80 minutes / GA)
5.30pm Close to You Director: Almut Getto (Germany / 2009 / German, with English subtitles / Comedy, Romance / 88 minutes / PG13)
8.00pm Cell 211 Director: Daniel Monzón (Spain / 2009 / Spanish, with English subtitles / Drama / 113 minutes / 16+)
MONDAY, MAY 20
11.00am Wrinkles Director: Ignacio Ferreras (Spain / 2011 / Spanish, with English subtitles / Adult animation / 89 minutes / PG13)
1.00pm People Out There Director: Aik Karapetian (Latvia / 2012 / Latvian and Russian, with English subtitles / Drama / 90 minutes / 18+)
3.30pm Uncle Hank Director: Elbert van Strien (The Netherlands / 2012 / Dutch, with English subtitles / Comedy, Drama / 92 minutes / 14+)
5.30pm Hands Up Director: Romain Goupil (France / 2010 / French, with English subtitles / Drama / 90 minutes / PG13)
8.00pm Kiymet Director: Canan Turan (Germany / 2012 / German and Turkish, with English subtitles / 25 minutes / GA) + Turquaze Director: Kadir Balci (Belgium / 2010 / Flemish and Turkish, with English subtitles / Drama / 96 minutes / 14+)
TUESDAY, MAY 21
11.00am The Snows of Kilimanjaro Director: Robert Guédiguian (France / 2011 / French, with English subtitles / Drama / 107 minutes / 14+)
1.00pm Cheerful Weather for the Wedding Director: Donald Rice (UK / 2012 / English / Comedy, Drama / 93 minutes / PG)
3.30pm Lessons of a Dream Director: Sebastian Grobler (Germany / 2011 / German and English, with English subtitles / Youth drama / 113 minutes / GA)
5.30pm 18 Meals Director: Jorge Coira (Spain / 2010 / Spanish and Galician, with English subtitles / Comedy, Drama / 101 minutes / 16+)
8.00pm The Death of Carlos Gardel Director: Solveig Nordlund (Portugal / 2011, Portuguese, with English subtitles, Drama / 82 minutes / GA)
More information about the EFF, including the full schedule, can be found atwww.ttfilmfestival.com/eff or the Facebook page European Film Festival—Trinidad and Tobago.