Apr 28, 2007, 1:04 GMT
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Cinema enthusiasts in the capital can look forward to viewing some choice European films with the inauguration of the nearly month-long 12th European Union Film Festival here Friday evening.
The April 27-May 24 festival opened with the screening of Academy Award winning German film 'The Lives of Others'.
The festival will showcase a package of more than 17 films. Each film will represent a different member state.
Inaugurating the festival, Stefan Dreyer, regional director South Asia, said: 'Presenting a selection of modern European cinema to the Indian public will help contribute to the understanding and appreciation of the film culture and also promote mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among India and Europe.'
'In this festival, widely acclaimed and award winning films will be showcased. Since Germany has the presidency over the EU the film fest started with a German film 'The Lives of Others',' added George Loy, deputy head of embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The film festival is a part of the EU-India strategic partnership established at the sixth EU-India Summit in September. The event symbolises an important facet of the growing cultural relations between the EU and India.
'The festival is like a bouquet of films that gives vivid reflections of the cultural streams of Europe and stories that describe the European life in a certain socio-economic and cultural environment,' said Alexander Spachis, deputy head of Delegation of the European Commission to India.
Some of the films that will be screened are: 'Step by Step' (Belgium), 'Crazy Day' (Bulgaria), 'Journey to Jerusalem' (Bulgaria), 'Hanele' (Czech Republic), 'Wallah Be' (Denmark), 'Four Minutes' (Germany), 'Shop of Dreams' (Estonia), 'Dancing at Lughnasa' (Ireland), 'Iberia' (Spain), 'By the Pricking of My Thumbs' (France), 'Three Days of Anarchy' (Italy), 'Honey and Wine' (Cyprus), and 'Warrior' (Britain).
The festival will travel to other parts of the country, including Pune (May 4 to 11), Calicut and Kozhikode (May 14 to 18) and end in Kolkata (May 19 to 24).
More information about the venue, dates and the programme schedule is available at the website: www.delind.ec.europa.eu/en/euff2007.
© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service
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