15th European Union Film Festival showcases current culture & politics

The exciting and diverse group of contemporary films representing all 28 countries of the European Union. General Admission to EUFFTO events is FREE. Availability to the dozen of (often sold-out) screening works on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance $10 reservations are available at euffto.com.

The critically acclaimed EUFFTO is a unique festival and the only one in the world to bring together all EU Consulates and local cultural institutes for collaboration. This year’s lineup highlights the talents of many incredible women in film. Female filmmakers share uplifting stories: France’s SOMETHING IS HAPPENING, a road movie of a young widow and an adventurously independent woman; Denmark’s DARLING, a moving drama about a woman on the roller-coaster ride of her life; Hungary’s AURORA BOREALIS, a film of shocking twists and dark family secrets; and Croatia’s LADA KAMENSKI, a story of three actresses competing for the same role. Strong women also inspiring us through several more feature films, including Italy’s DAFNE, a story of self-aware and bright young woman with Down syndrome; Malta’s THE WEEPING HOUSE OF QALA, an investigation of a long missing family. Her journey can be also lighthearted: Spain’s GET HER...IF YOU CAN follows a struggling stand-up comedian; Slovenia’s MY LAST YEAR AS A LOSER tells a coming-of-age story of a millennial; and Ireland’s METAL HEART is a comedy of twin sisters who are worlds apart.

Brexit, border fences, threats to our democracy. Europe is in political turmoil and filmmakers reflect this by looking back in history. 20th century dramas like Germany’s BALLOON, Lithuania’s ASHES IN THE SNOW and Austria’s THE TOBACCONIST; and portraits of unknown heroes like Netherlands’ THE RESISTANCE BANKER, Latvia’s THE MOVER and Estonia’s THE LITTLE COMRADE remind us the darker times of war and authoritarian regimes. Poland’s THE MESSENGER tells the incredible true story of a real-life superhero, a Polish spy whose lonely mission was to decide the fate of World War II. Immigration is a central topic in Europe and beyond. In Luxembourg’s SAWAH a DJ is mistaken for a refugee; in Greece’s HOLY BOOM the lives of four strangers change when their postbox is blasted. Bulgaria’s A PICTURE WITH YUKI follows a man and his Japanese wife, who got married while living as immigrants in Canada. Even a king discovers the real world in Belgium’s KING OF THE BELGIANS.

The importance of community is an other underlying theme of this years lineup. Subway travelers start to interact in Romania’s BESIDE ME, the opening film of the festival features some of the biggest names of Romanian cinema. In Cyprus’ ROSEMARIE mysterious neighbours catch the attention of an uninspired soap opera writer. The protagonists of UK’s ONLY YOU meet by chance on New Year’s Eve. Portugal’s DEAD QUEEN is an ageless love story, literally. Making their Canadian premieres includes Sweden’s A MOON OF MY OWN tells the story of one of the greatest composers of our time; and the Czech Republic’s SHORT CUT about an eleven-year-old boy dealing with a loss of his illusions. For the first time in Toronto is Slovakia’s FREEDOM UNDER LOAD, a documentary of the oldest generation of porters. Closing the festival Finland’s ONE LAST DEAL, the tale of an obscure painting, an aging art dealer and his family.

WHAT: The European Union Film Festival is a not-for-profit organization and the unique cultural collaboration of EU Consulates and Cultural Institutes in Toronto. Celebrating cinematic excellence with nationally and internationally award-winning films, the festival takes place in November every year at The Royal Cinema.
WHEN: The 15th European Union Film Festival runs November 7–21, 2019.
WHERE: All films screening at the Royal Cinema. The address of the beautiful historic Art Deco movie house is 608 College St, Toronto - theroyal.to
HOW: General Admission to EUFFTO events is FREE. Availability works on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance $10 reservations are recommended and available at euffto.com
WHY: The European Union Film Festival (EUFFTO) strives to reflect the excellence, innovation, and diversity of European cinema in Toronto, the world's most multicultural city. EUFFTO is representing a rare opportunity to see these movies on the big screen.
WHO: Participating EU Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.