European Union Film Festival 2026 to Showcase 28 Award-Winning Films

 

NEW DELHI: Indian cinema enthusiasts are set to experience the richness and diversity of European storytelling as the 31st edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) returns in November 2026 with an impressive selection of 28 award-winning films. Representing 27 European Union (EU) member states and Ukraine, the festival will present films in 30 languages, offering Indian audiences an opportunity to explore different cultures, traditions, social realities and cinematic perspectives.

The festival will begin in Shillong from November 12 to 18, before moving to New Delhi from November 25 to December 4. Pune will host the concluding leg of the festival in December. The event is organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India in collaboration with the embassies of EU member states and regional cultural partners.

 

The 2026 edition promises a diverse cinematic experience, featuring dramas, documentaries, animated films and sports-related stories. The selected films explore themes such as identity, family relationships, gender, belonging, social inequalities, resilience, personal freedom and human connections. Through these stories, the festival aims to introduce Indian viewers to the distinctive filmmaking traditions and contemporary realities of different European countries.

Some of the major attractions include Rose, Austria’s entry to the 99th Academy Awards, featuring Sandra Hüller; Sirāt, directed by Oliver Laxe; The Richest Woman in the World, starring Isabelle Huppert; and the Italian production A Year of School.

Other notable titles include Merckx from Belgium, The Last Viking from Denmark, Stormskerry Maja from Finland, Wolfwalkers from Ireland, Nasty from Romania and The Taste of Freedom from Ukraine.

The selection reflects the diversity of European cinema, bringing together established filmmakers, emerging creative voices and stories rooted in different social and cultural backgrounds. The programme also includes seven films directed by women and five debut feature films, highlighting the contribution of new talent and diverse perspectives to international cinema.

 

Shillong will host the festival for the first time, marking an important expansion of EUFF into Northeast India. The Shillong edition will run from November 12 to 18 and showcase 21 selected films from 21 EU member states.

Screenings will take place at four venues: Asian Confluence Centre (The Habitat), Lady Keane College, St. Edmund’s College and KL Bajoria College. The screenings will be free for audiences, subject to prior registration and availability.

 

EU Ambassador to India Jean-Eric Paquet is scheduled to visit Shillong on November 13 to attend the festival. The organisers believe that bringing European cinema to the Northeast will encourage cultural dialogue and strengthen artistic connections between the two regions.

 

“Letters from Wolf Street” Film Screening at India Habitat Center- Poland in India- Gov.pl website

The New Delhi chapter will be one of the major highlights of the festival, with screenings scheduled at six prominent cultural institutions. These include India Habitat Centre, Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan, Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre, India International Centre and Triveni Kala Sangam.

The wide range of venues is expected to attract film enthusiasts, students, filmmakers, diplomats and members of the international cultural community. All films will be screened with English subtitles, allowing audiences from different linguistic backgrounds to appreciate the stories.

Admission to screenings will be on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the arrangements announced by the organisers.

 

An important feature of EUFF 2026 is the introduction of the EUFF Film Project, an initiative designed to encourage emerging Indian filmmakers and provide them with international exposure.

The project has shortlisted up to 10 Indian short films, which will be showcased during the Delhi chapter. The initiative welcomes creative storytelling across fiction, documentary, animation and hybrid formats.

The selected films address contemporary subjects including identity, migration, language, women’s experiences, LGBTQ+ narratives, climate change and Indigenous communities.

The winning filmmaker will receive the EUFF Film Project Award 2026, along with an opportunity to participate in the 15th edition of Script Fiesta in Warsaw, Poland, scheduled for March 17 to 21, 2027. This initiative is expected to create valuable opportunities for Indian filmmakers to connect with international creative professionals and explore potential collaborations.

 

Beyond film screenings, the European Union Film Festival aims to strengthen cultural relations between India and European countries.

Cinema provides an effective platform for sharing stories, understanding different societies and encouraging meaningful conversations across national boundaries.

Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to India, has emphasised that the festival offers audiences an opportunity to discover Europe through the perspectives of its filmmakers. Festival curator Artur Zaborski has also highlighted the importance of bringing together different European voices, languages and storytelling traditions.

With its extensive selection of films, international participation and opportunities for emerging Indian filmmakers, the 31st edition is expected to become an important cultural event of the year.

After Shillong and New Delhi, the festival will travel to Pune in December, extending its reach to Maharashtra’s film-loving audiences. The initiative reinforces the idea that cinema is not merely entertainment but also a powerful medium for cultural exchange, artistic expression and international friendship.