Nov 02: The European Union Film Festival 2026, India’s premier showcase of European cinema and one of the country’s most anticipated cultural events, is back with its 31st edition, bringing 28 award-winning films from 27 EU Member States and Ukraine in 30 languages.
The festival kicks off in Shillong on November 12, before making its way to New Delhi from November 25 to December 4, followed by Pune in December. Audiences in Delhi, Shillong and Pune can dive into a cinematic journey across Europe through award-winning, and most talked-about European films. The festival will take place in Delhi at six iconic venues: India Habitat Centre, Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, and Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Centre, India International Centre and Triveni Kala Sangam. As one of the country’s only festivals dedicated exclusively to European films, EUFF 2026 offers audiences a rare chance to experience Europe’s most compelling stories on the big screen. From gripping dramas to thought-provoking documentaries, the line-up explores a rich spectrum of themes, perspectives and human experiences that resonate across cultures and borders.
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India in collaboration with the Embassies of EU Member States and regional partners, EUFF 2026 is a window into Europe’s heart, offering audiences a chance to see the continent through the eyes of its storyteller with its diverse mix of award-winning titles exploring themes of resilience, hope, identity, celebration of life, power, defiance and more.
Speaking about the festival, Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to India, said,
“The European Union Film Festival returns with the 31st edition, this time travelling to Shillong, Delhi and Pune, cities with a rich cultural pulse and a deep love for storytelling. What makes it unique is the opportunity to experience Europe through the lens of its most compelling filmmakers, presenting stories that provoke, evoke interest, and often reflect our own shared human experiences.”
“Cinema has always been a mirror and a window. In this edition, it’s also a bridge: not just between our regions, but between the world we live in and the one we still believe is possible. We look forward to welcoming audiences to this year’s festival and to the conversations these films will inspire, reaffirming cinema’s unique ability to bring people and cultures closer together," he added.
Artur Zaborski, curator of the festival, said,
“Curating this year’s line-up was about bringing the many voices of the European Union to audiences in India. We share a heritage as a continent, while cherishing our distinct cultures, languages and perspectives. Each voice has something compelling to offer, and this festival is an invitation to listen - to stories both joyful and sorrowful, historical and contemporary, exploring politics, sport, society, family and love.Rooted in their own cultures, these films speak to experiences that resonate across borders: the search for belonging, the courage to challenge expectations, the need for connection and the choices that shape our lives. Together, they offer a portrait of Europe in all its diversity, intimacy, humour and contradictions. I hope audiences will discover unfamiliar worlds, recognise something of themselves, and find connections between these European stories and their own lives in India.”
EUFF 2026 presents a vibrant bouquet of films that reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary European storytelling. The selection features seven films by women filmmakers and five debut features, alongside feature-length documentaries, animated films, sports dramas and five historical dramas. Exploring some of the most pressing and universal aspects of the human experience, the programme also delves into themes of cross-cultural encounters, ageing and the autonomy of older people, disability, illness and mental health. Spanning 30 languages the festival celebrates the richness of Europe’s cinematic voices. It offers Indian audiences an opportunity to discover diverse cultures and encounter fresh perspectives.
The European Union Film Festival is an important cultural initiative that goes beyond showcasing cinema; it creates a platform for Europe and India to engage with each other through contemporary stories, ideas and perspectives. In its 31st edition, EUFF reflects the diversity of European societies while opening up conversations around issues that resonate across borders. At a time when cultural connections are increasingly important to international partnerships, EUFF demonstrates how cinema can complement the EU-India relationship by fostering people-to-people engagement and strengthening the foundations of mutual understanding
The EUFF Film Project Award 2026
This edition also marks the launch of a new initiative for young and emerging filmmakers from India to showcase their work. Announced in September, the EUFF Film Project invited aspiring filmmakers to submit short films offering bold, fresh perspectives covering one or more of the following themes: Identity and Belonging; Migration and Diaspora; Language and Cultural Memory; Women and Their Interior World; Queer Stories; Climate Change and Its Impact; and Indigenous Stories. Open to completed short films in fiction, documentary, animation, and hybrid formats (upto 10 minutes, including credits) the initiative has received an enthusiastic response from across the country. Upto 10 shortlisted films will be showcased at EUFF 2026 Delhi chapter, providing a platform for these compelling voices to shine. The winner of the contest will be announced during the festival, and the director of the winning film will receive the EUFF Film Project Award 2026, which includes an opportunity to participate in the 15th edition of Script Fiesta, scheduled to take place in Warsaw, Poland, from 17 to 21 March 2027.
Through this initiative, EUFF extends its commitment to cultural exchange beyond the screening of European cinema, creating a platform for emerging Indian voices and fostering creative connections between filmmakers in India and Europe.
Festival Line-Up:
Rose (Austria); Merckx (Belgium); Bring Me Home (Bulgaria); Drazen (Croatia); Summer School, 2001 (Czech Republic); Maricel (Cyprus); The Last Viking (Denmark); Rolling Papers (Estonia); Stormskerry Maja (Finland); The Richest Woman in the World (France); DODO (Greece); 22 Lengths (Germany); Mommy Blue (Hungary); A Year of School (Italy); Wolfwalkers (Ireland); Maria’s Silence (Latvia); Sand in Your Hair (Lithuania); A Boat in the Garden (Luxembourg); Żejtune (Malta); Jippie No More (Netherlands); No Ghosts on Good Street (Poland); Projecto Global (Portugal); Nasty (Romania); Path to the Impossible (Slovakia); Hidden People (Slovenia); Sirat (Spain); The Dance Club (Sweden); The Taste of Freedom (Ukraine).
