A journey through Europe through 21 short films
The 8th edition of the European Union’s Annual Short Film Festival returns in virtual format for the second consecutive year. This online event is presented in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to Canada and the embassies and cultural institutes of participating EU member states.
The Festival is part of May Europe Day celebrations in Canada and, in 2021, marks the 45th anniversary of the Delegation of the European Union to Canada. This year’s fresh collection of 21 films from as many EU Member States features a wide range of film genres and stories.
Portugal participates with the short film Som e Fúria (Nha Mila), by Denise Fernandes, which had its world premiere in 2020 at the Locarno International Film Festival, an annual event that has been taking place in this small town in southern Switzerland since 1946.
In this 18-minute short film, the young director, born in Lisbon in 1990, the daughter of parents of Cape Verdean origin, takes us to a story of a chance encounter with someone from “Mila’s” childhood (character) that allows her to reflect upon the experience of leaving – and returning – home.
Tom McSorley, Executive Director of the Canadian Film Institute, which celebrates the short film form in its other major festivals, the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) and the International Film Festival of Ottawa (IFFO), said that the organization is “committed to showcasing the cinematic talents in filmmakers working in short form fiction, documentary, experimental, and animation styles”.
“The EU Short Film Festival is a crucial part of that cinematic commitment, and we are proud to present this collection of 21 shorts representing 21 EU Member States”, stresses McSorley.
The Ambassador of the European Union to Canada, Melita Gabrič, highlights in her message that “we have all experienced the transformative power of the arts and have come to appreciate culture in a new light over the past year”. And she adds: “Numerous cultural activities such as this have enabled us to stay connected and resilient as we continue to cope collectively with the pandemic, no matter where we are in the world”.
The festival will take place online, through the Eventive platform. Tickets are free and will have to be requested through the portal: https://watch.eventive.org/eusff21/play/60916bf2a099ee0073233127?fbclid=IwAR3oPAYmBM6ODbWkQgaaYRN2QWlos8_Zj1Mjk9neffHgpZiWRKYB02e9qO8
All EU Short Film are only available for viewing in Canada.
Each film screening will be available for 72 hours (May 27 – May 29). The viewer will have 48 hours to finish viewing, once started.
The films will be presented with English subtitles. ■