The 30th edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) opened with the Austrian film Happy, directed by Sandeep Kumar, at the Alliance Française de Bangalore. The screening received an enthusiastic response from Bengaluru audiences. The Bengaluru chapter of the festival will showcase 25 acclaimed European films in 26 languages—stories that explore themes of identity, familial ties, courage, shared humanity, and finding hope, to name a few. EUFF 2025 in Bengaluru will take place from November 7 -15 across three venues—Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore, Alliance Française de Bangalore, and Suchitra Film Society—before travelling to Hyderabad for its concluding chapter.
“We’re delighted to bring the 30th European Union Film Festival to Bengaluru—a city that has always celebrated culture, creativity, and global storytelling,” said Ewa Suwara, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to India. “Opening the Bengaluru chapter with Happy beautifully captures the spirit of EUFF 2025—a festival that celebrates resilience, diversity, and the shared human experience that unites us across borders. We hope audiences here will discover new perspectives, voices, and emotions through this vibrant showcase of European cinema for the next few days.
Festival curator Artur Zaborski said, “Each year, EUFF grows into a deeper celebration of storytelling and cultural empathy. Bengaluru’s audiences have a remarkable appetite for cinema that provokes thought and emotion, and this year’s line-up captures just that — courage, humour, and humanity from across Europe. Opening with Happy feels symbolic; it embodies the spirit of crossing boundaries and discovering common ground through film. We’re excited to see how Bengaluru connects with these stories before EUFF continues its journey to Hyderabad.”
What Experts Say
Introducing his film to the Bengaluru audience, Happy’s director Sandeep Kumar said, “It’s an honour for Happy to open the Bengaluru chapter of the 30th European Union Film Festival. This city has always embraced cinema that challenges, comforts, and connects. The story of Happy comes from a deeply personal space — it explores themes of belonging, family, the parent–child relationship, and the simple, universal wish to build a better life for one’s loved ones. I’m grateful to EUFF for being a bridge between continents — where a film made in Vienna can find its heartbeat in Bengaluru. Thank you for showing up and for all the love you’ve given our film.”
As part of the festival in Bengaluru, director Sandeep Kumar will host a workshop titled “How Do You Craft a Film?” — an immersive session that explores the creative journey from concept to completion. Through examples from his cross-cultural filmmaking between Austria and India, Kumar will guide participants on how to write, construct, direct, and analyse film scenes — examining how stories are created and how they resonate differently with diverse audiences.
The largest showcase of European cinema in India, the Bengaluru chapter of EUFF 2025 will feature films from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine. The curation this year brings together some of the most acclaimed and talked-about European films that have received recognition at prestigious international festivals. Programme highlights include Julie Keep Quiet, Dying, Bad Living, Holy Cow, Family Therapy, and Happy, among many others.
Jean-Marc Dépierre, Director, Alliance française de Bangalore said: “Cinema is not only about making people dream. It’s about changing things and making people think” film director Nadine Labaki once said. This is exactly what EUFF is trying to achieve and the Alliance française de Bangalore is thrilled to be part of this endeavour.”
Dr. Michael Heinst, Director, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore added: “European Cinema has always received a lot of love from Bengaluru’s discerning audience. Driven by curiosity and experimentation, the city has a great history of welcoming new ideas and perspectives. We are delighted for the European Film Festival to be back at Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore.”
H N Narahari Rao, President, Suchitra Film Society mentioned: “Suchitra Film Society has been proud to partner with the European Union Film Festival for over a decade, bringing the finest European cinema to Bangalore’s discerning audiences. The 30th edition holds special significance as we witness three decades of cultural bridge-building through cinema, fostering deeper understanding between European and Indian sensibilities. Our collaboration with EUFF continues to enrich Bangalore’s cultural landscape, offering our members and the public access to award-winning films that might otherwise remain beyond commercial distribution. Apart from screening the films, We look forward to hosting the workshop with filmmaker Sandeep Kumar and celebrating this milestone edition that perfectly embodies cinema’s power to unite diverse cultures and stories.”
The European Union Connection
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India, in collaboration with the Embassies of EU Member States and regional partners, the 30th European Union Film Festival (EUFF) marks three decades of cinematic, cultural, and artistic exchange between Europe and India — building bridges through the universal language of film. As the festival travels to Hyderabad later this month, EUFF 2025 stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between Europe and India — a celebration of stories that transcend borders and a reminder that cinema remains our shared language of hope and connection.
All films at EUFF 2024 will have English subtitles and will be on a first come, first serve basis. Please note that some of the films are rated 18+, so we recommend checking the ratings before planning your visit.