European Union Film Festival launches 29th in-person edition, November 12 to 26

Continuing online from December 1 to 20, the program features a Ukraine solidarity screening of the powerful documentary Traces

SPONSORED POST BY The Cinematheque

Traces

The European Union Film Festival is returning for its 29th edition in Vancouver, in person from November 12 to 26 and online from December 1 to 20.

This seasonal showcase of contemporary European cinema is presented in partnership with Ottawa’s Canadian Film Institute and Toronto’s European Union Film Festival, along with the member states of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Union to Canada. This year’s edition boasts another full slate of 27 films from all 27 EU members. A selection of these films will be available to rent online following the conclusion of the in-person festival.

Taking into consideration the ongoing offensive in Ukraine, the festival is continuing its annual solidarity screening in support of the embattled EU-candidacy nation, organized in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine to Canada. Proceeds from this year’s film—the powerful documentary Traces, scheduled for closing night—will go towards the humanitarian efforts of the Canada–Ukraine Foundation.

Directed by Alisa Kovalenko and Marysia Nikitiuk, Traces shines a light on Ukrainian women who, after surviving conflict-related sexual violence and torture, refuse to remain silent. The film weaves a portrait of a collective trauma while opening space for hope.

Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story

Ireland, currently holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, will lead off this year’s EUFF with a nonfiction portrait of Edna O’Brien, the literary iconoclast who passed away in 2024. Director Sinéad O’Shea’s Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story traces the titular author’s life, from the release of her sexually frank debut novel (1960’s The Country Girls) to her final on-camera testimony at age 93.

From there, all manner of modes, genres, themes, and subject matter will cross the big screen during this circuitous tour of European moviemaking. Each EU member has hand-selected a film to represent its motion-picture industry, the stipulation being that it must be recent—and, ideally, have had little to no screentime in Canada. In turn, a majority of the films will be Vancouver, if not nationwide, premieres.

Browse the full lineup and purchase tickets to the in-person festival through The Cinematheque. For further details on the virtual festival (tickets purchased separately), see euffonline.ca.

Post sponsored by The Cinematheque.

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