The much-awaited Europe on Screen (EoS) festival, showcasing a diverse selection of European cinema, is set to return to Indonesia from June 7 to 16, 2024. Over the course of 10 days, film enthusiasts across eight Indonesian cities including Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Malang, Medan, Sidoarjo, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta will have the opportunity to enjoy 75 of the latest European films, free of charge.

Mr. Denis Chaibi, the European Union Ambassador to Indonesia, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We have observed a growing enthusiasm among Indonesian audiences for Europe on Screen, with demands for the festival to be held in their cities. Therefore, we have added two new cities, Malang and Sidoarjo, bringing the total to eight cities for EoS 2024. Additionally, we are excited to feature films from 28 European countries, including three countries participating for the first time: Cyprus, Lithuania, and Georgia."

Now in its 24th edition, this year's festival solidifies EoS as Indonesia's longest-running international film festival. Beyond showcasing European films, EoS 2024 will also present Indonesian short films and Indonesian films shot in Europe under the 'On Location' program, alongside activities related to the European and Indonesian film industries.

The festival will open with the animated comedy "Chicken for Linda!" (France, 2023) directed by Sébastien Laudenbach and Chiara Malta, which has received accolades such as the Best Feature at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2023 and the Best Animation Film at the César Awards 2023.

Closing the festival will be "Every You Every Me" (Germany, 2024) directed by Michael Fetter Nathansky, a romantic fantasy film that premiered at the Panorama Berlin International Film Festival 2024 and garnered a nomination for Best Cinematography Feature Film at the Deutscher Kamerapreis 2024.

Mr. Nauval Yazid, Festival Co-Director of EoS 2024, emphasized the diversity of films selected for this year's lineup. "As a mid-year film festival coinciding with school holidays, EoS 24 offers a variety of genres, from animated comedies to romantic comedies, action, thrillers, documentaries, and thrilling European slashers. We hope that film enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy the diverse selection of films at this festival, especially since all screenings are free and open to the public."

In a bid to contribute to the Indonesian film industry and bridge connections between the European and Indonesian film industries, EoS 2024 will host the Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP), where winners will receive partial funding for their film productions.

"2024 saw 197 submissions from various regions in Indonesia, ranging from Medan to Kupang. The SFPP program, running for six years, has produced dozens of short films showcased not only at EoS but also at local and international film festivals," explained Ms. Meninaputri Wismurti, Festival Co-Director of EoS 2024.

Winners of SFPP EoS 2024 will receive both cash and non-cash prizes from EoS 2024, SAE Indonesia, Kemala Home Living, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.

EoS 2024 will also feature Eamon Little, the screenwriter of "That They May Face the Rising Sun" (Ireland, 2023), who will attend film screenings at EoS 2024 and conduct scriptwriting workshops in Jakarta, open to those interested in learning about film scriptwriting.

Additionally, as part of the festival, EoS 2024 will hold a retrospective program dedicated to Lina Wertmüller, the legendary Italian director who was the first woman to be nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards in 1977. Classic films such as "The Lizards" (1963), "Swept Away" (1974), and "Seven Beauties" (1975) by Lina Wertmüller will be screened, accompanied by an exhibition of her works at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Jakarta.

As a prelude to the main event, the Road to EoS 2024 program was held from March to early June 2024, both offline and online. Offline events took place in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Medan, Bandung, Bekasi, and Jakarta, while online activities included Instagram Live sessions featuring discussions with figures from the Indonesian and European film industries.

Film screenings at EoS 2024 will be accessible for free from June 7 to 16, 2024, across all festival locations. For screenings in Jakarta, audience members can register one hour before the screening at the venue. For all information regarding EoS 2024, including film schedules and festival programs, visit www.europeonscreen.org, as well as the official Europe on Screen accounts on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.