Fifty-five films. Twenty-eight countries. Zero entry fee. That's what lands in Indonesia this June, when Europe on Screen (EoS) — the longest-running European film festival in the country — opens its 26th edition across Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Denpasar, Yogyakarta, Medan, Sidoarjo, and Semarang from 4 to 14 June 2026.

What is Europe on Screen 2026?

Europe on Screen is an annual film festival organized by the European Union Delegation to Indonesia. Running for eleven days, it brings European cinema to Indonesian audiences through free public screenings at 25 venues across eight cities. The 2026 edition features 55 films from 28 European countries, including works from 31 female directors and 9 debut filmmakers. All screenings are open to the public at no charge.

What films are showing — and why do they matter?

The opening film is The Baronesses (Les Baronnes), a Belgian-French-Luxembourgian comedy-drama directed by the mother-and-son duo Mokhtaria Badaoui and Nabil Ben Yadir. It follows a group of elderly women in Brussels who decide, somewhat impractically, to stage a theatre show starring themselves. The film won Best Film in the Rebels with a Cause category at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2025.

Closing the festival is Atlas of the Universe (Atlasul Universului), a Romanian-Bulgarian coming-of-age film by Paul Negoescu. A 10-year-old boy goes on an unexpected cross-country journey to find his missing left shoe — a premise that sounds absurd until you're quietly invested. It premiered at Berlin International Film Festival 2026 and received a Special Mention in the Generation Kplus category.

What is the Short Film Pitching Project, and who can join?

Now in its ninth year, the Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP) is Europe on Screen's grant and development program for young Indonesian filmmakers. It's produced 23 short films to date — and 50% of those have screened at international festivals in Indonesia, Europe, and beyond. This year, SFPP received 202 proposals from cities as far-flung as Fakfak in Papua, Riau, Bukit Tinggi, and Jember — the widest geographic spread yet.

The 10 finalists for SFPP EoS 2026 span themes from identity and mental health to everyday personal experience, drawn from filmmakers in Jakarta, Sidoarjo, Surakarta, Klaten, Tangerang, and Yogyakarta.

Who are the international guests at EoS 2026?

Two guests are joining from the European film industry: Damian McCann, director of the Irish film Aontas (2025), and Zar Donato, lead actress of the Cypriot film Maricel (2025). Both will be available for public discussions with local audiences and industry professionals.

Where are the new screening venues this year?

EoS 2026 adds several new venues: Alliance Française Semarang, Gedung Oudetrap Semarang, Bali Film School, Galeri Nasional Jakarta, Komunitas Salihara, and UNIKA Atma Jaya Jakarta. With 25 total screening venues, the festival now reaches deeper into university campuses and cultural institutions than in previous years.