20 Oct – The 18th European Union Film Festival (EUFF) has officially launched in Malaysia following its opening ceremony held yesterday evening. Bringing in a total of 23 titles, there is a movie for every fan of European films out there. One of the titles, "Tokyo Fiancée", was the opening film for this year's EUFF. "It's a desire of two people to get to know their countries. It's not about Malaysia but it's also about Asia. So we hope one day we also have a personal story about Malaysia and Europe," said H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia.
The Belgium movie, adapted from Belgian writer Amélie Nothomb's novel of the same name, sees a young Belgian woman returning to Japan. There not only does she get to reconnect with the Japanese culture but also finds love with a Japanese man. The film festival is currently taking place at GSC Mid Valley Megamall and GSC Pavilion KL in Klang Valley until 29 October. It will then head to GSC Gurney Plaza in Penang from 2 to 8 November, before being held in East Malaysia from 16 to 22 November at GSC CityOne Megamall in Kuching, Sarawak, and 30 November to 6 December at GSC Suria Sabah Mall in Kota Kinabalu. GSC CEO Ms. Koh Mei Lee, in her welcome speech, stated her hopes for EUFF to be held in Johor as well after the opening of GSC's 16-screen cinema in Johor Bahru by the end of this year.
Tickets for EUFF 2017 are priced at RM8 each, except for "The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki", which is set at prevailing GSC ticket pricing. Other movies that fans can catch include the aforementioned "Tokyo Fiancée", "Cosy Dens", "Swagger", "Ants On A Shrimp", "Two Lottery Tickets", "The Commune", "One Hell Of A Ride", "Big Game", "Miss Christina", "The Girl Who Saved My Life", "The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki", "Planet Single", "Victoria", "Coconut Hero", "Café Derby", "Mystery Of Green Hill" and "My Life As A Zucchini". Meanwhile "Fire At Sea", "Happy 140", "Do You See Me", "Car Park", "Attenborough And The Giant Dinosaur" and "In Line For Anne Frank" will be screened for free.
EUFF 2017 is organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia, along with 17 European Union Member States and Switzerland, and supported by local partner organisations Cinema Online and Golden Screen Cinemas.