Your Guide to the EU Film Festival

Those who consider themselves film aficionados may know that Beijing's cinematic programming can get a little iffy at times. There usually isn’t a film being screened without a super hero, or some kind of cutting-edge CGI effects. This is truly unfortunate considering we live in such an interesting time in cinema, where expertly crafted low budget films are being released all the time.

The EU Film Festival is one of the few opportunities you may have this year to experience the “other cinema,” a form of filmmaking that isn’t plagued with cliche narratives and lackluster over budget stylistic decisions. The EU Film Festival will present 20 of these films from 15 different nation states, curated by the Delegation of the European Union to China, and supported by the State Administration of Film, Radio &TV. Go here to check out the complete events listing of venues, dates, and times for all the screenings. 

Bullhead (Belgium) -Dark and involving, this shocking Belgian drama not only earned an Oscar nomination but propelled its director and leading man into much bigger films. The best drama out of the bunch, and starring Matthias Schoenaerts, the lead actor from Rust and Bone. 

Let Us Prey (Ireland) - This debut from director Brian O'Malley, is an intriguing horror flick that aside from a few cheap scares, attempts to avoid tired clichés. It's at times very entertaining and funny in an extremely gory kind of way, with Liam Cunningham ("Game of Thrones") and Pollyanna McIntosh. 

The Maneater (France) - This provocative French feature was a headliner at the last Cannes Film Festival. Telling the story of a modern day Mary Magdalene, this erotic drama about sexual discovery is lush with eye candy from its male and female leads. It features actress Mylène Jampanoï, who is the sultry Dior in Asia model. 

Lisa Limone and Maroc Orange (Estonia) - For this screening, director Mait Laas will be in attendance. This 3D animated opera deals in a socially critical manner with the topic of illegal immigrants fleeing from Africa to Europe. This story is told through the impossible love between orange boy Maroc, a singing boat refugee, and lemon girl Lisa, who collects singing seashells and dreams about love. Pretty trippy and rather original with dancing/singing lemons and oranges. 

Merry-go-round (Poland) - This deals with the constantly evolving relationships between close friends as they encounter love, cheating, friendship, and mystery. 

Name of the Game (Sweden) - Emil Jonsvik, the film's director, will be in attendance. Apparently made with the best and brightest in contemporary Swedish film talent. 

Daydreaming (Italy) - This American-Italian co-production, with part of the film involving a Chinese character and family, is one of those quirky indie coming-of-age comedies that is sure to be a fun viewing for all. The director John Snellinberg and entourage will be in attendance. 

48 Minutes (Netherlands) - Brenda, Laura, Ruben and Willem meet each other at an uneasy therapy session. The unconventional therapist (Pamela Tevis) tells them they only have 48 minutes left to live. The four characters then set out to repeat the last 48 minutes of their life with their imminent death in mind.

Eternal Flame of Gehenna (Finland) - This documentary will give you a rare look into the dark art of Finnish black metal. The film consists of a series of cinéma vérité interviews with such Finnish black metal musicians as Mikko Aspa (Clandestine Blaze, Stabat Mater, Deathspell Omega, Grunt, Nicole12, Creamface, etc.), Demonos Sova (Barathrum), Nuclear Holocausto (Beherit), BlackGoat (Goatmoon), Satanic Tyrant Werwolf (Satanic Warmaster) and Molestor Kadotus.

88 (Spain) - Ken and Zoe met when they both were carefree and lacked moral prejudices. That first meeting in room 88 of a hotel has been forgotten after eight years together and a son in common. One night, they have the same dream which ends up changing everything. Directed by Jordi Mollà, the Spanish Tom Cruise who starred in Blow as the drug crazed partner of Johnny Depp. 

The Invisible Life (Portugal) - Obsessed with the 8mm footage he discovered in the belongings of António, his recently deceased superior, Hugo recalls the day António told him he was dying. A famed Portuguese auteur's return to filmmaking after a 30-year hiatus.

The Shorts

 Death of a Shadow (Belgium) Stuck in a dark limbo between life and death, a deceased soldier Nathan Rijckx collects shadows of dying men and women to buy back his own second chance at life. This Oscar nominated short film stars Matthias Schoenaerts. 

Orbit Ever After  (UK) The protagonist Nigel has fallen in love. But when you live in orbit aboard a ramshackle space hovel with the most risk averse family imaginable, it isn't easy to follow your heart. This BAFTA-nominated short is not to be missed.

photos: from the organizer