EU Film Festival 2025 thrills Eswatini audience

EU Film Festival 2025 thrills Eswatini audience

Cinema lovers, young and old, came in their numbers to enjoy an array of thrilling European and local movies that marked the 4^th edition of the European Union (EU) Film Festival 2025 held on 18 - 21 September 2025 at Mbabane Theatre Club.

Fittingly themed "Youth" and indeed with the youth at the centre stage, the four-day film magic, organised by the EU Delegation to Eswatini in partnership with Alliance Francaise and seven EU Member States (Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy and Sweden), showcased both European and local creativity that kept attendees spellbound throughout each screening of the 15-film line-up.

No doubt, the festival lived up to its objective of not only providing a cinema experience but also facilitating connections and exchanges between the Eswatini film industry and the richness of European cinema, cultural heritage and diversity as explained by EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, in his remarks during the event's official opening on 19 September 2025.

Further explaining the connection with the youth, Ambassador Mecklenburg said the festival was in line with the EU's current partnership with Eswatini, which focuses on youth skills development and opportunities that enable and contribute to sustainable development.

"The European Union recognises the importance of empowering young people and ensuring their active participation in shaping decisions that affect their lives, particularly in the cultural and creative sectors," said the Ambassador.

After each movie screening, attendees were able to share their thoughts during live open discussions that added a unique flavour to the cinema experience.

Three young local filmmakers also had their own exciting moment on 19 September when they were announced the winners of a Smartphone Short Film Competition that took place prior as part of the festival. Apart of from receiving cash incentives as prizes, the three winners - Siphesihle Zwane (1^st prize), Siphosethu Sibandze (2^nd prize) and Vusi Langa (3^rd prize), also had their short films showcased just before the prize presentation.

Each of these three short films themselves also captivated the audience who marvelled at the creativity behind them. Zwane's winning movie was titled "The Last Message" whilst Sibandze's second prized film was titled "My GPS" and Langa's third prized movie was titled "Broken Promise".

As the curtain fell on the last day of the event, all attendees were left yearning for more and looking forward to next year's edition of the EU Film Festival.