9th European Film Festival solemnly opens in Baku [PHOTO]

11 October 2018 14:55 (UTC+04:00)

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By Laman Ismayilova

The 9th European Film Festival solemnly opened in Baku on October 10.

The festival is co-organized by the Embassies of the EU Member States accredited in Azerbaijan, the Embassy of Norway and Park Cinema, Trend Life reported.

The event was attended by representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan, famous figures of culture and art and numerous cinema fans.

Addressing the event, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas said that the festival had aroused great interest, and a large number of viewers had come to the show. It was stressed that two films "Wild Amsterdam" (Netherlands) and "Kincsem" (Hungary) opened the festival.

Mark Verkerk, director of the film "Wild Amsterdam," and producer Ignas van Schaick stressed that it is a great honor for them that the European Cinema Festival opened with their films.

In his speech, well-known director and producer, Chairman of the Lithuanian Filmmakers Union Arūnas Matelis invited all viewers to the screening of his film "Wonderful Losers: A Different World", which will be shown on October 11 as part of the festival.

Further, the guests enjoyed the films "Wild Amsterdam" and "Kincsem".

The film "Wild Amsterdam" -reveals all the secrets of this dynamic city through the eyes of its animal inhabitants. This story, "told" by the cat Fritz, reminds us that the city exists not only for people.

Amsterdam is an ideal place to explore the deep and often comical connections between humans and animals.

The film "Kincsem" tells the story of Ernõ Blaskovich, who lost everything after the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Kincsem, a magnificent horse gives a purpose of his meaningless, self-destructing life. He gets a chance to gain everything back: revenge, love and fame.

The 9th European Film Festival will last until October 21.

The program features 19 films from 17 European Union countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom), as well as Norway and Azerbaijan. The films are selected to suit all audiences.

The films "Barbara", "Wonderful Losers: A Different World", "Perdidos", "Dream Team 1935", "Bubblegum", "Dark blue world", "In Syria", "See You Up There", "Halima's path", "303 Squadron", "Pioneer", "Summer's Over", "A Serious Game", "Finding your feet", "The Vanishing of Pato", "The grandfather", "Həddən artıq uyğunluq" will be screened at the festival.

All events will be open to the public and organized free of charge on "first come first served" basis.

The European Film Festivals are organized on an annual basis with the aim to build and develop the cultural links existing between the EU countries and Azerbaijan, and to contribute to better understanding of the European values through the European movie industry.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova