23rd European Union Film Festival (EUFF)

Singapore’s second-longest running film festival, the European Union Film Festival (EUFF),  returns with the largest line-up of 28 outstanding films. For the first time Croatia, Norway, Turkey and Ukraine will be joining the festival this year.

Jointly organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Singapore (EU) and the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the 23rd EUFF will feature acclaimed films which have never been released commercially here,  giving local audiences a taste of Europe’s diversity and creativity.

I was invited to a special preview of the partly-animated Euro-manga Suicide Room (Poland).

Suicide Room (Poland) –  A teenage boy is mocked in school and online after a series of humiliating dares and events. Bullying and the expectations of successful but absent parents cause him to retreat into his room and fall into depression. He meets a suicidal girl online and finds solace in a virtual 3D community, losing grip on reality.

The 23rd European Union Film Festival will run from 15 to 26 May 2013 at Shaw Lido. A sneak preview of the new Irish-Singapore production Mister John ( starring Singaporean actress Zoe Tay and Irish actor Aidan Gillen ) will be shown exclusively to invited guests at the EUFF opening gala. The public will have to wait for its commercial release later this year.

Since 2009, the EUFF has facilitated a cultural dialogue between European and local cinema by partnering with film schools to showcase student short films alongside European feature films. The EUFF’s film school partner this year is the distinguished Chapman University Singapore. The Festival will be screening 15 short films by Chapman students and alumni, and will also involve students in other areas such as marketing and the filming of a Festival teaser.

Tickets are priced at $11 and are available online at www.shaw.com.sg from 25 April 2013. For the latest updates and the full programme, please visit www.euff.sg or the EUFFsg Facebook page.