NEW DELHI, India — The 31st edition of the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) will bring 28 award-winning films from 27 European Union member states and Ukraine to Indian audiences this month, organisers announced on Monday, 2 November 2026. The films, in 30 languages and all with English subtitles, will travel to Shillong, New Delhi and Pune, opening in Shillong on 12 November before a New Delhi run from 25 November to 4 December and a December programme in Pune.
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India in collaboration with the embassies of EU member states and regional partners, the festival presents a cross-section of contemporary European cinema — dramas, documentaries, animation, sports stories and historical narratives — chosen, according to the organisers, to show Europe through the vision of its finest filmmakers and to spark conversation among Indian audiences.
Illustration: A diverse cinema audience watching a European film at a festival screening in India. This is an illustration, not a photograph of a real event.
What Happened
Details of the 31st EUFF were announced in India on 2 November, with the full line-up published by festival organisers and reported by Indian media the same day. The programme comprises 28 films from 27 EU member states plus Ukraine — meaning almost every EU country is represented, with Ukraine included as a guest participant.
Among the titles highlighted in the announcement are Sandra Hüller-starrer "Rose", Oliver Laxe's "Sirat", the French drama "The Richest Woman in the World", the Italian film "A Year of School" and Malta's "Zejtune". The selection also features seven films by women filmmakers and five debut features, according to the festival announcement.
The festival will open in Shillong on 12 November, then move to New Delhi from 25 November to 4 December, before concluding in Pune in December. In Delhi, screenings will be held at six venues: India Habitat Centre, Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre, India International Centre and Triveni Kala Sangam. All screenings will have English subtitles, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis.
Background
The European Union Film Festival is one of India's longest-running showcases of European cinema, staged annually by the EU Delegation in partnership with member-state embassies and cultural institutes. Its model — a travelling programme shared across several Indian cities rather than a single-city event — is designed to reach audiences beyond the capital, and the choice of Shillong as the opening city this year continues that approach.
European film festivals in India have long served a dual purpose: they give Indian audiences access to films that rarely receive a commercial release in the country, and they give European filmmakers a window onto one of the world's largest film-going publics. The 2026 edition's emphasis on first-time directors and women filmmakers reflects a broader shift in festival programming across Europe, where curators have increasingly sought to widen whose stories reach the screen.
Illustration: Film reels and cinema screens evoking the many languages and cultures of Europe, travelling between Indian cities. This is an illustration, not a photograph of a real event.
Why It Matters
The festival's themes speak directly to questions that cross borders. According to the organisers, this year's films explore identity, belonging, migration, ageing, disability, illness and mental health, alongside family, love, resilience and social change. Festival curator Artur Zaborski said the selection brings together diverse European voices and perspectives, with films exploring politics, sport, society, family and love — subjects that, the organisers argue, resonate far beyond Europe.
Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to India, described cinema as a bridge between regions and cultures, saying the festival offers audiences a chance to experience Europe through its filmmakers and that its films reflect shared human experiences. In a year when cultural diplomacy is increasingly conducted through film, food and music rather than formal statements alone, a festival of this scale — 28 films, 30 languages, three cities — is a visible piece of EU–India cultural engagement.
For Indian audiences, the practical draw is access: award-winning European titles, many of them festival-circuit successes, screened with English subtitles and free on a first-come, first-served basis. For Indian filmmakers, there is a new door. The 2026 edition introduces the EUFF Film Project Award, a competition that invited short films of up to 10 minutes across fiction, documentary, animation and hybrid formats from emerging Indian filmmakers.
What Happens Next
The immediate next step is Shillong, where the festival opens on 12 November. Up to 10 shortlisted films for the EUFF Film Project Award will be screened during the Delhi chapter, with the winner announced at the festival. The winning director will receive the EUFF Film Project Award 2026 and an opportunity to participate in the 15th edition of Script Fiesta in Warsaw, Poland, scheduled for 17 to 21 March 2027.
After Delhi closes on 4 December, the programme moves to Pune, where dates and venues will be confirmed by the organisers. Audiences planning to attend in Delhi are advised to arrive early, as entry is first-come, first-served and popular titles at past editions have drawn full houses.
Illustration: A young filmmaker on a film set with a festival award trophy nearby. This is an illustration, not a photograph of a real event.
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FAQ
When does the 31st European Union Film Festival take place in India?
It opens in Shillong on 12 November 2026, runs in New Delhi from 25 November to 4 December 2026, and concludes in Pune in December 2026.
How many films are in the 2026 EUFF programme?
There are 28 films from 27 European Union member states and Ukraine, in 30 languages, all screened with English subtitles.
Where are the Delhi screenings held?
At six venues: India Habitat Centre, Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre, India International Centre and Triveni Kala Sangam.
Is entry to EUFF screenings free?
Festival screenings are on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the organisers; audiences are advised to arrive early for popular titles.
What is the new EUFF Film Project Award?
It is a 2026 initiative for emerging Indian filmmakers, inviting short films of up to 10 minutes. Up to 10 shortlisted films screen in Delhi, and the winner also earns a place at the 15th Script Fiesta in Warsaw, Poland, in March 2027.
Sources
European Union Film Festival 2026 announcement, as reported by IANS on 2 November 2026; festival programme details as reported on 2 November 2026; Delegation of the European Union to India, festival information.
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