It will be a rare treat to Sri Lankan film lovers when the European Union Film Festival opens from November 28 to December 7 in Colombo. Initiated by the Goethe-Institute Sri Lanka, the EU Film Festival 2008, will be the biggest European film event in Sri Lanka providing the interested audience with the opportunity of viewing exceptional modern cinema from 7 EU countries and two European guest countries.

It will seek to promote through art cinema a cross cultural dialogue on a range of issues, particularly on modern day topics. The intention is to bring quality cinema to a large audience in Sri Lanka, foster the local art film production as well as be a source of inspiration and critical approach for the filmmakers themselves.

The Eight day Festival from Saturday November 29 to December 6 will have three screenings at 10. 30 am, 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm at the BMICH cinema hall. And the films shown this year come from France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and all of the films will carry English subtitles.

The festival will be opened on November 28 with 'Nosferatu' at 6 pm with the opening gala at the Regal cinema Colombo. This film will also be accompanied by live music performance by Brasilian Trio from Regensburg, Germany with percussion, wind instruments and tape-in capturing the mood of the vampire classic.

'Nosferatu', (A Symphony of Horror) German Expressionist vampire horror film, directed by F. W. Murnau was shot in 1921 and released in 1922. The festival will have two UK films "And When Did You Last See Your Father?" and "Brick Lane".

"And When Did You Last See Your Father?" a biopic drama directed by Anand Tucker was awarded the Best Foreign Damata Trailer- Golden Trailer Awards and it stars Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth and Juliet Stevenson. "Brick Lane" directed by Sarah Gavron was awarded the Best Screenplay/ Silver Hitchcock at Dinard British Film Festival and C.I.C.A.E. Award at San Sebastian International Film Festival.

The two films "Les chansons d'amour" (Love Songs) and "Meurtrières" (Murderers) will represent France at the festival. Golden Palm winner at 2007 Cannes Festival "Les chansons d'amour" is a musical directed by Christophe Honore. Directed by Patrick Grandperret, "Meurtrières" won Prize of the Jury President (Un Certain Regard) at 2006 Cannes.

In addition to "Nosferatu", German film "Gegen die Wand" (Head-On) directed by Fatih Akin will be shown. Winner of Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival 2004 this romanticdrama runs for 121 minutes.
The festival will have two films from Netherlands. "Leef" (Live" directed by William van de Sande Bakhuyzen won four prizes at Netherlands Film Festival 2005. "Dennis P", directed by Pieter Kuijpers is a comedy released in 2007. "Kitchen Stories" directed by Bent Hamer is the Norwegian representation for the EU festival in Sri Lanka. Sweden film "Masjavlar" (Dalecarlians) will be part of the festival.

Directed by Maria Blom the film has won Golden Iris- Brussels European Film Festival. "War Photographer" Switzerland film directed by Christian Frei is about the American photographer James Nachtwey. The film shows Nachtwey's motivation, fears and his daily routine as a war photographer and it was nominated for Oscar in 2001.

On November 29 UK film "And When Did You Last See Your Father?", German film 'Alles auf Zucker (Go for Zucker)' and French film Meurtrières (Murderers) will be screened at 10.30 am, 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm.
Dutch movie "Dennis P", French film "Les chansons d'amour (Love Songs) and "Brick Lane" UK film will be screened on Nov 30 and on December 1 "Alles auf Zucker" (Go for Zucker), "And When Did You Last See Your Father?" and Swiss film "War Photographer". On December 2 "Les chansons d'amour" (Love Songs), "Dennis P" and Dutch film "Leef" (Live) will be shown. On December 3 "War Photographer", "Leedf" and Norwagian film "Kitchen Stories". On December 4 "Brick Lane at 10.30 am and "Gegen die Wand" (Head-On) at 6.30 pm. "Meurtrières" (Murderers), "Kitchen Stories" and "Masjavlar" (Dalecarlians) will be shown on December 5 Friday and on the last date December 6 "Gegen die Wand" and "Masjavlar" will be screened at 10.30 am and 3.30 pm and Sri Lankan film 'Julia' scheduled to be screened at NFC theatre at Bauddhaloka Mawatha at 6.30 pm as the closing film.

In addition to the film screening, there will be a workshop on European cinema on December 4 at 3.30 pm.