Films from EU-acceding countries

The seventh edition of the European Film Festival, a regular event on the local cultural calendar, is for the first time presenting films from a number of EU-acceding countries.

Films from countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic, which have a long-standing film industry, are being shown during the festival, the delegation of the European Commission to Malta said.

The festival opens on October 31 and goes on until November 18 offering film buffs the opportunity to watch movies that are not normally on the commercial market in Malta and which present a different perspective on the themes treated and the filming techniques.

A total of 20 films are being presented, mainly at Eden Century Cinemas, in St Julian's, with two at Citadel Theatre, in Victoria and three at St James Cavalier, in Valletta.

Since Italy currently holds the EU presidency, the film festival opens with an Italian film Prendimi l'Anima and closes with an Irish film, The Mystics, as Ireland takes over from Italy next January. Both are new films and The Mystics has just been released in London.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, the Alliance Francaise de Malte and the German-Maltese Circle are organising a special evening, with three silent films - masterpieces from the early days of cinematography - accompanied by a live orchestra.

The event is being held at the Embassy Cinema, in Valletta on November 4.

As in previous editions, the seventh European Film Festival is raising funds for a good cause, with this year's proceeds going to the Razzett tal-Hbiberija.

A programme of the festival is available on demand at the delegation of the European Commission, in Ta' Xbiex and tickets, costing Lm1, can be bought from the box offices of the various venues.