ISLAMABAD: The 5th European Film Festival (EUFF) will return to Pakistan this weekend, with events scheduled in Islamabad, Sialkot and Jamshoro/Hyderabad.
Presented by the European Union and curated by Olomopolo Media, the festival will bring together audiences through European and Pakistani cinema, live performances, interactive experiences and cultural exchange.
The festival will feature European feature films, documentaries and experimental shorts, along with a curated selection of Pakistani short films. The programme will also include live performances, a children’s segment, interactive installations and an industry session for filmmakers.
The European Film Festival was first held in Pakistan in 2021. Since then, the travelling festival has been organised in Gilgit, Quetta, Peshawar, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Multan, Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, with a focus on cultural exchange and dialogue through cinema.
The 2026 edition will be held in Islamabad on September 12 and 13 at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). In addition to film screenings, the Islamabad programme will include a Stand-up Comedy & Improv Showcase and a Children’s Segment featuring a family-friendly European film with a storytelling and music session.
The festival will then travel to Sialkot on September 16 and 17, with events at Government College Women University and GRID by BLCK. It will conclude in Jamshoro/Hyderabad on September 29 and 30 at SABS University of Art, Design & Heritages. A live musical performance will be part of the closing programme.
Alongside the screenings, audiences will have access to immersive experiences that will form an integral part of this year’s festival. Installations will include EUFF-Pakistan Express, a train installation, Wall of Fame, Human Slot Game, as well as a Reading Nook and Kids’ Corner.
This year’s programme will also include the Filmmakers’ Mixer, a new industry programme session.
The festival is aimed at young audiences, families, members of the film fraternity, film enthusiasts and diplomats. Its objectives include expanding cinematic experiences and conversations, using cinema as a means of connecting cultures, and creating spaces for collective activities and engagement.
