Now in its 24th year, Cine Europa exhibited 17 award-winning films from 15 EU Member States (EUMS) to promote the EU’s diverse and rich cultural heritage to the public.

Organised by the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the embassies of EU Member States (EUMS), in partnership with Goethe Institut Manila, the Philippine-Italian Association and Instituto Cervantes de Manila, the EU’s flagship film festival in the Philippines ran from 1 to 29 September 2021.

The free festival typically tours the country, introducing European cinema to a diverse cross-section of the public across various provinces. Although Covid-19-related restrictions forced the 2021 event online, a major advantage of the digital format was the opportunity for the films to reach a much larger online audience of more than 8,400 – compared to 6,000 in 2020.

In addition to the digital festival, 78 film and cinematography students, together with media and bloggers, joined a virtual session with director Andrés Sanz titled “Unfolding El Cuadro, the mystery behind Las Meninas”.