ENNF 2024

The 16th edition of the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival will take place from 27 November to 1 December 2024, in Filmhuis Den Haag.
The ENFF goes On Tour in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Utrecht and Maastricht in September, October and November of 2024.

Festival sections

• CURRENT RELEVANT CINEMA
• FAMILY FILM
• OLD GOLD
• DOCUMENTARIS OPEN DEBATES
• NEW TALENTS COMPETITION
• BETWEEN FILM AND ART
• SHORT FILMS GREAT STORIES
• MEMORY IN CINEMA
• LGBTQIA+: PERCEPTIONS OF GENDER IDENTITY
• STRONG FEMALE VOICES

Focus Program

MEMORY IN CINEMA

Panel:

EXPLORATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE MEMORY IN CINEMA

Winner new talent competition:

VICTORY, by ZULFIKAR FILANDRA
Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2024, 22′

For current news and more information:

easternneighboursfilmfestival.nl
filmhuisdenhaag.nl

ENNF 2023

22 – 26 November 2023 Filmhuis The Hague, Netherlands

Focus program:

MEMORY IN CINEMA
The 15th edition of the ENFF, celebrating its jubilee, will unfold from November 22 to 26, 2023, at Filmhuis Den Haag. Embracing a dynamic lineup, this edition boasts familiar favorites such as CURRENT, RELEVANT CINEMA, showcasing Dutch premieres of cutting-edge fiction films, and DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES, delving into regional current affairs and sensitive topics. SHORT FILMS, BIG STORIES provides a stage for thought-provoking short films, while NEW TALENTS COMPETITION supports emerging filmmakers from Eastern and Southern Europe, showcasing their debut or graduating films. Audiences have the chance to vote for the Audience Award (€1000 prize).

UKRAINE – A New Perspective returns by popular demand, following a remarkable reception last year, bringing forth an assortment of films by Ukrainian makers. The ever-popular OLD GOLD, featuring classics from days gone by, will once again grace our screens. For family-friendly cinematic enjoyment, FAMILY FILM is a perfect choice. Additionally, we’re thrilled to introduce four exciting new sections this jubilee year: FORBIDDEN FILM revisits films once banned in the region; HAVE A LAUGH presents a well-loved comedy; LGBTQIA+ films celebrate gender fluidity in the Balkans, and FILM MARATHON blends SHORT FILMS, BIG STORIES, and NEW TALENTS COMPETITION into a captivating marathon at the intimate Boutique Cinema Filmzaal of Filmhuis Den Haag. Sarajevo City of Film adds another layer to our program with a selection of remarkable shorts, all capturing the essence of Sarajevo. Lastly, WORK IN PROGRESS invites emerging filmmakers and artists to share their works in development with the audience and engage in discussions with Dutch experts.

Join us for a cinematic celebration that transcends borders and resonates with diverse stories and perspectives.

Focus:

MEMORY IN CINEMA
Memory is a dynamic force, not confined to the past but actively shaping our present and influencing our outlook on the future. When confronted with ongoing war and conflicts, how do we navigate the anticipation of the future? Exploring the theme of memory in film, we aim to comprehend the present by unraveling the layers of personal and collective history through the lens of remembrance and archival content.

Focus country: Slovakia

Our curated selection offers a glimpse into the rich tapestry of contemporary Slovak cinema, which has experienced significant growth in recent years, showcasing a surge of young filmmakers, daring narratives, and genre innovations.

Winner New Talents Competition:

>The Trip, by Rimantas Oicenka
Litouwen, 2022, 25′

For current news and more information:

easternneighboursfilmfestival.nl
filmhuisdenhaag.nl

ENNF 2022

23-27 November 2022 Filmhuis The Hague, Netherlands

Focus program:

GAZE

The 14th edition of the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival (ENFF) takes place from 23 to 27 November 2022. ENFF presents a selection of recent and high quality films from East and Southeast Europe. The festival focuses on productions which would often otherwise not be screened in theaters in the Netherlands. The carefully compiled program provides insight into the reality of the cultural, political and socio-economic conditions in the region, and the development of its local younger and older talents. The program includes feature films, documentaries, short films and animations. It connects different genres and themes; from current developments in cinema, to historical specialties; from experimental documentaries to art house films. The festival as well engages current debates and questions regarding film aesthetics, ethics, social issues, film theory and artistic forms. The ENFF annually takes place in November in Filmhuis The Hague, and goes On Tour in Amsterdam (Rialto, de Balie, Kriterion), Rotterdam (Kino) and Utrecht (Louis Hartlooper Complex).

The focus program GAZE looks at how specific closed communities are being depicted by filmmakers – outsiders. Is it necessary for a filmmaker to speak the language of hers/his film protagonist, whose gaze it is in a documentary? Next to selection of films, we’ll also have a Film Talk about the topic.

Close up – Ukraine

Our closing film brings a disturbing and compelling story from the country that has been the focus of the world’s attention for the last ten months. Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom explores the courage of the Ukrainian people, fiercely determined to stand their ground until ‘the last drop of blood’. The director is Oscar-nominated Evgeny Afineevsky. Next to the closing film from Ukraine, we screen three Ukrainian works in progress, all directed by female authors. The aim is to bring them one step forward in their process, to give them visibility, and constructive feedback that might be instrumental in their finishing part of the creative process.

More information about the ENFF 2022 program can be found in the catalog: https://enff.nl/catalogue-2022/
For photo and video reports and interviews with filmmakers you can visit:
https://enff.nl/photo-gallery-2022
and the ENFF YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/EasternNeighbours

Winner New Talents Competition:

Branka by Akos K. Kovacs
Hungary, 2021, 20′

For current news and more information:

www.enff.nl

ENFF 2022 (2021 edition)

20-24 April 2022 Filmhuis The Hague, Netherlands

Focus program:

BETWEEN MEMORY AND HISTORY

The 13th edition of the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival, which should have taken place in November 2021, is postponed and will take place from 20 to 24 April 2022. In the focus program BETWEEN MEMORY AND HISTORY we present films by filmmakers that explore (forgotten) histories, and bring them to life in creative ways.

Eastern Neighbours Film Festival presents a selection of recent and high quality films from East and Southeast Europe; countries with relatively small, but powerful film industries. The festival focuses on productions which would often otherwise not be screened in theaters in the Netherlands. The carefully compiled program provides insight into the reality of the cultural, political and socio-economic conditions in the region, and the development of its local younger and older talents. The program includes feature films, documentaries, short films and animations. It connects different genres and themes; from current developments in cinema, to historical specialties; from experimental documentaries to art house films. The festival as well engages current debates and questions regarding film aesthetics, ethics, social issues, film theory and artistic forms. The ENFF annually takes place in November in Filmhuis The Hague, and goes On Tour in Amsterdam (Rialto, de Balie, Kriterion), Rotterdam (Kino), Utrecht (Louis Hartlooper Complex) and in Nijmegen (Lux).

Winner new talent competition:

Beyond the Sea by Anastasija Pirozenko
Netherlands, 2020, 27′

More information about the ENFF 2022 program can be found in the catalog:
https://enff.nl/catalogue-2021-22/.

ENFF 2020

4-15 November 2020 ONLINE VIA FILMPLATFORM PICL
Focus program: WOMEN’S POWER

The 12th edition of the Eastern Neighbours Film Festival will take place from 4 to 15 November 2020 online. In the focus program WOMEN’S POWER we present films by young and upcoming, and established female directors form the region.

More information about the ENFF 2020 program can be found in the catalogue: https://enff.nl/catalogue-2020/
For photo and video reports and interviews with filmmakers you can visit: https://enff.nl/photo-gallery-2019/ and the ENFF YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/EasternNeighbours

Eastern Neighbours Film Festival presents a selection of recent and high quality films from East and Southeast Europe; countries with relatively small, but powerful film industries. The festival focuses on productions which would often otherwise not be screened in theaters in the Netherlands. The carefully compiled program provides insight into the reality of the cultural, political and socio-economic conditions in the region, and the development of its local younger and older talents. The program includes feature films, documentaries, short films and animations. It connects different genres and themes; from current developments in cinema, to historical specialties; from experimental documentaries to art house films. The festival as well engages current debates and questions regarding film aesthetics, ethics, social issues, film theory and artistic forms. The ENFF annually takes place in November in Filmhuis The Hague, and goes On Tour to other cities in the Netherlands. In 2020 due to the corona measures the ENFF goes On Tour only with screenings in Amsterdam (Rialto) and in Utrecht (Louis Hartlooper Complex).

WINNER NEW TALENTS COMPETITION:
Camouflage by Aleksandra Swierk
Polen, 2018, 19′

For current news and information you can visit the website: www.enff.nl