The Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines together with the EU Member States Embassies and the EU Cultural Institutes are proud to present Cine Europa 29 from 28 May to 4 July 2026.
This year’s Cine Europa will feature 17 full feature films and three documentaries from different EU Member States. The Manila screenings will run in the Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong City from 28 May to 3 June and in Rizal Park from 15 June to 20 June 2026. Screenings will also be held in Tacloban (11 June to 15 June) and Cagayan de Oro (29 June to 4 July) for wider audience reach across the country.
These films range from historical dramas to fiction, adventure to comedy, a testament to the diversity of European cinematic creatives. Seasoned cinephiles and European film neophiles can enjoy these films for free at all venues.
Cine Europa 29 will launch its 2026 edition at Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong City, through the film festival’s long standing partner Shangri-La Properties. The media was invited to a press conference on 14 May 2026 and was treated to a screening of a feature film of the beloved animated film Lampo the Traveling Dog, a touching family adventure film from Poland about a friendship between a sick girl and a remarkable dog that rides trains across the country.
The other films that will be screened for Cine Europa 29 are:
- The Waves from Czech – Set during the Prague Spring of 1968 and the subsequent Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia, the story follows journalists at Czechoslovak Radio as they attempt to broadcast uncensored information while under surveillance and political pressure. Through the perspective of a young man drawn into their work, the film explores moral courage, resistance, and the power of media in times of crisis.
- Summer is Crazy from Finland – Set in the Finnish archipelago during the midsummer week, this ensemble film follows the dreams and disappointments of one family and their friends and lovers. After the bankruptcy of their fine dining restaurant, the Eerolas are stuck in the seaside village of Nauvo with no clear plan for the future.
- Hidden People from Slovenia – The film follows Guti, a struggling Slovenian man, and Sig, an Icelandic tourist suffering from memory loss, who wake up handcuffed together on a riverbank near Ljubljana. Blending absurd humour with emotional depth, the film portrays an unexpected friendship between two outsiders while reflecting on displacement, social marginalisation, and the search for belonging in contemporary Europe.
- Four Mother from Ireland – The film follows a novelist on the verge of success who suddenly finds himself responsible not only for his own mother but also for her elderly friends. Set in Dublin, the film humorously and poignantly explores caregiving, aging, and intergenerational relationships.
- Head or Fails from Belgium – The movie tells the story of individuals caught in cycles of risk-taking and uncertain choices, where each decision carries lasting consequences. As their lives intertwine, the film examines themes of addiction, chance, and personal responsibility. It presents a raw and grounded portrayal of how small decisions can shape entire futures.
- Sleeping with a Tiger from Austria – A biographical drama about Austrian painter Maria Lassnig, the film traces different stages of her life as she develops her distinctive artistic vision. Moving through memories, imagination, and moments of solitude, Lassnig confronts personal struggles, artistic doubt, and the challenges of working in a male-dominated art world.
- Peacock from Austria – The film follows Matthias, a professional “rent-a-companion” who can be hired to play any role—such as a cultured boyfriend, a perfect son, or a social partner for various situations. While he excels at adapting to others’ expectations and performing different identities for clients, his constant impersonation begins to blur the line between performance and reality.
- The Dance Club from Sweden – The film follows a group of misfit patients at a psychiatric clinic who form an unlikely alliance – The Dance Club – where they ask a radical question: are there ways to heal that don’t involve pills and labels?
- Lampo the Travelling Dog from Poland – This is a 2023 Polish family adventure film about the friendship between a sick girl and a remarkable dog that rides trains across the country.
- Lost of Balance from Poland – The film follows Maja, a young acting student nearing graduation, who struggles with self-doubt and uncertainty about her future. As rehearsals intensify, Maja is pushed to her emotional limits, blurring the line between artistic dedication and psychological control.
- Roter Himmel (Afire) from Germany – The film follows a group of young people spending a hot summer by the Baltic Sea as nearby forest fires slowly encroach on their surroundings. The movie delicately weaves together themes of love, ego, and creative crisis, while the ever-present threat of fire mirrors the characters’ internal turmoil.
- Maricel from Cyprus – The film follows a Filipina domestic worker who is hired to care for an elderly couple in a remote mountain village in Cyprus. What initially appears to be a straightforward caregiving role gradually reveals deeper tensions, emotional dependency, and unspoken histories within the household. As relationships evolve, Maricel becomes entangled in a complex dynamic balancing duty, intimacy, and personal boundaries.
- Gloria from Italy – The film is set in a women’s institution in Venice at the end of the 18th century, on the eve of social and cultural transformation. The story follows Teresa, a young servant with an extraordinary musical talent, who lives among a group of marginalized girls. When a new piano arrives, Teresa and the others begin experimenting with music in unconventional ways, challenging the rigid structures imposed on them.
- Sentimental Value from the EU Delegation – The film follows an aging filmmaker who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter by casting her in his next film. As they navigate unresolved tensions and emotional distance, the project becomes a deeply personal exploration of memory, grief, and the complexities of family relationships. Set against a reflective, intimate backdrop, the film examines how art can both heal and reopen wounds, blending meta-cinema with a poignant study of reconciliation and identity.
- How Can I Live Without You from Hungary – The story follows Lili, a young woman coping with loss, who discovers her mother’s diary and old love letters. As she reads them, the narrative shifts to the early 1990s, where her mother Eszter spends a summer at Lake Balaton with friends. Determined to remain faithful to her boyfriend, Eszter’s plans are disrupted when she meets Geri, a carefree musician. What unfolds is a story of love, jealousy, and emotional awakening, with consequences that echo into the next generation.
- Campamento garra de oso (Bear Claw Camp) from Spain – The film is about Maia, an imaginative and lively girl, and Jan, a fearful city boy, who race against time to save the summer camp threatened by eccentric builder Sebastián Sebastián. In their mission, they relentlessly search for a bear they believe still inhabits the valley but remains unseen, aided by Fritz, a funny and grumpy talking skunk which will accompany them in this life-changing adventure.
- Un Ours Dans La Jura from France – Set in the snowy Jura mountains, Un Ours dans la Jura follows a struggling couple whose lives take an unexpected turn after a car accident leads them to discover a large sum of money. What begins as an opportunity quickly spirals into a chain of increasingly absurd and dangerous events, as greed, paranoia, and poor decisions push them deeper into trouble.
While the 3 documentaries are:
- Andy Warhol: American Dream from Slovakia – The documentary traces the extraordinary journey of Andy Warhol, the son of poor immigrants from the Carpathian region, who rose from a Slovak-Rusyn community in Pittsburgh to become one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Beyond the well-known myth of the pop-art icon, the film explores the cultural and spiritual roots that shaped his life and work.
- Nasty from Romania – This is a documentary about Ilie Năstase, the legendary Romanian tennis player who rose to global fame despite coming from a relatively unknown country behind the Iron Curtain. The film charts his remarkable achievements on the court, alongside his unpredictable personality, marked by charisma, controversy, and explosive behavior.
- A Simple Soldier from Ukraine – Set against the backdrop of war in eastern Ukraine, A Simple Soldier follows an ordinary man drawn into the harsh realities of frontline service, where survival depends as much on instinct as on discipline. Far from heroic myths, his journey reveals the quiet resilience and inner conflicts of those caught in a conflict larger than themselves, as he navigates fear, loyalty, and the shifting line between duty and doubt.
This year’s Cine Europa was made possible through partners such as the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Shangri-la Plaza Corporation, Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban, Liceo Cagayan de Oro University and National Parks Development Committee.
Everyone is free to watch these films from Cine Europa 29 from the festival’s partner venues. For more information, please visit Cine Europa’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cineeuropaph).
