ArrayBrežice will host the European Film Festival (FEF) for the third time at the end of August. Remaining true to its core mission, the festival continues to bring the very best of European cinema closer to Slovenian audiences.
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European Film Festival Brežice to Showcase Award-Winning European Cinema from 26–29 August
From 26 to 29 August, the European Film Festival Brežice (FEF) will bring outstanding European cinema to Slovenian audiences, presenting acclaimed films awarded at the world's leading film festivals. An international jury, several Slovenian festival premieres, and a new award for outstanding contribution to European cinema mark the festival's next stage of development.
Over four festival days, audiences will have the opportunity to watch films that have shaped the programmes of the world's most prestigious festivals in Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, and Karlovy Vary, with several titles screening in Slovenia for the very first time.
The festival demonstrates that exceptional European cinema is not reserved for major metropolitan centres. Brežice continues to establish itself as a destination where outstanding film, cultural heritage, gastronomy, and an increasingly knowledgeable audience come together.
Ivan Molan, Mayor of the Municipality of Brežice:
"The European Film Festival is the result of years of investment in the cultural development of our town and close cooperation between the municipality, public institutions in culture, tourism and education, local associations, and numerous volunteers. Together, they create an event that offers a high-quality cultural experience for local residents while reaching well beyond regional borders. It is particularly important that the festival engages young audiences, introduces them to European filmmaking, and strengthens the cultural life of our community."
In just three years, the European Film Festival Brežice has grown beyond the scope of a local event to become one of Slovenia's most exciting emerging film festivals. Its distinctive identity lies in combining exceptional European cinema with the local environment, creating a space where the people of Brežice and the Posavje region can experience the films that define the contemporary European film landscape.
Mojca Florjanič, Founder and Executive Director of the Festival:
"The European Film Festival brought a fresh cinematic spirit to Brežice from its very first edition, and we continue to build on that foundation. Our ambition is to give the festival a broader European dimension—not only through cinema, but also by connecting tourism, culture, and accompanying events. This year we are taking the festival to a new level with an international jury, numerous international guests, and a richer accompanying programme. Film remains at the heart of the festival, while around it we are creating a complete festival experience for visitors of all generations."
This year's programme presents an exceptional selection of films by some of Europe's most celebrated filmmakers. Highlights include Pedro Almodóvar's Bitter Christmas, Cristian Mungiu's Fjord, winner of this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes, Paolo Sorrentino's Grace, Sergei Loznitsa's Two Prosecutors, Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague, and Agnieszka Holland's Franz, alongside several Slovenian premieres and award-winning films from Europe's leading festivals.
Dr Aleš Pavlin, Founder and Programme Director of the Festival:
"A great film festival must have both soul and heart. That is exactly how we conceived the European Film Festival, and every year we strive to share that spirit with our audience, who reward us with their continued support. Outstanding films and distinguished guests are, of course, equally important. This year Brežice will welcome significantly more international filmmakers than ever before. The programme includes ten evening feature films, three Slovenian premieres, and two Slovenian festival premieres. We are especially proud to present this year's Palme d'Or winner from Cannes. We believe Brežice is becoming a destination worth visiting for the very best of European cinema."
The competing films will contend for the festival's Golden Eye Award, with winners selected by an international jury consisting of Croatian actress Leona Paraminski, Slovenian film director Marko Naberšnik, and Cypriot film director and Artistic Director of the Cyprus Film Days International Festival, Petros Charalambous.
A new addition to this year's festival is the Award for Outstanding Contribution to European Cinema, with the first recipient to be announced in mid-August.
The European Film Festival Brežice is organised by the vKrog Association with financial support from the Municipality of Brežice and the Slovenian Film Centre. The festival is held in close cooperation with the Posavje Museum Brežice, which hosts the main festival venue; the Institute for Entrepreneurship, Tourism and Youth Brežice (ZPTM Brežice), which will offer special tourist packages and concerts during the festival; and the Faculty of Tourism, University of Maribor, which will enrich the programme with its first Summer School dedicated to literary tourism, film, and wine.
The close collaboration between cultural, tourism, educational, and local partners remains one of the festival's defining characteristics. This year the festival expands even further into the historic town centre, bringing the festival atmosphere closer to residents, visitors, local restaurants, and tourism providers.
More information about the festival and the programme: www.fef.si
