Euro Balkan Film Festival is a film festival established in by ''Associazione Occhio Blu Anna Cenerini Bova'' and held annually in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. The event promotes cultural cooperation between Italy and the

Balkan The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

countries. Its partners include the Italian Ministry of Culture and

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

Cinecittà Cinecittà Studios (; Italian for Cinema City Studios), is a large film studio in Rome, Italy. With an area of 400,000 square metres (99 acres), it is the largest film studio in Europe, and is considered the hub of Italian cinema. The studios we ...

, Croatian Audiovisual Centre, and many more. The festival was founded in 2018 and initially titled ''Balkan Film Festival''. The change of name was announced in 2024, as explained by the festival's president Mario Bova, the rename was made in homage to the common European origins of all Balkan cinema. The festival's main venues are Nuovo Cinema Aquila and Casa del Cinema, but the screenings also take place at 8 different locations around the city. The festival includes various cultural events, meetings, and workshops.

Editions

2020

The 5th edition was held from 8 to 11 October 2020. Film-opening: ''

Honeyland ''Honeyland'' ( mk, Медена земја, Romanization of Macedonian, transliterated: ''Medena zemja'') is a 2019 North Macedonia, Macedonian documentary film that was directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov. It portrays the life ...

'' by

Tamara Kotevska Tamara Kotevska ( mk, Тамара Котевска; born 9 August 1993) is a Macedonian filmmaker best known for her 2019 documentary ''Honeyland''. Early life Kotevska was born in Prilep, Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia). She earne ...

and

Ljubomir Stefanov Ljubomir Stefanov ( mk, Љубомир Стефанов; born 1975) is a Macedonian filmmaker best known for co-directing the 2019 documentary ''Honeyland'' with Tamara Kotevska. The documentary received two nominations at the 92nd Academy Awar ...

, other screenings included by ''Defunct'' Zacharias Mavroeidis,

The Voice The Voice may refer to: Fictional entities * The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics * The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe * The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...

Ognjen Sviličić Ognjen Sviličić (born 1971 in Split) is a screenwriter and film director, based in Berlin noted for his critically acclaimed 2007 films Sorry For Kung Fu, '' Armin and These Are the Rules'' Career Sviličić was born 1971 in Split, in a fami ...

Kristina Grozeva Kristina Yordanova Grozeva ( bg, Кристина Йорданова Грозева; born January 26, 1976) is a Bulgarian filmmaker. She is best known for her cinematography on feature films such as '' The Lesson'' (2014), '' Glory'' (2016) and ...

's and

Petar Valchanov Petar Valchanov ( bg, Петър Вълчанов; born May 15, 1982) is a Bulgarian filmmaker. He is best known for his cinematography on feature films such as '' The Lesson'' (2014), '' Glory'' (2016) and '' The Father'' (2019). Biography Valch ...

's '' The Father'', etc. The retrospective included '' The General of the Dead Army'' by

Luciano Tovoli Luciano Tovoli, (born 30 October 1936) is an Italian cinematographer and filmmaker. With a career spanning over five decades, he is considered one of Italy's premier cinematographers, collaborating with numerous acclaimed filmmakers such as Mic ...

2021

The 5th edition was held from 6 to 10 October 2021. The opening day included a talk with

Milcho Manchevski Milcho Manchevski ( mk, Милчо Манчевски, )"Milcho Manchevski: Full Biography"

and a special screening of his film ''
VRBA Vrba ("willow" in several Slavic languages) may refer to: Places Austria * Velden am Wörther See ( sl, Vrba na Koroškem, link=no) Bosnia and Herzegovina * Vrba (Glamoč), Bosnia and Herzegovina * Vrba (Gacko), Bosnia and Herzegovina Mon ...
''. The edition hosted a panel ''Cinema al femminile nei Balcani'' (''Women in Balkan cinema''). The edition featured the Italian premiere of Andrea Štaka's ''Mare'', as well as a special screening of
Goran Paskaljević Goran Paskaljević ( sr-cyr, Горан Паскаљевић; ; 22 April 1947 – 25 September 2020) was a Serbian and former Yugoslav film director. Biography Born in Belgrade, he was raised by his grandparents in Niš in southern Serbia, foll ...
's '' Honeymoons''. The festival was closed by Gregor Božič's '' Stories from the Chestnut Woods''.

2022
The 5th edition took place from November 29 to December 4, 2022. The festival was opened with a discussion on Balkan cinema between
Jasmila Žbanić Jasmila Žbanić (; born 19 December 1974) is a Bosnian film director, screenwriter and producer, best known for having written and directed ''Quo Vadis, Aida?'' (2020), which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Languag ...
and Francesco Ranieri Martinotti, and the screening of ''
Quo Vadis, Aida? ''Quo Vadis, Aida?'' ( '' Where are you going, Aida?'') is a 2020 Bosnian film written, produced and directed by Jasmila Žbanić. An international co-production of twelve production companies, the film was shown in the main competition section ...
'' 12 films were selected for the main competition, including ''The Albanian Virgin'' by Bujar Alimani, ' by Dusan Milic, Christos Passalis&
Syllas Tzoumerkas Syllas Tzoumerkas () is a Greek film director, screenwriter, and actor. Life and early work Syllas Tzoumerkas was born in Thessaloniki. He studied theatre and directing for Film and Television at the L.Stavrakos Film School and the University ...
's ''The City and the City'', etc.

2023
The 6th edition went on from 7 to 13 November 2023. The jury included Elma Tataragic, Gregor Bozic, Wilma Labate, Amedeo Pagani, Mario Bova, and Roland Sejko. Best Director award went to Sara Kern for ''Moja Vesna'' (Slovenia-Australia co-production), Best Film — ''Safe Place'' by Juraj Lerotić (Croatia/Slovenia), Best Actress —
Ksenija Marinković Ksenija Marinković (born 18 April 1966) is a Croatian film, television and theatre actress. Biography Ksenija Marinković was born in Virovitica in 1966 where she finished high school. Ever since she was eight until entering the Academy of Dr ...
for '' Have You Seen This Woman?'', Best Short — ''Things Unheard Of'' by Ramazan Kiliç, Best Actor — Goran Marković and Juraj Lerotić for '' Safe Place'' by Juraj Lerotić (Croatia/Slovenia), Special Mention — ''Granny’s sexual life'' by Urška Djukić & Émilie Pigeard, Best Screenplay — ''Air Hostess-737'' by Thananis Neofotistou.

2024
On 20–21 April 2024, the festival will host a two-day preview in
Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
.

References
{{reflist Film festivals in Italy Film festivals in Rome