It's a Woman's World at the European Film Festival

The festival's theme of A Woman's World is explored in a selection of films that feature female directors, strong female characters or women-related stories. This year's EUFF features 12 internationally acclaimed films representing the best of European cinema, with 11 of these being screened for the first time in South Africa.

The EUFF is hosted by Cinema Nouveau, coordinated by the French Institute of South Africa, and organised in partnership with the European Union and 12 other European cultural agencies or embassies in South Africa: the British Council, the Camões Institute, the Goethe-Institut, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Embassy of Belgium and Wallonie-Bruxelles International, and the Embassies of Austria, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Poland and Spain.

Numerous awards and accolades

All the featured films are the recipients of numerous awards and accolades in their own countries and at international film festivals and competitions, including the Oscars, with the winner of the Best Foreign Language Film for 2015, Ida, as part of the exciting line-up. These are the latest productions from some of the most exciting and talented film directors and actors in Europe at the moment, and a true reflection of Europe's diverse and creative cinematography.

Says EUFF 2015 Director, Frédéric Chambon: "We are pleased to partner once more with Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau, together with the European Union and 12 European cultural agencies and embassies in South Africa, to present the 2015 edition of the European Film Festival. The films selected represent the best of today's European cinema and we hope the South African audience will once again enjoy this special treat for cinema lovers."

Darryl Els, EUFF 2015 Programmer, states: "This year's EUFF selection features 12 internationally acclaimed films around the theme A Woman's World, bringing a much-needed series of female voices, images and narratives to local cinema screens."

The 12 films lined up for EUFF 2015 - A Woman's World - are:

• Ida: Pawel Pawlikowski's film is the first Polish feature to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (2015) amidst rave reviews from around the world;
  
• Two Days, One Night: the latest project taken on by the multi-award-winning Dardenne brothers features French actress Marion Cotillard, nominated for the 2015 Best Actress Oscar;
  
• A Second Chance: directed by Academy Award-winning Susanne Bier, the film features Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones); San Sebastian Festival 2014;
  
• 3 Hearts: a French romantic drama starring film legend Catherine Deneuve; Venice International Film Festival 2014;
  
• Amour Fou: an Austrian tragi-comedy, inspired by the life and death of the historic poet Heinrich von Kleist (Christian Friedel); Cannes Film Festival 2014;
  
• Concrete Night: Finnish female director Pirjo Honkasalo's film is a dreamlike odyssey through beautiful Helsinki over the course of one night; Toronto International Film Festival 2014;
  
• Beloved Sisters: German Romanticism at its most expressively romantic, a cinematic tour de force from director Dominik Graf; Berlin International Film Festival 2014;
  
• Human Capital: Valeria Golina and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, two of Italy's leading actresses, in a film that San twists love, class and ambition; Tribeca Film Festival 2014;
  
• Frailer: with great humour and sincerity, Dutch female director Mijke de Jong draws an intimate portrait to capture the way we face death; Toronto International Film Festival 2014;
  
• Blood of my Blood: from Portugal, this film focuses on unconditional love - and the lengths two women are prepared to go to protect those they love; San Sebastian Festival 2011;
  
• Blancanieves: from Spanish director, Pablo Berger, Snow White is recast as a talented bullfighter in an eerie and erotic silent film treat; Toronto International Film Festival 2012; and
  
• My Brother the Devil: a masterful debut from female director Sally El Hosaini, one of the brightest new talents of the UK cinema; Berlin International Film Festival 2012

Lola Gallant, Brand Manager of Cinema Nouveau, is delighted that the EUFF festival has returned to Cinema Nouveau. "We pride ourselves on providing a platform to screen the best foreign language fare, and the 12 films lined up for the EUFF 2015 in May are must-see content. We are privileged to offer these films, many of which would otherwise not be accessible to local cinema audiences, as part of the festival, and are grateful for the support from all the partners involved in getting these films onto our cinema screens."

The festival offers a 10-day screening programme that takes place concurrently at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Cape Town (V&A Waterfront), Joburg (Rosebank Mall), Pretoria (Brooklyn Mall) and Durban (Gateway) from 8 to 17 May, 2015.

Bookings are now open. Special festival ticket rates will apply, including the benefits and discounts for members of SK Club, Discovery Vitality and Edgars Club, to make these foreign language films accessible to a wide cinema audience.

All the details regarding the festival schedule and bookings can be found on the Cinema Nouveau website www.cinemanouveau.co.za.