KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Starting October 19, 2017, the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) will be returning for its 18th edition in Malaysia.

It was revealed at the press conference for the film festival, held at GSC Mid Valley Megamall earlier today, that a total of 23 movies will be shown at this year’s EUFF.

"Cultural diversity has always been at the core of the European project,” said Maria Castillo Fernandez, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia. "Through EUFF, we hope this could promote diversity in the core of cultural relations as it is an important part of the EU’s role as a global actor.”

EUFF shows "how different we are but still united”, she added.

While celebrating diversity, this year’s EUFF also focuses on youth, as evident in several of the chosen titles, such as Mystery Of Green Hill, My Life As A Zucchini and In Line For Anne Frank.

Maria Castillo Fernandez says EUFF also focuses on youth this year.

The film festival will kick off at GSC Mid Valley Megamall and GSC Pavilion KL in Klang Valley from 19 to 29 October.

After Klang Valley, EUFF 2017 will be held at GSC Gurney Plaza in Penang from 2 to 8 November, before heading to East Malaysia from 16 to 22 November at GSC CityOne Megamall in Kuching, Sarawak, and 30 November to 6 December at GSC Suria Sabah Mall in Kota Kinabalu.

Italy’s Fire At Sea was screened at today’s press conference while Belgium’s Tokyo Fiancée is set as the opening film at the launch of the film festival this October 19.

Several of the movies will be screened for free to the public, which include the abovementioned Fire At Sea, Happy 140 (Spain), Do You See Me (Italy), Car Park (Hungary), Attenborough And The Giant Dinosaur (UK) and In Line For Anne Frank (The Netherlands).

Other movies that will be shown at EUFF 2017 are Cosy Dens, Swagger, Ants On A Shrimp, Two Lottery Tickets, The Commune, One Hell Of A Ride, Big Game, Miss Christina, The Girl Who Saved My Life, The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki, Planet Single, Victoria, Coconut Hero, Café Derby and the aforementioned Mystery Of Green Hill and My Life As A Zucchini.

Tickets are priced at RM8 each, except for The Happiest Day In The Life Of Olli Maki, which is set at prevailing GSC ticket pricing.

Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia, along with 17 European Union Member States and Switzerland, EUFF 2017 is also supported by local partner organisations Cinema Online and Golden Screen Cinemas. — Cinema Online