As Malta celebrates its 20th anniversary within the EU, the 2024 EU National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) Film Festival showcased the power of film to reflect Europe’s cultural mosaic. THINK explores what it means to be European.
EUNIC is the European network of organisations engaging in cultural collaborations. With over 100 countries participating in this network, EUNIC is exemplary in actively promoting the role of culture in international relations through its 136 clusters. While collaborations and cultural exchanges supported by EUNIC can take various formats, their film festival exclusively focuses on bridging cultures through the medium of film.
The fourth edition of the EUNIC Film Festival (24–29 September, 2024), themed ‘United in Diversity’, saw the participation of twelve embassies and cultural organisations. Over six days, Valletta’s Spazju Kreattiv showed fourteen screenings, each exploring identity, diversity, and unity. EUNIC’s annual festival in Malta is a celebration of European collaboration, highlighting stories that transcend borders while anchoring Malta as a cultural hub.
Path to EUNIC
With Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta (a UNESCO world heritage site) as its venue, ‘United in Diversity’ was poignant as the central theme for the 2024 EUNIC Film Festival. Valletta itself is the result of a confluence of cultures, languages, and peoples, ever since it was founded by the multicultural order of the Knights Hospitaller, whose rule was preceded by earlier chapters of Mediterranean influence. This film festival is therefore a fitting extension of that legacy, a testament to Malta’s place within the wider European project.
As a celebration of two decades in the EU, the theme reflected how Malta’s role has evolved. Once seen as a peripheral player, Malta is now recognised as a cultural hub with a vibrant arts scene. Notably, Malta hosted the rotating Presidency of the EU Council in 2017, followed by Valletta as the European Capital of Culture in 2018. The EUNIC Malta Cluster was subsequently launched in July 2021. The Cluster’s mission has been to contribute to sustainable development goals and to reflect the range of European cultures and values through joint European events and projects. The first co-presidency of EUNIC was led by the Austrian and Italian embassies while COVID-19 still posed a significant challenge due to the physical divisions required between people. Although much has changed in the world in a few short years, the 2024 theme resonated for the EUNIC festival and its preceding years as a whole, especially given the widening divisions in the world today.
For the fourth edition of the festival, the rotating co-presidency was led by the Dutch and Spanish embassies. The co-presidents were supported by ten other members and partners: the embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Poland, as well as the Alliance Française, Arts Council Malta, the British Council, the European Commission Representation, and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura.
United in Diversity
Marloes Arbouw, Policy Officer from the Dutch Embassy, comments: ‘The EUNIC Film Festival in Malta is more than just a cultural event; it’s a platform for connecting people, fostering mutual understanding, and telling stories that truly matter. 2024’s edition focuses on celebrating European diversity and promoting inclusivity through powerful storytelling.’
At a press launch on 18 September, 2024, which THINK had the opportunity to attend, Hon. Owen Bonnici, Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, cut the ribbon on the year’s selection of films. Speaking at the press launch, he announced that it was a special year for Malta in the context of EUNIC, as Mary Ann Cauchi, Director of Funds and Strategy at the Malta Arts Council, had been appointed as a Director of the EUNIC Board. He stated that this resulted from the Arts Council’s commitment to international cultural collaborations and inclusivity.
EUNIC itself is a fundamental reflection of the values espoused by the 2024 festival. The organisation was founded in Brussels in 2006 as a non-profit organisation, and from 2014, it has been co-financed by the European Commission’s Creative Europe programme. It is supported by administrative agreements with the EU, such as collaboration with the European External Action Service, the diplomatic arm of the European Union, and the Council of the European Union. EUNIC’s activities are not limited to Europe only: the network operates in more than 100 countries worldwide through 136 clusters.
What to Expect
Film, as a medium, possesses a unique ability to tell stories that transcend national borders, cultures, and identities. It therefore serves as an ideal platform to bring people together and bridge cultural divides by sharing relatable experiences. The festival presented a window into the richness of European narratives, all bound together by a common thread. In spite of linguistic and cultural differences, the selection of fourteen films presented emotions and challenges that reflect a shared human experience. Audiences engaged with stories that challenged stereotypes, highlighting marginal voices and celebrating the cultural variety that makes Europe – and by extension Malta – a mosaic of traditions, perspectives, and histories.
Malta’s production for 2024 was Carmen, set in Malta and inspired by true events. The production follows the titular Carmen, who has been caring for her brother, a priest in the local church, since she was sixteen. Now, nearly fifty, she begins a new life, finding her own independent voice. While confronting her past, Carmen brings colour to the lives of the villagers. The full range of films shown are available online.
The EUNIC film festival is more than just a series of screenings; it is a celebration of European values in action. The films are a reminder that unity does not require uniformity. Instead, it is through embracing differences that societies can find strength. For Malta, a country that has always navigated the currents of diverse influences, this festival in previous and future years stands as a testament to its ability to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and celebrate what makes Malta unique: its rich heritage over the millennia.
Stay tuned for the fifth edition of the EUNIC Film Festival later this year!
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