5th European film festival returns to Pakistan, celebration of stories, culture, connection

ISLAMABAD: The 5th European Film Festival (EUFF) returns to Pakistan this weekend, with events scheduled across Islamabad, Sialkot and Jamshoro/Hyderabad.

The festival brings audiences together through European and Pakistani cinema, live performances, interactive experiences and cultural exchange.

Presented by the European Union and curated by Olomopolo Media, the festival will feature European feature films, documentaries and experimental shorts, alongside a curated selection of Pakistani short films. The program will also include live performances, a children’s segment, interactive installations and an industry session for filmmakers, said a release issued here on Thursday.

The European Film Festival was first held in Pakistan in 2021 and since then, the travelling festival has been held in Gilgit, Quetta, Peshawar, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Multan, Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, with a focus on cultural exchange and dialogue through cinema.

The 2026 edition will take place in Islamabad on 12 and 13 September at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA). In addition to film screenings, the program will include a Stand-up Comedy & Improv Showcase and a Children’s Segment featuring a family-friendly European film with a storytelling and music session.

The festival will then travel to Sialkot on 16 and 17 September, with events taking place at Government College Women University and GRID by BLCK, before concluding in Jamshoro/Hyderabad on 29 and 30 September at SABS University of Art, Design & Heritages. A live musical performance will form part of the closing program.

Alongside the screenings, audiences will have access to immersive experiences which will be an integral part of this year’s festival, with installations including EUFF-Pakistan Express – a train installation, Wall of Fame, Human Slot Game alongside a Reading Nook and Kids’ Corner. This year’s program will also include the Filmmakers’ Mixer, a new Industry Program session.

The festival is aimed at young audiences, families, members of the film fraternity, film enthusiasts and diplomats. Its objectives include expanding cinematic experiences and conversations, using cinema as a means of connecting cultures, and creating spaces for collective activities and engagement.

The 5th European Film Festival (EUFF) 2026 is curated and organized by Olomopolo Media.