The 18th annual Eurocine Film Festival, featuring a variety of European cinematic gems, began Thursday in Bogota with the Finnish director Dome Karukoski’s “Lapland Odyssey” before moving on to other Colombian cities.
The festival, which continues in the Colombian capital until April 29, will showcase Finland’s diverse cinema with five films screening and a retrospective of Scandinavian master Aki Kaurismäki. There is also a showcase displaying Nordic documentaries in the Helsinki DocPoint category. Karukoski will also run a workshop for students and filmmakers on April 21 and 22.
“We want to change the idea that European cinema is heavy and sad. Therefore, we believe in variety, in bringing beautiful films that range in narrative from animation, comedy and classics. We want to broaden the spectrum,” explained Exhibition Director German Hoppe Theresa.
Dozens of screenings will take place in Bogota’s Cine Colombia, Cinemania, Cinematica Distrital, Cinema Paraiso, Sala Fundadores at Central University, Centro Cultural Skandia and In Vitro Visual theaters until April 29 before the festival travels to Medellin, Cali and several other Colombian cities.