ISLAMABAD: The European Film Festival returns to Pakistan this month for its fifth edition and it will expand its reach to Sialkot and Jamshoro/Hyderabad cities. The Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan has organized the festival and it will run from September 12 to 30.
Screenings will take place in Islamabad, Sialkot and Jamshoro/Hyderabad during the festival.
Islamabad to Host Festival Opening
Islamabad will remain the festival’s anchor city after hosting every edition since its launch in Pakistan in 2021.
The Pakistan National Council of the Arts will host the opening screenings on September 12 and 13.
Meanwhile, Sialkot will host the festival for the first time. Screenings will take place at Government College Women University and The Grid by BLCK.
The Sialkot screenings will run on September 16 and 17, expanding the festival’s presence beyond Pakistan’s traditional cultural centres.
Festival to Conclude in Sindh
The festival will conclude in Sindh, where Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritage will host screenings on September 29 and 30.
Organisers have not yet announced the film lineup for the 2026 edition.
However, the previous edition in November 2025 featured 19 feature films and 10 short films from across the European Union.
The programme showcased films from Czechia, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany and Portugal, alongside children’s screenings.
Furthermore, the 2025 festival included interactive installations, dramatic readings, social dances and food stalls.
The event was free and open to the public, with no tickets or registration required.
It remains unclear whether organisers will maintain the same format this year.
Since 2021, EUFF has expanded beyond major cities, reaching Quetta, Peshawar, Gilgit, Faisalabad, Gujrat and Multan in previous editions.
