EEFFN – Eastern European Film Festival Network
Bringing together five film festivals dedicated to promoting and showcasing Eastern European cinema
The primary objective of the Eastern European Film Festival Network is to enhance cooperation and collaboration between the member festivals in order to increase the visibility and impact of Eastern European Cinema across Europe.
The network is comprised of the following festivals & organizations:
GoEast Film Festival [Wiesbaden, Germany], BEAST International Film Festival [Porto, Portugal], Eastern Neighbours Film Festival [The Hague, Netherlands], A l’Est Film Festival [Rouen, France], CinEast Film Festival [Luxembourg], and the EU Youth Cinema: Green Deal [Vienna, Austria].
Through this initiative, the festivals share best practices, programming strategies, and technical resources in order to enhance the quality of their respective events. Additionally, they jointly develop and implement initiatives such as film exchanges, talent development programs, and co-screenings in order to further promote Eastern European cinema and foster the growth of the industry in the region.
The network is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and creativity in the film industry, and to providing a forum for dialogue and exchange among filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences from around the world. This collaboration leads to increased recognition and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage and film talent of Eastern Europe. By leveraging their collective expertise, resources, and knowledge, the festivals provide a platform for emerging and established filmmakers from the region to showcase their work to wider audiences.
EEFFN Award
The Eastern European Film Festival Network Award is given out annually to feature-length films that demonstrate exceptional artistry, innovation, and impact within the Eastern European film industry.
Each festival nominates a film to a shortlist of nominated films, competing for the overall award. The final vote is open to a jury made up of members from each festival, reflecting the collaborative and collective spirit of the network.
Starting with the 2024 editions, the EEFFN Award is presented through each of the five festivals within the network. The winning film receives not only recognition but also a unique opportunity for screening and national distribution in each of the network’s member countries, which include Austria, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Portugal.
In addition to this unique exposure, the winning film is granted promotional support through the partnering festivals. This includes inclusion in their future programming, further enhancing the film’s reach and influence in the distribution and festival circuit.
The 2024 EEFFN Award winner is the film January (2022), directed by Viesturs Kairiss, a Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland co-production.
We believe that this award is an important recognition of the vibrant cinema of Eastern Europe, and provides a platform for filmmakers to gain wider recognition and exposure for their work. It also represents a new level of collaboration and cooperation between the festivals within the network, as they work together to support and elevate the Eastern European film industry.
