Shillong, Nov 15: The European Union Film Festival 2026, India’s premier showcase of European cinema and one of the country’s most anticipated cultural events, officially inaugurated its 31st edition in Shillong today.
Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to India, officially opened the festival alongside Irène Mingasson, Head of Unit, Foreign Policy Instruments and Sabyasachi Dutta, Executive Director, Asian Confluence Centre in the presence of Dr. Vijay Kumar D, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya.
Other prominent dignitaries, cultural experts, and academic partners joined the screening of the Dutch comedy-drama Jippie No More!, directed by Margien Rogaar. The festival, a testament to the enduring cultural bond between India and Europe, serves as a dynamic platform for artistic exchange, fostering deeper understanding through the power of cinema.
Before the opening, the EU Ambassador along with Dr Vijay Kumar, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya; Ms Patricia Mukhim, Padma Shri awardee and Editor, The Shillong Times; and Mr Sabyasachi Dutta, Executive Director, Asian Confluence, took part in a curated conversation titled “Beyond Borders: Exploring Synergies Between Europe and Northeast India”. Together, they discussed the power of cinema and art to bridge cultures while exploring new avenues for deeper cooperation between Europe and the Northeast.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jean-Eric Paquet, the Ambassador of the European Union to India, said, “Bringing the European Union Film Festival to Shillong for the first time is part of our constant endeavour to take European cinema beyond major metros and connect with audiences across India.
The Northeast has a dynamic creative ecosystem, producing remarkable filmmakers, artists and storytellers whose work is recognized globally. We’re here to celebrate that local creative energy, introduce Shillong to some of Europe’s finest contemporary stories, and start a two-way conversation between creative communities and audiences that keeps growing long after the festival ends.”
Dr Vijay Kumar, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, said: “Meghalaya has always valued its rich cultural heritage, creative expression and openness to diverse ideas and influences. Hosting the European Union Film Festival in Shillong provides an important opportunity for our people, particularly students and young audiences, to engage with different cultures and perspectives through cinema.
Such initiatives not only enrich the state’s cultural landscape but also strengthen its connections with the international community. We welcome collaborations of this nature that position Shillong and Meghalaya as vibrant spaces for cultural exchange, learning and global engagement.”
Ms Patricia Mukhim, Editor, The Shillong Times, said: “Cinema has the unique ability to take us beyond geographical boundaries and familiar narratives, allowing us to understand societies through their stories, experiences and perspectives.
For a culturally vibrant and intellectually engaged city like Shillong, the European Union Film Festival offers an opportunity to engage with diverse cinematic traditions and explore shared human experiences. It is equally important that such cultural exchanges create greater visibility for Northeast India, its creative voices and its own rich storytelling traditions, placing the region within a wider global cultural conversation.”
Mr Sabyasachi Dutta, Executive Director, Asian Confluence, said: “Cultural exchange plays a vital role in fostering mutual understanding and building lasting relationships between societies. By bringing the 31st edition of EUFF to Shillong, we hope to offer audiences an opportunity to explore new perspectives, discover shared experiences and connect with cultures beyond their own.
The festival also provides a platform for dialogue and deeper cultural engagement between Europe and Northeast India. As a premier Indian ‘think-and-do tank’ working through research, capacity-building, policy advocacy, and exchange programmes to deepen understanding and cooperation across Eastern South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific, Asian Confluence believes that initiatives such as EUFF 2026 reflect the critical importance of people-to-people engagement in bringing societies closer in these volatile times.”
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to India in collaboration with EU Member States, the festival’s Shillong chapter is presented in partnership with the Asian Confluence Centre, a leading Indian ‘think-and-do tank’ headquartered in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Through its work in research, capacity-building, policy advocacy and exchange programmes, the Centre is committed to strengthening understanding and cooperation across Eastern South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region. The festival started in Shillong on November 12, with the official opening ceremony held on November 13. It will continue in Shillong until November 18, before coming to New Delhi from November 24 to December 4, followed by Pune in December.
The Shillong edition of EUFF 2026 screenings is hosted across four iconic venues: Asian Confluence Centre (The Habitat), Lady Keane College, St. Edmund’s College, and KL Bajoria College from November 12-18, 2026.
