22 Jun 2025

Cinema is a societal mirror and an invitation to experience lives beyond and a powerful medium that gives people an opportunity to share culture.

European Union Ambassador to Botswana and SADC Petra Pereyra said at the opening of the European Film Festival at River walk New Capitol Cinema on Wednesday. 

“This year’s festival is a true celebration of diversity, showcasing a rich and varied selection of award winning films from all corners of Europe, that cater for wide audiences in Botswana, including families, children and the youth,” Pereyra said the four-day free festival.

He said the festival’s goal was to bring the highest quality of storytelling and cinematic artistry to Botswana, while offering stories that transcended borders and spoke to the universal human experience that united all.

Emphasising the importance of cultural exchange and dialogue, Pereyra said at a time when the world felt divided, ‘events such as European film festival remind us of our shared humanity, our common dreams and the connections that unite us all in one human family.’

The European Film festival has programmed Botswana short film sessions for three years running since it started, each year bringing powerful new works by emerging directors.

“Events such as this stimulate the creative economy by creating demand for local content and attracting attention from all artists, educators and hopefully policy-makers,” said director of Alliance Française of Gaborone Angelique Saverino at the opening.

Botswana’s Queen Mother, by Kabo Gaokgakala, Zola: My Beginnings by Tshepo Makgasa and Fishing For a Dream by Teto Mokaila were among the short films screened on Saturday.

Saverino said beyond the European Film festival, her organisation worked year round to connect Botswana’s filmmakers with global platforms. 

She said they have facilitated participation in the Pan-African Creation Africa forum, a first for the creative industries.

“And we are now liaising with colleagues in South Africa to send a delegation to Durban FilmMart, which is one of the continent’s key industry marketplaces,” she said.

Additionally, Saverino said Alliance Française of Gaborone had collaborated with the Ministry of Basic Education to include learners from primary and secondary schools attend the screenings of French animations and a movie during the festival.

“By giving young people access to cinema as a space for reflection, emotion and dialogue we invest not only in the future of Botswana’s film industry but also in the imagination of its youth,” Saverino highlighted.

Opening the film festival was screening of Wave, a Czech Republic’s entry at the 2024 Oscar awards. 

The film revolves around the Editorial Office of International Life of the Czechoslovak Radio.

It explores the journey of freedom of expression and speech in the newsroom; taking the viewer on a period when Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia and a young journalist enduring to fight for freedom even faced with daunting odds.

The films are a must watch  given their educative element, while creating a platform for promising talent vto showcase their works. ENDS