The 5th European Film Festival in Fiji, held from 16 to 25 July 2026, has concluded with strong community engagement, according to a press release from the EU Delegation to the Pacific on 27 July 2026. EU Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, said the festival 'builds bridges between cultures that may be far apart on the map yet are connected by the things that matter most to all of us – family, friendship, courage, and hope.'
The free, family-friendly event screened films from eight EU Member States—Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, and Spain—at Damodar Cinemas in Suva, Pacific Harbour, Lautoka, and Labasa. Several screenings reached full capacity, with audiences sitting on stairs or queuing for later shows. Resident EU Heads of Mission introduced films, including Ms Melanie Freund (Germany), Mr Benjamin Delannoy (France), Ms Jaione Cereijo (Spain), and H.E. Samija Šerifa, Ambassador of Latvia to Australia and non-resident to New Zealand, who travelled to Suva for the Latvian film.
The festival, now in its fifth edition, featured comedies, coming-of-age stories, and animated adventures. The EU Delegation thanked EU Member States for collaboration in the 'Team Europe spirit' and partners Damodar Cinemas, Pasifika, and Redox. Ambassador Plinkert noted the festival 'became a meaningful community gathering, demonstrating that while we are oceans apart, we are united in diversity.'