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 dated 27 July 2026. EU Ambassador to the Pacific Barbara Plinkert described the festival as a shared experience that builds bridges between cultures, highlighting that audiences across Fiji responded with enthusiasm, with several screenings reaching full capacity.
The free, family-friendly event took place at Damodar Cinemas in Suva, Pacific Harbour, Lautoka, and Labasa. It featured a curated selection of films from eight EU Member States: Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, and Spain. The programme included comedies, coming-of-age stories, and animated adventures. Resident EU Heads of Mission introduced their countries' films, including Ms Melanie Freund (Germany), Mr Benjamin Delannoy (France), and Ms Jaione Cereijo (Spain). H.E. Samija Šerifa, Ambassador of Latvia to Australia and non-resident Ambassador to New Zealand, also travelled to Suva to introduce the Latvian film.
The festival saw audiences arriving early, with some viewers sitting on stairs or queuing for subsequent screenings. Ambassador Plinkert noted that the event connected cultures through universal themes of family, friendship, courage, and hope. The EU Delegation thanked EU Member States for their collaboration in a Team Europe spirit, as well as partners Damodar Cinemas, Pasifika, and Redox. The Delegation expressed gratitude to all attendees and looked forward to the next edition.