Six European Films to Watch at Sundance Festival
A diverse lineup of six films from across Europe is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The selection, part of the Europe! Hub program, brings together talent from Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
The hub provides a platform for European filmmakers to connect with U.S. industry professionals and gain visibility for their work. This year's selection includes world premieres in several categories, including World Cinema Dramatic Competition and World Cinema Documentary Competition.
Among the featured films is "Hold Onto Me," directed by Myrsini Aristidou from Cyprus, Denmark, and Greece. The drama follows an 11-year-old girl as she tries to reconnect with her estranged father at his funeral. The film explores themes of paternal absence, family fractures, and childhood emotional landscapes.
Another notable selection is "Shame and Money," directed by Visar Morina from Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, Belgium. The film tells the story of a Kosovar family forced to leave their village after losing their livelihood in a hypercapitalist society. It's a powerful exploration of survival, dignity, and economic insecurity.
The festival also features "How to Divorce During the War," directed by Andrius Blaževičius from Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Czech Republic. The drama explores the unraveling of a marriage amidst war and the pressures that come with it.
From Ireland comes "All About the Money," a documentary following Fergie Chambers as he uses his wealth to fund communist projects challenging capitalism. The film reveals tensions between wealth and ideals, highlighting how resources shape power, ambition, and human relationships.
Next up is "To Hold a Mountain," directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić from Montenegro, Serbia, France, Slovenia, Croatia. This documentary celebrates resilience through the story of a mother fighting to protect her ancestral land from military training.
Finally, there's "Frank & Louis," directed by Petra Volpe from Switzerland, U.K. The drama follows an inmate who takes care of elderly prisoners with dementia in hope of parole and forms a tender bond with one prisoner. It's a moving meditation on care, memory, and redemption.
A diverse lineup of six films from across Europe is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The selection, part of the Europe! Hub program, brings together talent from Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
The hub provides a platform for European filmmakers to connect with U.S. industry professionals and gain visibility for their work. This year's selection includes world premieres in several categories, including World Cinema Dramatic Competition and World Cinema Documentary Competition.
Among the featured films is "Hold Onto Me," directed by Myrsini Aristidou from Cyprus, Denmark, and Greece. The drama follows an 11-year-old girl as she tries to reconnect with her estranged father at his funeral. The film explores themes of paternal absence, family fractures, and childhood emotional landscapes.
Another notable selection is "Shame and Money," directed by Visar Morina from Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, Belgium. The film tells the story of a Kosovar family forced to leave their village after losing their livelihood in a hypercapitalist society. It's a powerful exploration of survival, dignity, and economic insecurity.
The festival also features "How to Divorce During the War," directed by Andrius Blaževičius from Lithuania, Luxembourg, Ireland, Czech Republic. The drama explores the unraveling of a marriage amidst war and the pressures that come with it.
From Ireland comes "All About the Money," a documentary following Fergie Chambers as he uses his wealth to fund communist projects challenging capitalism. The film reveals tensions between wealth and ideals, highlighting how resources shape power, ambition, and human relationships.
Next up is "To Hold a Mountain," directed by Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić from Montenegro, Serbia, France, Slovenia, Croatia. This documentary celebrates resilience through the story of a mother fighting to protect her ancestral land from military training.
Finally, there's "Frank & Louis," directed by Petra Volpe from Switzerland, U.K. The drama follows an inmate who takes care of elderly prisoners with dementia in hope of parole and forms a tender bond with one prisoner. It's a moving meditation on care, memory, and redemption.
the Sundance Film Festival has always been a great platform for showcasing diverse voices from around the world... this year's selection is particularly exciting as it highlights the complexities of European identity through stories that span multiple countries 
myrsini aristidou's "hold onto me" is a masterclass in conveying the emotional fragility of childhood, while visar morina's "shame and money" offers a searing critique of economic inequality
. And I love that they're highlighting stories about resilience and survival 
. It's not often you see documentaries about people fighting to protect their land or elderly prisoners with dementia, so kudos to Sundance for showcasing those kinds of stories 
.
! It sounds like there's such a range of amazing stories being told - from family dramas about kids coping with absent parents to powerful documentaries exposing the harsh realities of economic struggles. My heart goes out to the families in "Shame and Money" who are fighting for survival... it's just heartbreaking thinking about what they've had to go through 
. I love that there are also stories being told about resilience, like in "To Hold a Mountain", where one mom is standing up against the system to protect her land 
. And "Frank & Louis" sounds so tender and beautiful, exploring themes of care and redemption... can't wait to watch them all! 
these European films look super interesting! I'm intrigued by "Hold Onto Me" - the idea of an 11-year-old girl reconnecting with her dad at his funeral sounds so emotional and powerful 
. Can't wait to see how the festival plays out! 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, they're all super interesting and stuff, but I think we already have enough amazing indie films from the US, UK, or other parts of Europe to choose from... like, what's so special about them being from specific countries? Can't we just appreciate the artistry and storytelling instead of trying to check off some geography box 
. And, I'm curious, how many of these films have already gotten some sort of critical acclaim or awards recognition in their home countries? Also, are they all available to stream after the fest? Just feelin' a bit skeptical about this whole "European Film Takeover" vibe 