EuropeNow Film Festival is an initiative of CES: Council for European Studies at Columbia University in the city of New York & WoFF: World of Film International Festival in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
The fourth EuropeNow Film Festival is set to take place in Reykjavik, Iceland in June 2020, coinciding with the 28th International Conference of Europeanists at the University of Iceland. The third edition of EuropeNow is held online in July 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent postponement of the conference to 2021.
The fourth edition of EuropeNow Film Festival will continue to focus on contemporary European topics, which include but are not limited to fiction, documentary, animated and art short and feature films of any length that depict important aspects of Europe’s present reality. Examples of issues covered in the previous editions are refugee crisis, environmental crisis, economic recession, LGBTQ+ rights, Brexit, as well as shifts in lifestyle, tradition, culture and institutions as part of a variety of European nations.
EuropeNow has partnered with the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation for Creative Writing in NYC. This gives the opportunity to explore new horizons in the world of contemporary literature and poetry in the Balkans, and the way it transcends its original form and flows into the art of cinema. With this in mind, contemporary writers, poets, scriptwriters, and columnists from all across Europe are invited to participate in a workshop on ‘writing for the screen’ and ‘Adaptation: From the page to the dark room’.
Elizabeth Kostova Foundation is an initiative with a mission to promote the teaching and professionalization of creative writing; to encourage, challenge, and publish highly talented literary writers; to create connections among Bulgarian, American, and British writers; Additionally, to assist in the training of translators for contemporary Bulgarian literature; to facilitate the publication of Bulgarian writers in English; to nurture readership of Bulgarian writers in Bulgaria and abroad.
The mission of the Council for European Studies (CES) is to produce, support, and recognize outstanding, multi-disciplinary research on Europe through a wide range of programs and initiatives. These include fellowships, grants, publications, awards, conferences and meetings, public lectures and symposia, as well as direct research and artistic collaboration. CES is particularly committed to supporting research that can play a critical role in understanding and applying the lessons of European history and integration to contemporary problems, including those in the areas of global security, sustainability, environmental stewardship, and democracy.
WoFF: World of Film International Festival is Glasgow's annual independent film festival, currently in its seventh edition. Our main focus is to promote independent international cinema and new talent from Scotland, the UK , Europe and beyond. Our aim is to bring local and Scottish audiences together with filmmakers, producers, artists and cinema enthusiasts from all around the world, in an attempt to discover new talent, showcase their work and generate ideas for future projects. WoFF is a non-profit organisation bringing audiences a step closer to international independent cinema and giving voice to young artists.
The first EuropeNow Film Fest took place in Glasgow, Scotland and the second edition in Madrid, Spain. The third edition is held online in summer 2020.
The following categories will be awarded:
- Best EuropeNow Short Film
- Best EuropeNow Feature Film
- Best EuropeNow Film: Focus on Iceland
- Best EuropeNow Script for the Screen (Projects in Development)
*Best EuropeNow Short, Feature & Script Award selected by the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation