Poland in South Africa

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13th edition of the European Film Festival in South Africa

28.09.2026

The 13th edition of the European Film Festival (EUFF 2026) took place in South Africa from September 18 to 27, 2026. The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria participated in the event for the twelfth time. This year, Poland presented the film "Franz”, directed by Agnieszka Holland.

Interior of a cinema auditorium; photo taken at the entrance to the auditorium; a large group of audience members is seated in the left and center sections, eating popcorn; stairs are visible on the right side of the photo; in the background, a screen displays the poster for the European Film Festival; the lights are on; on the left, there are striped drapes in burgundy and gold, and speakers and lights are mounted on the wall;

This multi-award-winning biographical drama from 2025 is dedicated to the life of Franz Kafka—a 20th-century literary icon whose life and work continue to inspire and move successive generations. The film was Poland’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

This year, South African audiences also had a unique opportunity to experience the work of another distinguished Polish director, Paweł Pawlikowski. His 2026 film “Fatherland” (Ojczyzna) - a Polish-German-Italian-French co-production - was presented at the festival by Germany. The film tells the story of the German writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika, who, at the height of the Cold War in 1949, embark on a journey across post-war Germany. Pawlikowski’s production received international critical acclaim and was selected as Poland’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards (2027).

Twelve European films were presented during EUFF 2026; selected titles were also available via a free online streaming program accessible throughout South Africa for the duration of the festival. For the first time, cinema screenings took place in as many as four South African cities: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.

The carefully curated EUFF program offered South African film enthusiasts a unique showcase of the best in contemporary European cinema. The festival’s central themes were family, memory, a sense of belonging, and the resilience of the human spirit that unites us all.

The 2026 European Film Festival was a partnership project between the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and the European embassies and cultural agencies in the country—representing Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. The festival was organized in collaboration with Cineuropa, Bioscope, SterKinekor, The Labia, and The Courtyard at New Noise. The 13th edition of the festival in South Africa was curated by the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival organization.

Photos: Encounters South African International Documentary Festiva/Grażyna Koornhof/Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria

Photos (3)

Display photo 1 in the gallery. Interior of a cinema auditorium; photo taken at the entrance to the auditorium; a large group of audience members is seated in the left and center sections, eating popcorn; stairs are visible on the right side of the photo; in the background, a screen displays the poster for the European Film Festival; the lights are on; on the left, there are striped drapes in burgundy and gold, and speakers and lights are mounted on the wall; Display photo 2 in the gallery. Poster for the 13th edition of the 2026 European Film Festival in South Africa; white text on a dark blue background Display photo 3 in the gallery. Poster for the film "Franz"; photo of actor Idan Weiss, who played Franz Kafka; the image is divided into four sections; an insect emerges from the top section, at the level of the actor's forehead. 
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