The Eutopia Arthouse Film Festival (EAFF) is a non-profit international film exhibition focused on fostering artistic exchange and development among young filmmakers. EAFF is organized by the Queen’s University Belfast Language Centre, the Queen’s University Belfast AEL School, and the China-Europe Youth Film Society, funded by the 2024 Queen’s Annual Fund.
Held annually from February to May in Belfast, it is specifically geared towards university students who have made films during their academic studies.
The festival encompasses a two-day cinema exhibition in Belfast, allowing students, scholars, and film enthusiasts from around the world to explore cultural diversity through visual storytelling. EAFF also features a series of thematic workshops, combining both online and offline formats, providing a platform for emerging filmmakers from diverse cultural backgrounds to exchange ideas, showcasing the richness of their respective cultures and artistic treasures through the medium of film.
Special Sections
EAFF, rooted in Northern Ireland, features a section called ‘Northern Ireland Stars,’ showcasing films by local filmmakers or those filmed in Northern Ireland, offering a glimpse into the region’s rich culture and compelling stories.
The film industry has had a growing presence in Northern Ireland. Many films have depicted Northern Irish society and settings, notably Carol Reed’s Odd Man Out (1947) and Cal (1984), directed by Pat O’Connor. Recently, the film Belfast(2021) directed by Kenneth Branagh won the Outstanding British Film Award at the 75th BAFTA Awards, and the Best Original Screenplay in Oscar. The film An Irish Goodbye(2022), produced by alumni of Queen’s University Belfast, received the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2023 Academy Awards, as well as the BAFTA Award for Best Short Film at the 2023 British Academy Film Awards.
Additionally, as a cultural bridge between East Asia and Europe, EAFF has the ‘Cultural Bridge’ special section this year, presenting films that depict the cultural, artistic, and societal aspects of East Asia, aiming to promote dialogue, exchange, and integration between Eastern and Western artistic cultures.
Cultural Diversity in QUB
Queen’s is committed to equality, and to promoting and celebrating equality and diversity in the workplace and on campus generally. Equality was embedded in our 1908 Charter ‘to provide and maintain equality of opportunity to all persons’ and has been a guiding principle for more than 100 years. Equality, diversity and inclusion are central pillars of our new institutional strategy, Strategy 2030.
At Queen’s, with students and staff members coming from over 80 countries and regions, we are proud of the vigor and vitality brought into the multicultural campus. Together with the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Networking, we celebrate World Day for Cultural Diversity each year.
The ‘Cultural Bridge Award’ at our film festival is a celebration of diversity and cultural exchange through cinema. The thematic segment presented this year showcases the cultural exchange between East Asia and Europe. Much like the Chinese Culture Forum held annually during the Chinese Lunar New Year by the Queen’s University Language Center, where students and staff from various nations come together to explore the rich tapestry of Chinese heritage, our festival aims to serve as a platform fostering cross-cultural understanding through the universal language of film.
The ‘Cultural Bridge Award’ recognizes films that uniquely showcase cultural diversity, promote intercultural dialogue, and bridge gaps between different communities. It echoes the spirit of inclusivity and embraces narratives that serve as bridges, connecting audiences globally to diverse perspectives and traditions.
The films selected by this unit may reflect various aspects of cultures across East Asian countries. These films may delve deep into the essence of cultural heritage, including elements such as kung fu, tea ceremony, swordsmanship, traditional musical instruments, and more. Alternatively, they may portray aspects of indigenous social life, architectural uniqueness, culinary traditions, and Eastern philosophy. Through captivating storytelling and visual narratives, these movies serve as windows into understanding the richness of tradition, unveiling the subtle differences, beauty, and profound philosophies embedded within these cultural practices.
Submission Method:
Please upload your work and a film poster to platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, Baidu Cloud, etc., and generate a download link, then send the link to one of the following email addresses:
eutopiafilmfest@outlook.com
tyao03@qub.ac.uk
Submission Guidelines:
1. All non-English films must have English subtitles to be judged.
2. The completion date of the film should be after January 2021.
3. By submitting a film to this festival, the filmmaking team affirms that they possess full and undisputed copyright ownership of the submitted work. This includes all intellectual property rights, including but not limited to the script, visuals, music, and any other content within the film.
4. EAFF reserves the right to utilize excerpts (such as trailers, teasers, posters, or stills) from any submitted film for promotional purposes.
5. Submitted Films should have a resolution of 1920X1080P or higher.
6. The film festival does not charge submission fees.
Category
【Best Feature Film Award】
【Best Documentary Award】
【Best Micro-documentary Award】
【Best Experimental Film Award】
【Best Super Short Film Award】
【Best Director Award】
【Best Screenplay Award】
【Best Cinematography Award】
【Best Performance Award】
【Best Editing Award】
【Special Jury Prize】
【Northern Ireland Star Award 】
(Presented to outstanding Northern Ireland films emerging in this festival)
【Cultural Bridge Award】
(Presented to films featured in this festival that showcase strong connections between East Asia and Europe, or effectively promote the traditional cultural and artistic heritage of a nation.)
Screening location
We hold EAFF at The Queen’s Film Theatre(QFT).
Address: 20 University Square, Belfast BT7 1PA
QFT is an independent cinema at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland founded in 1968. When first opened, the Queen’s Film Theatre focused mainly on art house, indie and world cinema, playing an important role in the cultural life of Belfast, serving as an important venue for events such as the Belfast International Arts Festival, the Belfast Film Festival and the CineMagic Festival. Starting this year, QFT will begin hosting the Eutopia Arthouse Film Festival.
The QFT is part of the Europa Cinemas network containing more than 1,000 cinemas in 60 countries.
Since 1999 the Queen’s Annual Fund, managed by DARO, has been on a mission to enhance the student experience at Queen’s by supporting hundreds of projects, benefitting thousands of students. This is made possible by philanthropic gifts from graduates and friends of the University. Each year the Fund supports Schools, Clubs and Societies with a diverse range of projects and events, including scholarships, mental health and wellbeing initiatives, sport development, community impact, cultural diversity and much more.
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