It was a celebration of stories, cultures, and bold new voices that inspired connection beyond borders

The European Union’s annual film festival, Europe on Screen (EoS) 2025, officially concluded on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta. Marking its 25th edition, the festival has strengthened its role as a cultural bridge between Europe and Indonesia, showcasing 55 films from 27 European countries across seven major cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Denpasar, Medan, Surabaya, Sidoarjo and Yogyakarta.

This year’s selection offered audiences a rich variety of European cinema, featuring reflective, humanistic and thought-provoking stories while remaining accessible and entertaining for viewers of all backgrounds.

The closing ceremony was attended by the European Union Ambassador to Indonesia, Denis Chaibi, the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, Roberto Colaminè, and the festival’s Co-Directors, Meninaputri Wismurti and Nauval Yazid. All agreed that Europe on Screen is more than just a film festival, but a platform for cultural dialogue and an expression of shared social and human values.

The festival closed with the screening of The Boy with Pink Pants (Il Ragazzo dai Pantaloni Rosa), directed by Margherita Ferri. Inspired by the true story of Andrea Spezzacatena, a young Italian teenager who faced bullying at school and in his community, the film became one of Italy’s top-grossing titles in 2024. It was part of the official selection at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and earned a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2025 David di Donatello Awards.

Italian Ambassador Roberto Colaminè shared his hope that the film would encourage deeper reflection on the importance of empathy and acceptance of diversity.

The closing ceremony also featured the announcement of the Short Film Pitching Project (SFPP) winners, a competition designed to support emerging Indonesian filmmakers. This year’s winners are:

• First Place: Sang Penjaga (Echoes of The Universe) by Sesarini and Lyza Anggraheni from Yogyakarta
• Second Place: Pool Party by Aisyah Aulia and Adrian Fauzi from Sumedang
• Third Place: In The Name of Me by Teresa Katarina and Jonathan Gradiyan from Jakarta

The project Waktu Indonesia Bagian Pasifik by Dicky Karunia Abdi and M. Ilham Mustain Murda from Jayapura also received a Special Recommendation.

SFPP 2025 attracted a record-breaking 367 proposals, an increase of 86 percent from the previous year, reflecting the program’s growing popularity, including international participation.

Meninaputri Wismurti, Co-Director of EoS, highlighted that SFPP has become an inclusive platform to promote storytelling diversity and encourage collaboration between the European and Indonesian film industries.

Nauval Yazid added that many films developed through SFPP have been screened at festivals both in Indonesia and internationally, proving EoS’s commitment to fostering a sustainable film ecosystem.

Europe on Screen 2025 reaffirms that cinema is not only a form of entertainment, but a powerful tool for sharing life stories, building empathy and celebrating diversity across cultures.

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