European Film Festival returns to Pakistan with screenings in three cities

Fifth edition will visit Islamabad, Sialkot and Jamshoro/Hyderabad, with the film lineup yet to be announced

The European Film Festival (EUFF) is set to return to Pakistan this month for its fifth edition, expanding to two new host cities as it brings European cinema to audiences across the country.

The Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, which organises the festival, announced the programme on Instagram, describing this year’s edition as a continuation of its “five-year journey across Pakistan”. EUFF 2026 will run from September 12 to 30, travelling across three cities: Islamabad, Sialkot and Jamshoro/Hyderabad.

Islamabad will remain the festival’s anchor city, having featured in every edition since EUFF launched in Pakistan in 2021. The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will once again host the opening leg, with screenings scheduled for September 12 and 13.

Sialkot will join the festival for the first time this year. Screenings will take place at Government College Women University and The Grid by BLCK, a restaurant and event space, on September 16 and 17.

The festival will then travel to Sindh for its final stop, with the Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro (SABS) University of Art, Design and Heritage in Jamshoro/Hyderabad hosting screenings on September 29 and 30.

 

 

 

 

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Organisers have yet to announce the film lineup for this year’s edition. The fourth edition, held across Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore in November 2025, featured 19 feature films and 10 short films from across the European Union.

The programme included Czech, Hungarian, Irish, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese films, as well as a dedicated children’s film slot at each stop.

Beyond screenings, the 2025 edition featured interactive installations, dramatic readings and the festival’s signature social dances, alongside curated food kiosks at each venue. The festival was free and open to the public, with no registration or tickets required.

It remains to be seen whether this year’s edition will follow the same format. EUFF has traditionally paired its film programme with live performances and community-oriented activities, creating a broader cultural experience around its screenings.

Since its debut in 2021, EUFF has steadily expanded its reach beyond Pakistan’s largest urban centres. Previous editions have also travelled to Quetta, Peshawar, Gilgit, Faisalabad, Gujrat and Multan.