Lumelang! 

Distinguished Ambassador Sunnergren, members of the press, colleagues, and friends,
It is a pleasure to be part of the 4th edition of the European Film Festival, and especially its 2nd Binational edition with Lesotho and Eswatini. This festival reflects the mission of Alliance Française de Maseru: to build cultural bridges, promote dialogue, and bring global artistic excellence to our local communities.

From 16 to 23 October, twelve schools from Maseru and six from outside, including governmental schools, will attend special youth screenings. Over six days, more than 800 students will enjoy films designed to inspire imagination, empathy, and cultural curiosity, including The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily, Nina and the Tales of the Hedgehog, and Four Souls of Coyote.

The festival runs from 15 to 24 October across multiple venues to reach a broad audience. Alliance Française de Maseru hosts the opening on 15 October with Ancestral Visions of the Future by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, followed by films from Sweden, Switzerland, Malta, and France at 17h30 each evening. A Saturday screening on 18 October at 16h features competition films from Eswatini, reinforcing the binational collaboration.

The Hub in Morija will host selected screenings for young audiences and teenagers on 28 October. The National University of Lesotho will offer screenings and discussions from 28 to 31 October, while Café What will host additional public screenings from 27 to 29 October. District screenings across Lesotho are being finalized and will take place during the festival period from 30 October to 10 November. A dedicated jury panel has carefully selected films to ensure relevance and resonance with local audiences.

This festival is made possible through the support of the European Union Delegation, participating Member States, Switzerland, and our local partners: NUL, Limkokwing, Gem Institute. Moreover, France’s strong commitment, through the French Embassy and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), provides financial support and access to its film catalogue, enabling us to present high-quality European cinema, including specially curated animated films for schools. IFAS also regularly launches calls for proposals and competitions in film, helping to nurture emerging talent and foster new projects across the region.

At Alliance Française de Maseru, we believe cinema builds bridges across continents and generations. We warmly invite journalists, families, students, and cultural enthusiasts to join us, all screenings are free and open to the publicwith popcorn available on site for a true cinema experience). AFM remains the unique cinema in town, offering screenings every month. Come and experience stories that will move, challenge, and unite us.

Kea leboha haholo. Thank you.