EU launches Pacific campaign at film festival

The European Union has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of its investments in the Pacific, using the opening of the fifth European Film Festival in Fiji to highlight its long-standing partnership with the region.

The festival opened at Damodar Cinemas in Suva yesterday, bringing eight films from across Europe to audiences in Fiji.

Speaking at the opening, European Union Ambassador to the Pacific Barbara Plinkert launched the "Powering Pacific Potential" campaign, aimed at increasing awareness among young people of the EU's investments in infrastructure, trade, energy and education through its Global Gateway strategy.

The campaign will run from August to December and feature promotional videos, billboards, posters, cinema and radio advertisements, banners and social media content across Pacific Island countries.

"Our visibility campaign highlights the European Union's partnership with the Pacific, especially to younger generations," Ms Plinkert said.

"The EU has stood alongside Pacific Island countries as a trusted, long-term partner, supporting Pacific-led priorities and investing in people, communities and sustainable development."

Ms Plinkert said EU-Pacific trade reached FJ$7.6 billion in 2025, while EU investment in the region totalled FJ$29.6 billion.

She said the EU had invested FJ$20.4 million in the Pacific Digital Economy Programme, provided more than FJ$158 million through the Global Partnership for Education since 2022, and committed FJ$128 million to disaster resilience and response initiatives.

She said many organisations implementing EU-funded programmes were well known across the region, but the EU's contribution was often less visible.

"This campaign will help Pacific communities, especially young people, better understand the partnership behind these investments," she said.

This year's European Film Festival marks its fifth anniversary in Fiji and features films from Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia and Spain.

The programme includes live-action comedies, animated adventures and coming-of-age stories, with the Slovak comedy The Horse opening the festival.

Screenings will also be held in Pacific Harbour, Lautoka and Labasa.

Ms Plinkert thanked EU member states, including France, Germany and Spain, along with Damodar Cinemas, Pasifika and Redox, for supporting the festival.