The 14th edition of the Luxembourg City Film Festival is on the horizon, featuring a diverse program of world cinema tailored for the country’s multilingual audience. Supported by the Ministry of Culture and the City of Luxembourg, the festival showcases films not released in neighboring markets like Belgium, France, and Germany, with consideration for Luxembourg’s unique linguistic landscape.
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Luxembourg City
Luxembourg, with official languages including French, German, and Luxembourgish, embraces diversity, with 75% of its population comprising foreigners from 170 nationalities. The festival, led by artistic director Alexis Juncosa, caters to this international outlook.
Bookending the festival are two English-language films: Nora Fingscheidt’s “The Outrun” opens, starring Saoirse Ronan, and Rose Glass’ “Love Lies Bleeding,” featuring Kristen Stewart, concludes the gala on March 10.
Competing for the grand prix are films like Andrei Tanase’s “Day Of The Tiger,” Lav Diaz’s “Essential Truths Of The Lake,” and the Iran-Luxembourg co-production “Terrestrial Verses.” The international jury, led by Ira Sachs, includes Luxembourg actor Vicky Krieps, German actor Sebastian Koch, French screenwriter Nathalie Hertzberg, and producer Marianne Slot.
The documentary category, with a prize of €5,000, features films like Tatiana Huezo’s “The Echo,” showcasing the daily life of a Mexican family, and “Embodied Chorus” by Lebanese filmmakers Danielle Davie and Mohamed Sabbah.
The festival also highlights the “Made in Luxembourg” program, supporting films and shorts produced with Luxembourg’s backing. Renowned director Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Black Tea” and other international collaborations emphasize Luxembourg’s role in filmmaking.
In addition, the festival presents a filmmaking masterclass by China’s Wang Bing, a tribute to Gaspar Noé, a screening of Viggo Mortensen’s “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” and industry events, including conferences by Europa film festivals and Europa International.
A focal point is the Virtual Reality Pavilion, showcasing innovative virtual and augmented reality works. The festival provides a platform for networking in an intimate environment, fostering connections between filmmakers, financiers, and local producers.
