The Italian Embassy to the UAE and the European Delegation to the UAE proudly present the first edition of the "European film screenings".

The event, done in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi International Film Festival, the Dubai InternationalFilm Festival and the Embassies of 13 European Member States (Italy, Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Czeck Republic, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden and Austria), will run: 18th -24 September in Abu Dhabi (Marina Mall - VOX Cinemas - Cine 3) and 19th to 25th September in Dubai (Mercato Mall - VOX Cinemas - Cine 1).

The event, which will open in both cities with the Italian 2014 Oscar winner "La Grande Bellezza" directed by Paolo Sorrentino, will feature a carefully curated rich ensemble of the most recent and successful independent films from Europe. From the Dutch success "Soof" to "Walesa - Man of Hope", a touching biopic of one of Poland's modern leaders, from the incredibly engaging Swedish child tale of "The IceDragon" to the sardonic humour of Spanish comedy "Carmina or blow-up". The selection also features two "classics" of recent European cinema: the French "Paris, Je t'aime", an internationally acclaimed collective masterpiece of talent to the city of Paris, through the tales of its arrondissements and "GoodbyeLenin", the outstanding award-winning and box office success by Wolfgang Becker, which will be featured as the closing film of the European Film Screenings event, also to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Berlin Wall.

UAE film directors like Nayla Al Khaja, Ali Mostafa, Mohammed Al Otaiba, Ahmed Zain and many others will be showcasing their talent in the event. Every screening day, in fact, will feature a tribute to the UAE film industry, through the amazing selection of regionally acclaimed Emirati short films, done in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi International Film Festival (for the Abu Dhabi screenings) and the Dubai International Film Festival (for the Dubai screenings).

All screenings are free of charge and seats are allocated on a first come/first serve basis.

There will also be a panel discussion on film co-productions which will be held on 20th September at 3 pm in Abu Dhabi @ Marina Mall - VOX Cinemas - Cine 3. The panel, to be moderated by Italian cultural expert and Eurimages Representative AlessandraPriante, will feature representatives of the European film industry who will be accompanying some of the films screened at the event and Emirati film directors and Festival executives.

Abu Dhabi Classic FM is also on board as the official media partner.

There will be an audience award to be assigned through a manual voting system at the end of each screening in both cities. The winning film will receive a special award courtesy of Front Row EntertainmentLtd.

One voter will be extracted randomly on final day of the event to receive two return tickets to Rome, Italy, courtesy of Etihad Airways, a key sponsor of the event!

The Italian Ambassador to the UAE Giorgio Starace comments: "We are very proud to have organized this event during the 2014 Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, also together with the EU Delegation and with all the participating EU Embassies in the UAE. This is what we mean by European collaboration and cohesion and cinema is a great picture of it".

The Chargé d'Affaires of the EU Delegation, Mr. Thomas Peyker also added that: "To showcase Europe in all its cultural diversity but united through common values, by the way of European films, is an excellent opportunity and chance to grasp the very idea of what Europe means for us and the world".