POLITICAL and Trade Officer at the European Union (EU), Nobert Probst, said last Friday that the EU delegation is encouraged by the response it received from the Guyanese public to the European Film Festival 2010.
In an invited comment on the telephone, Probst told the Guyana Chronicle that, judging from the opening on May 11 last, the response from the public has been better than last year’s.
At the opening, along with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, Probst said some 300 persons turned up at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Parade Street, Kingston, where all the shows were being presented. This, he said, represented a big increase from last year.
According to Probst, who interacted with several members of the public after the shows, everyone was quite pleased with the selection of movies. He explained that after each movie, the viewers applauded, which signalled that they were quite satisfied with what was offered.
Probst said this time, the EU paid special attention to publicizing the film festival more widely and this, he said, “has certainly paid off.”
The EU plans to establish the celebration of Europe Day in Guyana’s cultural calendar, he said.
Last Saturday, the Children’s movies, “Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar,” from Italy, and, “The Fox and the Child,” from France, were on. “Goodbye Lenin,” from Germany, and, “The Full Monty,” from England, were also presented.
Probst had mentioned that admission was free at all the shows and that the purpose of the festival was to showcase the cultural heritage of the EU which has grown into a union of 27 countries with 23 languages.
This initiative by the EU gave the Guyanese public an opportunity to see movies that could not have been easily accessed and promoted cultural dialogue in Guyana, he said.