The European Union Delegation to Botswana and Southern African Development Community (SADC), in collaboration with Alliance Francaise, will host the sixth edition of the European Union Film Festival from June 12 to 15 in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

Petra Pereyra, EU ambassador to Botswana and SADC, stated in a media briefing Monday in Gaborone that the festival's goal is to celebrate the richness and diversity of European film culture by showcasing a variety of films that represent Europe's artistic excellence and cultural heritage.

The festival will feature award-winning and recognized filmmakers, films from throughout Europe, and Botswana-produced short films, she said.

To educate youth and students about the importance of the Okavango Delta, a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana, the festival has invited about 200 students to watch the Nkashi short film, which was created by the National Geographic Society in collaboration with Botswana filmmakers and tells the story of three polers in the Okavango Delta.

"We will show this film to the schoolchildren from the greater Gaborone area, and after the film, we will have an engagement with the children to discuss the film and why it is important to protect the Okavango and nature," said Pereyra.

Alliance Francaise Director Angelique Saverino said that they have observed an increase in the number of Botswana filmmakers requesting for their short films to be featured in the festival, indicating that this is the third time the festival has showcased locally made movies.

"I have seen a growing interest from artists from the country because we have now received more applications for this specific screening," said Saverino.

Alliance Francaise is an international organization that aims to promote the French language and francophone culture around the world. 

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