The 22nd Cine Europa festival will be held in Manila for the first time ever. From September 20 to 24 at Greenbelt 3 cinema in Makati, watch stories of love, friendship, faith, triumph, and courage with 12 films from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The festival will continue in Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Iloilo, Naga, and Palawan to reach out to more Filipinos before going back to Manila for the last leg. These are the films at Cine Europa 22 that you shouldn't miss:

Achter De Wolken (Behind the Clouds) by Cecilia Verheyden

Cine Europa Schedule: Friday, September 20, 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 22, 10 p.m.

Achter De Wolken (Behind the Clouds) is a Belgian film that tells the story of two people who once were lovers until their lives took different directions. Now in their 70s, they meet again after 50 years and their passion for each other is rekindled. This romantic story shows how they picked up where they left off and how first and last loves can be one and the same.

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Teorie tygra (The Tiger Theory) by Radek Bajgar

Cine Europa Schedule: Saturday, September 21, 11 a.m. and Monday, September 23, 7:15 p.m.

In Teorie tygra (The Tiger Theory), Jan is an aging veterinarian looking for a way out of his marriage to Olga, who seems to be controlling his life. The last and only solution that he can think of is faking an illness to get himself admitted to a psychiatric facility. Funnily enough, this was the exact situation that his grandfather found himself in his time. This adventure comedy follows Jan as he looks for his much-needed freedom.

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Vinterbrødre (Winter Brothers) by Hlynur Pálmason

Cine Europa Schedule: Friday, September 20, 11 a.m. and Sunday, September 22, 4:30 p.m.

Vinterbrødre (Winter Brothers) follows the story of two brothers, Emil and Johan, who both work in a rural, chalk-mining community. The aloof Emil, who is the younger of the two, is accepted in the factory only because of his brother, so when one of his co-workers gets sick, he becomes the prime suspect. Violence ensues in the community and Emil feels betrayed by his brother, especially when the girl that he has feelings for chooses Johan over him.

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Tour de France by Rachid Djaïdani

Cine Europa Schedule: Monday, September 23, 4:30 p.m.

French film Tour de France tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a young artist and an aging man. Far’Hook is a talented rapper who was forced to leave Paris after a violent altercation with another artist. His producer, Bilal, suggests that he becomes a driver for his father, Serge, who is embarking on a tour of French ports. From here, a friendship forms between them, in spite of their difference in generations and culture.

Grüße aus Fukushima (Greetings from Fukushima) by Doris Dörrie

Cine Europa Schedule: Friday, September 20, 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 22, 7:15 p.m.

Grüße aus Fukushima (Greetings from Fukushima) follows Marie, who, after suffering from heartbreak, joins charity group Clowns4Help and travels to Japan to help victims of the 2011 tsunami. She then meets Satomi, an old geisha who longs to return to her home, which was catastrophically destroyed. These two women, with lots of years between them, eventually bond and soon find themselves haunted by their respective pasts.

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Búék (Happy New Year) by Krisztina Goda

Cine Europa Schedule: Saturday, September 21, 7:15 p.m. and Tuesday, September 24, 1:30 p.m.

Hungarian film Búék is a comedy that features a group of friends who have been celebrating New Year’s Eve together for years. After talking about mobile phones and the secrets that these hold, they all agree that every call, message, e-mail, photo, or video received on their phones must be shared with others. What starts as a playful and fun game quickly becomes problematic when lies and betrayals surface.

Essere Leonardo da Vinci, un’intervista impossibile (Being Leonardo da Vinci, an impossible interview) by Massimiliano Finazzer Flory

Cine Europa Schedule: Saturday, September 21, 10:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 24, 4:30 p.m.

In Essere Leonardo da Vinci, un’intervista impossibile (Being Leonardo da Vinci, an impossible interview), two journalists from New York and Milan are both looking for a scoop on Leonardo da Vinci, in time for the 500th anniversary of his death. The two find themselves at the legendary genius’ final resting place where it seems that da Vinci himself grants them an interview.

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De Marathon (The Marathon) by Diederick Koopal

Cine Europa Schedule: Saturday, September 21, 4:30 p.m. and Monday, September 23, 1:30 p.m.

Dutch comedy film De Marathon (The Marathon) follows four middle-aged friends who work together in the same car shop. After finding out that they are in debt of 40,000 euros, they come up with an idea of finding a sponsor who will support them in the Rotterdam Marathon in the hope of saving the car shop from bankruptcy.

Kongens nei (The King’s Choice) by Erik Poppe

Cine Europa Schedule: Saturday, September 21, 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, September 24, 7:15 p.m.

Kongens nei (The King’s Choice) is a biographical war film that’s based on the three dramatic days in April 1940, when the King of Norway is threatened by the Germans to surrender or die. The Royal Family decides to split up; the Crown Princess Märtha and the children leave for Sweden, while King Haakon and the Crown Prince Olav stay in Norway to face the Nazis head-on.

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10.000 km (Long Distance) by Carlos Marques-Marcet

Cine Europa Schedule: Friday, September 20, 7:15 p.m. and Monday, September 23, 10 p.m.

10.000 km (Long Distance) is a Spanish film that follows the romance between Alexandra and Sergi, and their plans of having a baby and pursuing their career. When Alex accepts a job in Los Angeles, their relationship is put to the test and they find out if modern technology is enough to bridge the distance between them.

Tjuvheder (Drifters) by Peter Grönlund

Cine Europa Schedule: Sunday, September 22, 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, September 24, 10 p.m.

Swedish film Tjuvheder (Drifters) is a social drama thriller that tells the story of Minna, who is a drug addict and dealer. Drowned in rent dues, she cheats local dealers and decides to run with the money. Eventually, she stumbles upon an illegal residence that’s filled with junkies, thieves, and exiles who live by their own rules. Danger ensues when the local dealers from Minna’s past catch up and clash with her present companions.

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Mary Shelley by Haifaa al-Mansour

Cine Europa Schedule: Friday, September 20, 10 p.m. and Sunday, September 22, 11 a.m.

Mary Shelley stars Elle Fanning as Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, the famous author of the gothic novel Frankenstein. It follows her fiery and whirlwind romance with romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Despite the disapproval of Mary’s family, they run away together and stay at a lord’s house, where her idea of Frankenstein is conceived. Without knowing that her iconic character will become a hit centuries later, Mary fights her way through society’s belittling of women to establish her work and identity.

Admission to Cine Europa 22 is free on a first-come-first-served basis. Follow Cine Europa Philippines' official Facebook page for more info on the films and complete screening schedule.