CinEast Festival Director Radek Lipka;
Credit: Elza Osmane, Chronicle.lu
On Wednesday 15 October 2025, CinEast celebrated the eighteenth edition of the Central and Eastern European Film Festival with an official opening ceremony held at Kinepolis Kirchberg before the first screening of this year’s programme.
The event marked the official start of nearly two weeks of screenings, concerts and cultural activities across various venues in Luxembourg City and beyond. The festival aims to foster dialogue, diversity and cultural exchange, presenting films from around 20 Central and Eastern European countries, with Poland and Ukraine as this year’s main focus countries.
Following a pre-opening “warm-up weekend”, this year’s festival opened with the international premiere of Chopin: A Sonata in Paris, directed by Michał Kwieciński. The Polish art piece was screened in French and Polish with English subtitles.
The official ceremony, before the screening, brought together representatives of the City of Luxembourg (VdL), the Ministry of Culture, festival partners and guests from the film industry, with speeches held in English and French.
Festival Director Radek Lipka reflected on CinEast’s continuous development in recent years: “We were maybe three or four people at the start, and year after year, new countries, partners and institutions joined. At the age of eighteen, the festival has become what you see now.” He also introduced this year’s theme, “Disruption”, focusing on social and individual transformations and thanked the partners and volunteers involved.
Speaking on behalf of the VdL, First Alderman Maurice Bauer praised the festival’s role in reflecting the city’s diversity: “The VdL welcomes 71% of non-Luxembourgers among its citizens. This diversity is the city’s true richness and we are proud to support events like CinEast that reflect it.” He added that the Cinémathèque is undergoing renovation works to add a second, larger auditorium expected to open next year.
Begga Sigurdardottir, representing the PwC Foundation Luxembourg, one of the festival partners, highlighted the importance of culture and philanthropy in today’s society: “Culture is essential. It is not a luxury but a shared resource that helps us understand ourselves and one another. When we invest in culture, we invest in empathy, connection and the future of our communities. Supporting artistic creation and access to culture is a mission that strengthens creativity and participation for all.”
Polish Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Rafał Hykawy, representing this year’s focus country, reflected on Poland’s cinematic heritage: “Until the end of the 90s, cinema in Poland was an unforgettable experience and the only window on the world.” He also underlined the cultural importance of solidarity with Ukraine, stating that “aggression against Ukraine is not only an attempt to annex its territory but also to erase its history and culture. Festivals like CinEast are vital to preserve and share those stories.”
The evening concluded with the Polish film premiere, followed by a reception.
CinEast screenings will continue until Sunday 26 October 2025, with a programme that includes more than 50 films, concerts, debates and thematic events at Kinepolis, Neumünster Abbey and Cercle Cité, among other venues.
For more details and ticket information, see www.cineast.lu
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