Celebrating International Cinema at OFF26

Odense’s International Film Festival (OFF26) once again brought together filmmakers, audiences, and cultural partners from across the world. With films from 50 countries in this year’s programme, the festival offered a rich diversity of voices and perspectives, creating an inspiring setting for international cinema and intercultural exchange.

Luxembourg was represented by two filmmakers: Marie Lavis with Lark in a Skyshop and Alexandre Alagôa, a Portuguese filmmaker living and working in Luxembourg, with XYZ. Their nomination at OFF26 reflects the growing recognition of Luxembourgish filmmaking and highlights the quality, creativity, and strength of their work. It also shows how Luxembourg’s cultural scene continues to grow through collaboration, openness, and the presence of artists from many backgrounds.

The opening night brought together filmmakers, producers, festival teams, and cultural colleagues from many countries. For the Embassy, it was a wonderful moment to meet Alexandre Alagôa and to join our colleagues from the Portuguese Embassy in Denmark. Alexandre’s Portuguese–Luxembourgish background added a particularly meaningful dimension to the evening, underscoring the strong cultural ties between our communities and the ease with which creativity moves across borders.

Luxembourg’s participation in OFF26 reaffirms our commitment to supporting creative work and encouraging international artistic exchange. Festivals like OFF26 offer valuable spaces for filmmakers to meet, collaborate, and share their stories with new audiences, and they highlight how cultural encounters enrich both artistic practice and the relationships that shape creative communities.

The Embassy congratulates Marie Lavis and Alexandre Alagôa on their nomination and extends its thanks to the Odense Film Festival and everyone involved for supporting the development of filmmaking in Luxembourg and beyond.