By Whitney Hale

(Feb. 11, 2016) — As part of the "Year of Europe" sponsored by the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, UK Libraries is hosting a festival of European films accompanied by an exhibit in William T. Young Library. The award-winning films were chosen by faculty members on the Year of Europe Steering Committee and each film is introduced by a faculty member with knowledge of the country. The films and exhibition are free and open to the public. 

The corresponding exhibit, "Europe through the Lens: A Festival of Contemporary European Films," displays posters promoting a series of films being shown throughout the academic year. The posters are the original artwork of Zach Lamb, a graduate student from Union, Kentucky, who works with the Late Night Film Series, and were created for this festival. The festival is sponsored jointly by UK Libraries and the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Official trailer for the film "Biutiful," which is rated R. 

Five films remain in the series, beginning with "Biutiful," screening at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in the UK Athletics Auditorium of Young Library. "Biutiful," starring Javier Bardem, follows the journey of a conflicted man who struggles to reconcile fatherhood, love, spirituality, crime, guilt and mortality amidst the dangerous underworld of modern Barcelona. The film, rated R, was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

A complete schedule of all the films along with descriptions, trailers and information about the directors can be found at http://libguides.uky.edu/eurofilm.

In addition to the film festival, UK Libraries invites members of the UK community to try their skills as vexillogogists, testing their knowledge of the flags of European nations. The 19 flags currently on display in the atrium of Young Library represent a selection of the 38 European countries represented by the "Year of Europe." Flag keys are available at library circulation, information services and security desks.

Information on featured European countries and the European Union can be found at http://libguides.uky.edu/year_of_europe.

A complete listing of Year of Europe campus activities can be found at: https://europe.as.uky.edu/.