diff --git a/core/filetools.py b/core/filetools.py
index 346121ec..bce73317 100644
--- a/core/filetools.py
+++ b/core/filetools.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def file_open(path, mode="r", silent=False, vfs=True):
             if fileIo:
                 return io.FileIO(path, mode)
             else:
-                return io.open(path, mode)
+                return io.open(path, mode, encoding='utf-8')
     except:
         logger.error("ERROR when opening file: %s, %s" % (path, mode))
         if not silent:
diff --git a/specials/filmontv.py b/specials/filmontv.py
index 17c0020a..ba309844 100644
--- a/specials/filmontv.py
+++ b/specials/filmontv.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def getEpg():
         with open(xmlName, 'w') as f:
             f.write(guide)
     # else:
-    guide = open(xmlName)
+    guide = filetools.file_open(xmlName, vfs=False)
     return guide