One of Transilvania International Film Festival’s most expected programs, Romanian Days, will present some of this year world premieres and recent productions, promising to keep the audience on its toes. The selection was made by Mihai Chirilov, Artistic Director at TIFF, and it is composed by 11 feature films and 16 short films that are going to be screened at Cluj, between June 6th and June 9th. The schedule will be one day earlier than usual due to the great interest shown in this program.
Killing Time will be seen for the first time at Transilvania International Film Festival 2012. This is Florin Piersic Jr.’ s second feature film, where he takes the triple role of director, actor and scriptwriter, and follows two hitmen, killing time before the arrival of their victim, in a black comedy with a flavour of film noir. Also a premiere, Dan Chisu’s Chasing Rainbows will tell a story about the illusion of getting rich overnight. Another world premiere is Of Snails and Men directed by Tudor Giurgiu. It is the amusing story of a group of workers from a bankrupt factory at the beginning of the '90s, whose lives are about to change when one of the boys comes up with an original solution for saving the factory from closing and his colleagues from unemployment.
From the recent Romanian productions, a few were chosen for Romanian Days. The selection includes: Everybody in Our Family, Radu Jude’s family drama with thriller accents, Somewhere in Palilula, directed by the acclaimed theatre director Silviu Purcarete, and Adrian Sitaru’s Best Intentions, winner of Best Director and Best Actor (Bogdan Dumitrache) at Locarno 2011.
This year, for the first time in Romanian Days, the filmgoers will get a chance to see a Romanian feature animation – Crulic - The Path to Beyond (directed by Anca Damian). Selected in festivals worldwide, the film was also in competition at the most prestigious festival for animation in Annecy, France. Another surprise film comes from Radu Gabrea. The director is bringing 3 Days till Christmas, a docudrama about the last days of Dictator Ceausescu’s life, from his helicopter escape to the execution line.
The documentaries are also very well represented this year in Romanian Days. Ivana Mladenovic is present this year with Turn off the Lights, a documentary that follows the destiny of three youngsters who were just released from prison. Ana Hirte’s Teodora Sinner and A Dream’s Merchant directed by Bogdan Ilie-Micu will complete the selection.
In the short film section, the chosen films are coming from well-known directors as well as from beginners. It seems also that 2012 will be the year of women filmmakers, as shown by the 7 from the total 16 shorts selected for Romanian Days.
A preview of Romanian Days can be seen here: http://youtu.be/a_q82ndo4P0
This year, the Jury for Romanian Days is composed of Michel Ciment, film critic at Positif and author of more than 15 books on cinema, Guilhem Caillard, film critic at Panorama-cinéma and selector for Cinemania Film Festival, Montreal and Vicenzo Rossini, Artistic Director for Milano International Film Festival. The Jury will award the Romanian Days Award for Best Feature Film and Best Debut.
Romanian productions will also be seen in parallel sections of festival. From TIFF Special Screenings a number of surprises are reserved to filmgoers. Kiddo, directed by Millo Simulov will test the audience with an interactive screening where the fate of protagonists in the key moments will be chosen live by spectators. Dan Curean’s mesmerizing documentary Gone Wild will tell the story of the last wild horses from Letea forest. Developed in Discovery Campus MasterSchool for Franco-German TV network Arte the documentary will have a premiere at TIFF. Stefan Constantinescu, a Romanian director who lives in Sweden, will bring Family Dinner, a short film selected in Semaine de la Critique, about a woman who exchanges kinky text messages while her family is preparing dinner.
In HBO Day there will also be screenings of two Romanian documentaries: Radu Muntean and Alexandru Baciu’s Visiting Room and Pavel Cuzuioc’s Digging for Life.
Romanian Days Line-Up
Feature Film
1. Killing Time, directed by Florin Piersic Jr.
2. Of Snails and Men, directed by Tudor Giurgiu
3. Chasing Rainbows, directed by Dan Chișu
4. Turn Off the Lights, directed by Ivana Mladenovic
5. Somewhere in Palilula, directed by Silviu Purcărete
6. Crulic – The Path to Beyond, directed by Anca Damian
7. Best Intentions, directed by Adrian Sitaru
8. Teodora Sinner, directed by Anca Hirte
9. 3 Days Till Christmas, directed by Radu Gabrea
10. Everybody in Our Family, directed by Radu Jude
11. A Dream’s Merchant, directed by Bogdan Ilie-Micu
Short Film
1. Infinite Moments, directed by Cecilia Felméri
2. Reflex, directed by Andra Chiriac
3. Blue, directed by Nicolae Constantin Tănase
4. Sink, directed by Iulia Rugină
5. Do You Feel Sick?, directed by Dan Cimpoeșu
6. Hello Kitty, directed by Millo Simulov
7. Donna Must Die!, directed by Ismail Jamaludin, Dragoș Dulea
8. From Now On, directed by Dorian Boguță
9. 30-40-50, directed by Iulia Rugină, Eva Pervolovici, Stanca Radu
10. Another Christmas, directed by Tudor Giurgiu
11. House Party, directed by Adrian Sitaru
12. Breath, directed by Bán Attila
13. Scream, directed by Sebastian Cosor
14. Grand Hotel Italia, directed by Rodi Cotenescu
15. Daddy Rulz, directed by Radu Potcoavă
16. In Godfather’s Movie, directed by Cristina Iacob
