Documentary films and news in the „POST-TRUTH” ERA

In the “POST-TRUTH” ERA, the 2017 edition of Astra Film Festival brings forward two programmes aimed to look into the issue of truth in documentary cinema and the media landscape. Documentary film has become known as the cinema genre that faithfully renders reality. Given that the production of documentary films has become more widespread over the last two decades and directors use a series of cinematic tools, the questions and discussions in relation to truth or untruth in documentaries have multiplied.   

Mockumentaries under arrest - masterclass -

Mockumentaries or fake documentaries (films in which directors or producers purposely use fake content for their documentary films) have gained notoriety after a few scandals, when commercial documentary channels that relied on commercial agendas produced and aired documentary series which were based on fake information and used the testimonies of fake experts, fooling millions of viewers. At AFF, on the 21st of October, at 3 p.m., at Auditorium, Ruben Vermeesch, the Belgian independent director and producer will bring up the question: Why are independent film directors drawn to mockumentaries?

FAKE NEWS- panel discussion

Along with the change in the media landscape and the information centers from print to online media, the audience has also migrated from classic journalism to social media. The speed by which information spread has changed as well, and in this current situation manipulation through information becomes very easy. Marian Voicu, journalist, director and moderator, Angela Cristea, Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania, and Yevhen Fedchenko, director of the Mohyla School of Journalism (UKMA), co-founder/chief editor at stopfake.org, will participate in the panel discussion held on the 18th of October and address the best solutions against the fake news attacks. 

For 24 years, AFF is a platform dedicated to documentary cinema, bringing to Sibiu the latest and most important names in the field worldwide. This year’s edition welcomes the audience with a collection of more than 130 films, discussions with film industry experts, concerts, and VR and full-dome events. Tickets and full-passes are on sale on www.eventbook.ro.

The schedule for the Post-Truth programme:

http://astrafilm.ro/films-2015-1.aspx?subsection=39

 

Astra Film Festival 2017 is organized by Astra Film, CNM Astra and the Astra Film Foundation
With the support of Sibiu County Council, the Ministry of Culture and National Identity, the European Union – through the Creative Europe-Media programme and the National Centre for Cinematography
Co-financed by Sibiu Local Council through Sibiu City Hall
In collaboration with Lucian Blaga University
Partners: Institutul Cultural Român, Uniunea Cineaștilor, Consulatul Republicii Federale Germania din Sibiu, Ambasada Elveției în România, Cinetic, Refresh, Habitus
Digital partner: Urby
Title sponsor: Construcții SA
Sponsors: Romgaz, Electrica, Banca Transilvania, Takata, Aqua Carpatica, Happy City, HBO, Cinelab, Swiss Sponsors’ Fund
Car of the festival: Toyota
Media partners: TVR, Europa FM, HotNews, Revista 22, VICE, Revista Timpul, Transilvania Reporter, Cineuropa, Film New Europe, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Actualități, Radio Cluj, Radio Antena Sibiului, Radio Târgu Mureș, RFI România, Cinemagia, LiterNet, Cațavencii, CineFan, Sub25, All About Romanian Cinema, Cooperativa Urbană, ÎnFestival, Recorder, Iqads, Filmtett, Thinkout of the Box, Zile și Nopți, Tribuna, Turnul Sfatului, Sibiu 100%, Eveniment TV, Ora de Sibiu