“The film captures the essence of a significant historical moment and explores the complexity of human nature in difficult times, offering, in addition, a fascinating portrayal of Eastern European history.” This was the jury’s motivation for awarding the International Confederation of Art Cinemas (CICAE) Award to the Romanian film Libertate, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, at the 29th edition of the Sarajevo Film Festival. The prize includes support for the film’s distribution in over 3,000 cinemas worldwide and its promotion among audiences.
Inspired by true events, Libertate tells a lesser-known story that took place in Sibiu during the 1989 Revolution. The film will be released in Romanian cinemas on October 6, and starting August 25, the film team will participate in a series of previews in over 40 cities across the country, including Alba Iulia, Odorheiul Secuiesc, Sibiu, Buzău, and Brăila.
Director Tudor Giurgiu, along with producer Oana Bujgoi Giurgiu and actors Alex Calangiu, Iulian Postelnicu, Cătălin Herlo, and Ionuț Caras, attended the Sarajevo Festival, where Libertate had several screenings and meetings with the public and press. The international publication Cineuropa writes: “Tudor Giurgiu paints a realistic picture of chaos and revolutionary turmoil, questions established narratives, and most importantly, creates a gripping film that captivates viewers.”
The cast also includes Alexandru Papadopol, Andi Vasluianu, Mirela Oprișor, Leonid Doni, and Cuzin Toma. The screenplay is written by Cecilia Ștefănescu and Tudor Giurgiu, based on an idea by Nap Toader.
Libertate had its national premiere at the 22nd edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for the most popular Romanian film in the program.
The Sarajevo Film Festival is the most important and largest film festival in Southeast Europe. It was founded in 1995 during the siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War.
Tudor Giurgiu is one of the most well-known Romanian directors and producers. He has directed films such as Legături bolnăvicioase (2006), Despre oameni și melci (2012), De ce eu? (2015), and Parking (2019). He is the founder of the production company Libra Films and the President of the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF).
LIBERTATE is a co-production between Romania and Hungary, produced by Libra Films and Mythberg Films, and distributed in Romania by Transilvania Film. For international distribution, the film was acquired by the London-based company Reason8.
The team’s attendance at the Sarajevo Film Festival was made possible with support from the National Center of Cinematography, the Romanian Cultural Institute, the Union of Filmmakers in Romania, and Dacin Sara.