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- October 6, 2020
UPDATE October 8, 2020: Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases, the cinema theatres in Bucharest have been closed for an indefinite period. The premiere of the film had to be postponed for a later date. Keep you posted. Servants / Servitorii, directed by Ivan Ostrochovský, enters Romanian cinemas starting from October 16, distributed by Transilvania Film. The film starring Vlad Ivanov tackles a controversial topic in Eastern Europe, including Romania: the collaboration of priests with the totalitarian regime. The feature film is co-produced in Romania by Oana Giurgiu and Tudor Giurgiu and had its world premiere in the Encounters competition, at the Berlinale Film Festival. The year is 1980. Michal and Juraj are students at a theological seminary in totalitarian Czechoslovakia. Fearing the dissolution of their school, the tutors are moulding the seminarians into a shape satisfactory to the ruling Communist Party. Each of the young students must decide if he will give into the temptation and choose the easier way of collaborating with the regime, or if he will subject himself to draconian surveillance by the secret police. The cast features newcomers such as Samuel Skyva and Samuel Polakovič, and well-known actors such as Vlad Ivanov, Vladimír Strnisko, Milan Mikulčík , Tomáš Turek. “Slovakian director Ivan Ostrochovský’s sophomore feature is a brilliantly crafted, atmospherically enveloping seminary drama”, according to Variety. “An uncompromising piece of arthouse cinema with thriller elements in this story of the Catholic Church in communist Czechoslovakia”, writes Cineuropa.org. The script was written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Ida, Disobedience), together with Marek Leščák and Ivan Ostrochovský. Camera: Juraj Chlpík. Editors: Jan Daňhel, Martin Malo, Maroš Šlapeta. Music: Miroslav Tóth, Cristian Lolea. Ivan Ostrochovský, Born 1972 in Žilina, Slovak Republic. Graduated in documentary filmmaking at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica. He directed a few short films and several short and feature-length documentaries, including the award-winning documentary “Zamatovi Teroristi / Velvet Terrorists”, which was shown in the goEast section Beyond Belonging in 2014. He is a co-owner and producer at Sentimentalfilm and Punkchart Films. “Goat / Koza” is his first full-length fiction film as a director. The film is a production of Punkchart films (SK), Point Film (RO), Radio and Television of Slovakia (SK), Negativ (CZ), Film and Music Entertainment (IE), Libra Film Productions (RO), Hai Hui Entertainment (RO), sentimentalfilm (SK). Made with the support of Slovak Audiovisual Fund (SK), Eurimages (EU), CNC (RO), Czech Film Fund (CZ), Slovak Film Commission (SK), Bratislava Municipality Fund (SK), Romanian Public Television (RO).
- September 25, 2020
The debut feature of director Cecília Felméri, Spiral, starring Bogdan Dumitrache, will have its world premiere in the competition dedicated to first and second film directors at the Warsaw International Film Festival (October 9-18). Filmed near Budapest and spoken in Hungarian, Spiral is produced by Inforg-M & M Film (Hungary) and Hai-Hui Entertainment (Romania). Producers: András Muhi, Mónika Mécs, Oana Giurgiu, Tudor Giurgiu. Bogdan Dumitrache is joined by two Hungarian actresses: Alexandra Borbély, awarded by the European Film Academy with the Best Actress Award, for her role in On Body and Soul, and Diána Magdolna Kiss (Tall Tales, White God , Le Grand Cahier). “Spiral is the debut I’ve been waiting for a long time, not so much as a film producer, but as a film lover. I believe a lot in Cecília Felméri as a director, I’m happy we finished the film and I can’t wait to see what new projects await the two of us. I want to thank Bogdan Dumitrache for the courage to throw himself into a project in a foreign language and to congratulate him for one of the best roles I have seen him playing!”, says producer Oana Giurgiu. Cecília Felméri also wrote the screenplay. György Réder is the director of photography, and Péter Politzer is the editor of the film. Description: All four seasons on a lake. Bence and Janka live in an old house on the shore. They take care of the lake and make a living from the fees paid to them by people wishing to fish there. Living in this beautiful place would appear to be paradise for Bence and Janka – nature, simplicity and the cyclical change of seasons. But then their relationship starts going sour. Simultaneously, the fish in the lake begin to mysteriously perish. The anglers stop coming and the couple starts having financial difficulties. Bence attempts to find a solution… A psychological drama balancing between realism and horror. A love triangle and a reflection on letting go of the past and on how life and nature’s cycles are connected. Cecília Felméri Film director and scriptwriter, born in 1978 in Cluj-Napoca. She graduated in filmmaking from the I. L. Caragiale National Film Academy in Bucharest. Her short films have competed at several international film festivals: in Locarno, Mar del Plata, at AFI Fest, the Warsaw Film Festival, DOK Leipzig, Transilvania Film Festival. Currently she is an assistant professor at the Sapientia University in Cluj-Napoca. She is one of the founding members and vice-president of the Hungarian Film Association of Transylvania. “Spiral” is her debut feature. Director’s filmography 2020 Spirál / Spiral2012 Pastila fericirii / The Pill of Happiness (kr.m./short)2011 Végtelen percek / Infinite Minutes (kr.m./short)2010 Mátyás, Mátyás / Matthias, Matthias (kr.m. dok./short doc)2008 Kakukk / Cuckoo (kr.m./short) *NFI World Sales (Sales Agent) – Klaudia Androsovits (klaudia.androsovits@nfi.hu) Spiral_TRL_ENG_SUB from National Film Institute on Vimeo.
- February 25, 2020
The docu-drama Occasional Spies/ Spioni de ocazie, written and directed by Oana Bujgoi Giurgiu enters post-production after two years of intensive production work. Her second feature length documentary after Aliyah Dada (Gopo Award for Best Documentary in 2016) focuses on a Second World War less-known story about ordinary people recruited by British Intelligence and sent in a mission in German-occupied Eastern Europe, to find escape routes for the Allies’ war prisoners and organize the resistance. Filming took place in various locations in Israel, Slovakia, and Romania (Oradea, Cluj, Bucharest, Talpa, Lake Vidraru) and involved a numerous cast. As a project, the film received the Special Mention – Balkan Documentary Center Discoveries 2016. Occasional Spies is produced by Libra Film Productions and supported by the Romanian National Film Center. The world premiere is scheduled for the end of this Spring. Main info: Directed and written by: Oana GiurgiuEditing: Letiția ȘtefănescuCinematograpghy: Alexandru GâlmeanuSound: Sebastian ZsemlyeExecutive producer: Bogdan CrăciunProducers: Oana Bujgoi Giurgiu, Tudor GiurgiuCast: Claudia Droc, Cristian Hordilă, George Bârsan, Andrei Gâjulete, Ioan Paraschiv, Mihai Niţă, Daniel Achim, Marius Bălănescu, Elena Stancu, Paul Ipate, Sandu Ilie, Ninel Petrache
- February 18, 2020
Parking, Tudor Giurgiu’s most recent film, starring Belen Cuesta, Mihai Smarandache, Ariadna Gil, and Luis Bermejo received 8 nominations for the Gopo Awards, the Romanian film industry awards. His three previous titles – Love Sick, Of Snails and Men and Why Me? – also received nods in the Best Feature Film category. Best Feature FilmActor in a Leading Role: Mihai SmarandacheActress in a Leading Role: Belén CuestaBest Cinematography: Marius Panduru RSCBest Editing: José M. G. Moyano and Manuel TerceñoBest Production Design: Sonia NollaBest Sound: Lukáš Moudrý and Diana SagristaBest original music: Julio de la Rosa Parking is sold internationally by Film Republic. Another Libra Films production, Havana Cuba by Andrei Huțuleac, received a nomination for Best Short Film. In this tragicomic story, an ever-quiet taxi driver – played by renowned actor Marian Rîlea – meets five different people over the course of one night during Christmas Holidays. The Gopo Awards Gala will be held on Tuesday, March 24, at the National Theater in Bucharest.
- January 17, 2020
Update on February 25: Fresh from Berlinale, after the world premiere in the Encounters new section, on February 24: “[…] Ostrochovsky styles Servants with the flair and unease of film noir, while ramping up the tension almost to horror-movie levels. Shot in black-and-white, in Academy ratio, and with a droning, needling soundtrack, the images bristle with anxiety. […] As well as meticulous visual command (reinforced by blunt, almost-jarring edits), Ostrochovsky demonstrates an impressive mastery of tone.” – Screen International Next Berlinale screenigs: February 25, 6.00 PM – Cubix 6February 26, 10.00 PM – InternationalMarch 1st, 10.00 AM Servants / Discipolul, the second feature film of Ivan Ostrochovský, co-produced in Romania by Oana Giurgiu and Tudor Giurgiu, has its world premiere in the Encounters competition, at the 70th edition of the Berlinale Film Festival (20th of February – 1st of March) ). A drama inspired by the real stories of priests who had the choice between collaborating with the secret police and resisting, in communist Czechoslovakia, the film has Vlad Ivanov in one of the central roles. Servants is a Slovakia-Romania-Czech Republic-Ireland co-production, the historical context in which the action takes place is similar to the one in Romania, where the collaboration of priests with the Securitate is still a hot topic. The year is 1980. Michal (Samuel Polakovič) and Juraj (Samuel Skyva) are students at a theological seminary in totalitarian Czechoslovakia. Fearing the dissolution of their school, the tutors are moulding the students into a shape satisfactory to the ruling Communist Party. Each of the young seminarians must decide if he will give into the temptation and choose the easier way of collaborating with the regime, or if he will subject himself to draconian surveillance by the secret police. Ivan Ostrochovský, a rising name in European cinema, is at his third selection at the Berlinale Film Festival. In 2014, the feature documentary Velvet Terrorists, co-directed by Pavol Pekarčík and Peter Kerekes, premiered at Berlinale, where it won the Tagesspiegel Readers’ Award. In 2015, he returned with his fiction debut, Koza, selected and subsequently awarded in dozens of festivals. The script was written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (known for award-winning films such as Ida, Disobedience or Colette), together with Marek Leščák and Ivan Ostrochovský. The film is a production of Punkchart films (SK), Point Film (RO), Radio and Television of Slovakia (SK), Negativ (CZ), Film and Music Entertainment (IE), Libra Film Productions (RO), Hai Hui Entertainment (RO), sentimentalfilm (SK). Made with the support of Slovak Audiovisual Fund (SK), Eurimages (EU), CNC (RO), Czech Film Fund (CZ), Slovak Film Commission (SK), Bratislava Municipality Fund (SK), Romanian Public Television (RO).
- December 19, 2019
Eden, the much awaited third feature film by talented Hungarian filmmaker Ágnes Kocsis (Adrienn Pál), will have its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), in the Big Screen Competition. Nine films will compete for the VPRO Big Screen Award, which is worth €30,000 and guarantees a local theatrical release as well as screening on Dutch television. A Hungary/ Romania co-production, Eden is produced by József Berger for Mythberg Films, and co-produced by Oana Giurgiu for Libra Film Productions, with the involvement of WFE (Belgium). The film is financed by the Hungarian Film Fund, the Hungarian tax incentive scheme and the MEDIA Programme’s development support. Éva is allergic to all kinds of chemical substances, radio waves and electronic fields. She needs to live in total isolation; her only contact is with her brother and the doctors that keep experimenting on her. One day a psychiatrist comes to investigate if her illness is real or just imagined. Is love able to save her? “Ágnes Kocsis explores the confusing ambiguity of modern world suspended between sustainability and emptiness. The character of Eva is poignantly embodied by actress Lana Baric and echoes Todd Haynes’ Safe, in which Julianne Moore suffers from an ‘environmental illnesses. The relationship between Éva and András becomes more intimate, and her condition seems to improve. But is love the antidote she was waiting for? Or is her condition incurable? And can the world be cured?”, wrote the IFFR programmers. Eden features the Croatian actress Lana Baric (You Carry Me), Daan Stuyven, best known as a Belgian musician and singer, Romania’s Lóránt Bocskor-Salló (Children of Glory) and Hungarian actress Maya Roberti. Shooting took place in Mafilm Studios, in Budapest and at various locations in the Hungarian countryside. The DoP is Máté Tóth Widamon (What Ever Happened to Timi). Ágnes Kocsis (1971, Hungary), also the scriptwriter of the film, studied at the University of Budapest Faculty of Arts, majoring in Polish Language and Literature, Aesthetics and Film Theory. With Fresh Air (2006), her first feature film, she won several prizes, including Best Film in Brussels, Best First Feature at the Hungarian film week, and the FIPRESCI Award in Warsaw. Adrienn Pál (2010) won the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section and was nominated for the Grand Prize in Warsaw.
- December 10, 2019
Crissea IV, the first feature film project of Vladimir Dembinski, was selected to participate in MIDPOINT Feature Launch 2020. MIDPOINT’s leading feature-length film program Feature Launch is designed for filmmakers working on their first and second films. Selected writers, producers and directors of 9 feature film projects will experience a year-long development platform, which takes off in January 2020 in Trieste and runs till January 2021. Moreover, 3 script consultant trainees will guide the participants in their creative process. The best project of the program will receive the Karlovy Vary IFF & MIDPOINT Development Award of 10.000 euro. Writer and director Vladimir Dembinski previously made Tennis (2012), a short film selected in festivals such as Clermont-Ferrand, Festival Europeen du Film Court Brest, Curtas Vila do Conde. The story revolves around Adrian, a man living in a remote town called Sulina, in the Danube Delta. He struggles with himself in order to take the best decision regarding his future. Adrian lives with his father, whom he takes care of, close to the canals of the Danube Delta. He makes a living off the fish be catches and sells, but things haven’t been going so well lately and money is a problem. Cristi, a childhood friend, tells him that a cruise ship with foreign tourists is about to arrive in Tulcea. To get money, Adrian decides to take Cristi’s boat and use it for trips to the Delta. After helping out a photographer by taking him to the best shooting locations at the pelican reservation, Adrian ends-up on the ship via invitation. He finds a world he’s never seen before and decides to watch one of the shows at the night club. On stage he sees Maria, his high-school sweetheart. He hasn’t seen her in eight years. They end-up spending one night together on the boat, overwhelmed by memories feelings they still have for each other. The next day, Maria will sail off with the ship. Adrian has to decide if this time he leaves with her or not. Bogdan Crăciun will produce the film on behalf of Libra Films. The film is set to be finalized in 2021.
- November 15, 2019
The first feature project of renowned Romanian writer Cecilia Ștefănescu, called The Great Adventure/ Marea aventură, has been selected in the TorinoFilmLab (TFL) Extended – Creative Production workshop. 14 teams of writer/director and producer will be participating in the programme this year, from November 18th to November 24th. TFL Extended – Creative Production is a TorinoFilmLab initiative addressed to teams of international professionals (writer/director + producer), with projects at an early development stage and who are willing to dive deep into the writing and productive process along with an intensive development workshop. Writers and directors will work under the expert guidance of international high profile tutors (script consultants, producers, sales agents, distributors). The Great Adventure, produced by Libra Film Productions, will be represented by writer/ director Cecilia Ștefănescu and producer Bogdan Crăciun. The film tells the story of a 35-year-old woman who goes with her husband, son and friends at the beach, in a Bulgarian village by the border with Romania. A newly arrived man comes and disturbs the peaceful holiday. Though at first the two families welcome him gladly, gradually we discover that Lucia already knows the stranger and that they are having an affair. The seaside village is shaken when a local child disappears without a trace. All clues point to her lover. Cecilia Ștefănescu studied Literature at the Bucharest University and holds a Master of Arts degree in Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature. In 2002, she made her debut as a writer with the novel Love Sick; the adaptation of the book, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, premiered at the 2006 Berlinale Film Festival, in Panorama section. Her second novel, Sun Alley (2009), has been translated into English. The short movie Ferdinand 13 (2015) is her directorial debut. The film won the special mention at the Zagreb Film Festival. Her second short, Morski Briz (2018), was selected at Transilvania IFF and Sarajevo Film Festival.
- November 6, 2019
After having its world premiere in the competition of Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (September 27 – October 4), Urma/ Legacy, the debut feature of actor and director Dorian Boguță will be screened at The FilmFestival Cottbus, in Spectrum section, on November 7. “This directing debut from actor Dorian Boguţă features a suspenseful narrative which, though presented laconically, represents a focused and meticulous study of investigative work, as well as the mysteries of everyday human coexistence”, wrote the festival programmers. A young man has disappeared; his sister and his girlfriend are mystified. The film accompanies two policemen as they investigate: collegial jokes, the everyday monotony of the work and, now and again, new leads. The missing person was fatally ill and yet he obviously wanted to make a mark before his departure. By any means necessary, as ultimately proves to be the case in this laconically captured psycho-drama. Actors Teodor Corban, Marin Grigore (Sieranevada) and Irina Rădulescu play important parts, along with Dragoș Bucur, Mădălina Ghenea, Lucian Ifrim, Liviu Pintileasa. Noted by the international press in Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza, Mădălina Ghenea takes her first role in a Romanian film. The star plays a central role of a woman who turns out to be a key figure in the police investigation. Legacy is produced by Hai Hui Entertainment, in co-production with Mandragora, Actoriedefilm and Point Film. Dorian Boguță and Loredana Novak wrote the script; Barbu Bălășoiu (Sieranevada) is the director of photography, and Tudor Popescu – the editor of the film. The film will be distributed in Romania by Transilvania Film, in March 2020.
- November 6, 2019
The first feature film of director and scriptwriter Cristian Pascariu, October, is taking its final shape these days, within MFI Script 2 Film Workshops. The third session took place in Rhodes (Greece), between 13th and 20th of October, 2019, and the fourth and final one will be online, this December. The script has a very personal starting point: a true story involving director Cristian Pascariu. An 18-year-old teenager receives an odd request from his father: he asks him to try to convince his best friend, a 40-year-old man, not to commit suicide. Mediterranean Film Institute Script 2 Film Workshops offer an advanced training programme which provides a platform for the effective script and project development of feature films. It helps to fully develop the participating screenplays, from first or subsequent draft to final draft and it consists of 2 on-location workshop sessions and 2 online sessions per year. The workshops involve some of the most established screenwriting teachers, producers and industry experts from Europe and the USA as trainers and tutors. As a project, October already gathered awards and festival selections: The coco Best Pitch Award at the East-West co-production market Connecting Cottbus, 2019Selected in Budapest Film Forum, Hungary, 2019Transilvania Pitch Stop – Connecting Cottbus Award at Transilvania IFF, 2018Nowe Horyzonty Studio+, 17th edition of T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival, 2017Selected in the 2016 ScripTeast program Born in 1987 in Botoșani, Romania, Cristian Pascariu graduated the Faculty of Theater and Television in Cluj Napoca in 2010. His thesis film, called Rock`n`roll Sticks, won the Black Pearl Award at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2010, and the Award for Best Student Film at the Open Society Shorts 2011. His short films have been selected in over 80 film festivals around the world. October is produced by Libra Film Productions.
- October 25, 2019
Several films produced by Libra Film Productions and its sister company Hai-Hui Entertainment are now available on Netflix.com! The films can be watched exclusively on Romanian territory. Update (December 10, 2019). Two additions to the list: Cinema, mon amour (d. Alexandru Belc, 2015) Cinema, mon amour follows the story of Victor Purice – manager, former projectionist and lifetime cinephile along with his two employees, Cornelia & Lorena, in their everyday battle to preserve Dacia Panoramic Cinema in Piatra Neamt – one of the last remaining cinemas in Romania today. Having lived through “the golden age” of cinema, Victor dreams of bringing back the good old glory days, yet struggles to keep up with the new harsh reality. In a theater that lacks heating and is slowly falling apart, with no support from the State who owns the place, it’s almost a Don Quixote fight. The History of Love/ Povestea iubirii (d. Radu Mihăileanu, 2016) What if a book written before World War II in a little village in Eastern Europe could shine through the years, crossing continents and surviving violent conflicts, to guide the journey of three generations? This book is entitled The History of Love. *** Here’s the list: Breaking News (d. Iulia Rugină, 2017) After the tragic death of his cameraman, which he indirectly caused, reporter Alex Mazilu has to make an in-memoriam reportage covering his life. Three days before Christmas, in a small town on the Black Sea coast, Alex puts together puzzle pieces of this man’s life, all seen through the eyes of his troubled 15 year old daughter. Trying to redeem the dead father, he slowly starts taking his place. Why Me?/ De ce eu? (d. Tudor Giurgiu, 2015) The young and ambitious prosecutor Cristian Panduru is surprised to be assigned a sensitive case involving an older colleague who has been accused of corruption. A case that could have been a springboard for his career turns out to have the opposite effect. Panduru will soon understand that he may just a pawn on a chessboard dominated by dark forces… Based on real events. Selected at Panorama Special, Berlinale 2015. Aliyah Dada (d. Oana Giurgiu, 2015) A well documented history of Jews in Romania. 133 years ago, a small community in Moineşti was leaving for the Holy Land, to establish one of the first kibbutzim in Palestine. Since then, the path of Jews towards Israel has been intertwined with the history of modern Romania through a love-hate relationship, the influences of which will not be quantified too soon. The historical tale is visually trimmed in the Dada style as a tribute to the pioneers of this movement, Tristan Tzara and Marcel Janco, two Jews of Romanian descent. The Japanese Dog/ Câinele japonez(d. Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, 2013) Old Costache Moldu has lost his wife, his house and a lifetime’s savings, in a flood. The unexpected return of his son,Ticu, from Japan, together with his wife and son, will bring them both in a situation where they need to learn to communicate again, thus re-becoming a family. Costache learns to be a real grandfather to his seven-year-old grandson, and Ticu does his best to fix his past mistakes. Selected to represent Romania at the 87th Academy Awards, in the Best foreign language film category. Of Men and Snails/ Despre oameni și melci (d. Tudor Giurgiu, 2012) A group of desperate workers come up with the crazy idea of donating sperm in order to save their car factory from bankruptcy and, consequently, from being privatized. The comedy has been one of the most popular Romanian productions of the last decade and ranked no 1 in the top of the Romanian films according to the number of viewers in 2012. Crossing Dates/ Întâlniri încrucișate (d. Anca Damian, 2008) The movie mingles 3 separate stories which take place over two days. The characters’ paths intersect, and they affect each-other unintentionally. The three stories are united not only by the characters but also by re-readings of the same theme at different registers. This is a way of saying that every meeting happens in this way, despite outward appearances. The Great Communist Bank Robbery/ Marele jaf comunist (d. Alexandru Solomon, 2004) In 1959, in Romania, six former members of the nomenklatura and the secret police organize a hold-up of the national bank. After their arrest, the state forces them to play themselves in a film which reconstitutes the crime and the investigation. At the end of their trial, filmed live, they are sentenced to death and executed. After 40 years, Alexandru Solomon retraces this incredible story.
- October 25, 2019
Mihai Sofronea’s first feature film, Căutătorul de vânt/ The Windseeker, has recently finished shooting and enters post-production. The last ten days of filming took place until mid-October in Turcoaia, Dobrogea. The film features Dan Bordeianu, Olimpia Melinte and Adrian Titieni and follows the story of Radu, a man living in a continuous inertia. One day he receives the implacable verdict that he only has a few more months left to live. He chooses to run away from death, until exhaustion, finding refuge in a small isolated village. Director Mihai Sofronea wrote the script; the team is also composed of Corina Stavilă (editor), Toni Cartu (director of photography), Marian Pîrvu (production designer), Ana Cântăbine (costumes), Bistra Ketchidjieva (make up & hair). The post-production phase will be completed by Avanpost. The film is produced by Libra Film Productions (Tudor Giurgiu, Bogdan Crăciun) and co-produced by Chouchkov Brothers (Boris Chouchkov, Bulgaria), and Living Pictures (Stefan Orlandic, Serbia). The Windseeker has been developed with the support of the Creative Europe programme – MEDIA of the European Union and will be launched in 2020. Mihai Sofronea graduated the University of Theatre and Cinema of Bucharest (UNATC). He worked as a first assistant director for various feature films, TV series, promos and videos. He now directs for cinema, television and publicity. In 2011, he co-founded the independent production company Danubius Film Production, which allowed him to produce his short films Waiting for the Sunrise (Best Short Film at Cottbus IFF 2011), The Tree (2014) and Triangle Safari (in post-production).
- October 16, 2019
Parking, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, will premiere in Spain at the Valladolid International Film Festival (October 19-26), one of the most important European film festivals, reaching its 64th edition. The gala screening on October 25 will be attended by director Tudor Giurgiu, actors Mihai Smarandache, Belén Cuesta, Ariadna Gil, writer Marin Mălaicu-Hondrari and producer Bogdan Crăciun. Next stop after Valladolid: Festival de Cine de Sevilla, in Panorama Andaluz section. The screening will be attended by the director and members of the team on November 15. The film is scheduled to be launched in Spanish cinemas at the beginning of 2020. Spanish Cinema is a non-competitive section aimed at showing an overview of the most significant auteur films produced by the Spanish cinema in the last season and they will be screened with English subtitles. A total of 20 film titles -16 feature films and four short films – will be screened during the festival. Spanish actress Belén Cuesta will act as special host or “Godmother” for the 64th edition and will therefore read the festival director’s letter during the Opening Gala on October 19. This is the first time Cuesta joins the Valladolid Festival, where she also appears in two titles selected for participation in the Spanish Cinema section: Dani de la Orden’s Litus, and Tudor Giurgiu’s Parking. Parking has multiple connections with Spain: Marin Mălaicu-Hondrari wrote the novel “Closeness” – on which the film is based – after being an emigrant in Córdoba, the shooting took place, for the most part, in the same city and its surroundings, and renowned Spanish actors such as Belén Cuesta, Ariadna Gil, and Luis Bermejo joined the project. Also, the Spanish co-producers managed the production, providing local financial support. Adrian (Mihai Smarandache) is a poor Romanian writer trying to make it in Spain, while grappling with the prejudices that are inflicted both upon and by him. An unabashed romantic with a temper to boot, he divides his time evenly between typing out his woes and attempting to woo the dreamy-but-doomed Maria (Belén Cuesta), a Spanish musician. Parking is produced by Libra Film Productions, co-produced by La Claqueta, Tito Clint Movies, Cercanías la Película AIE (Spain) and Evolution Films, Studio Beep (Czech Republic), with the support of the Romanian National Film Centre, Junta de Andalucia, Czech Film Fund, Canal Sur, TVR, HBO, Eurimages and the European Union’s Creative Europe program.
- October 1, 2019
Oceane, Eva Pervolovici’s second feature film project, has been selected for the Crossroads Co-production Forum at the 60th edition of Thessaloniki International Film Festival (October 31st – November 10, 2019).
- February 8, 2019
How much is the benefit worth? Projects can derive a benefit of up to 35–45% of their qualifying expenditure. Is there a cap on the amount that can be raised? Yes, there is a ceiling of 10 million € on qualifying local expenditure per project. The minimum local spent per project is 100.000 €. What costs are eligible? The costs have to be for goods and services provided in Romania. They have to be directly related to production, so marketing and distribution costs do not qualify. When is it paid? The net benefit will be made available on completion of production, audit of the final cost statement and evidence that all the requirements have been met. Is there a cultural test a project must pass or some other criteria it must meet? Yes. Projects must pass a test for European cultural and production criteria in order to qualify for the rebate. The Romanian cultural test comprises three categories: “cultural content”, “cultural contribution” and “local crew and facilities”. It’s a 35-point test, and projects must score at least 18 points.
- October 25, 2017
In The Beat of a Heart (Apropierea/ Sin Aliento), the fourth feature-length film signed by Tudor Giurgiu, produced by Libra Film Productions and co-produced by Tito Clint Movies (Spain) and Evolution Films (Czech Republic), earned € 250,000 in funding from Eurimages, the cultural fund of the Council of Europe which supports European cinematographic co-productions. The total budget of the film is 1.4 million euros. Shooting started on October 19th in the Spanish town of Candas and is scheduled to last until the end of November, reaching two more locations in Spain – Cordoba and Sevilla, but also one in Romania, in the Transylvanian town of Sângeorz-Băi. The film is based on the popular eponymous novel by Marin Mălaicu-Hondrari, published in 2010, and is starring Mihai Smarandache (Why me?, Hacker). The cast includes well-known international actors like Belén Cuesta, Ariadna Gil, Luis Bermejo, Eric Frances, as well as Romanian actors such as: Carmen Florescu (part of 10 pentru Film project at TIFF 2017, collaborates with important theaters in Bucharest), Cristi Iacob (known for his roles in Pepe and Fifi, Youth without Youth, 15, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance), Ioan Coman (performs at “Toma Caragiu” Theater in Ploiesti, made apparences in movies like Portrait of the Fighter as a Young Man, Philanthropy), Emilian Oprea (Why me?, Of Snails and Men, Dogs, Orizont, Self-portrait of a Dutiful Daughter), Paul Cimpoieru (founder of the Independent Theater Company “Two of Us”, known for his performance in Homo Americanus play). In The Beat of a Heart (Apropierea/ Sin Aliento) is Tudor Giurgiu’s fourth feature-length film. His previous title, Why Me?, premiered internationally at the 2015 Berlinale. In 2012, he was awarded Best European Short Film by the European Film Academy for Superman, Spiderman sau Batman. In The Beat of a Heart (Apropierea/ Sin Aliento) is produced by Libra Film Productions and co-produced by Tito Clint Movies (Spain) and Evolution Films (Czech Republic), with the support of the Romanian National Film Center and the European Union’s Creative Europe program. The film premieres in Romania in October 2018.
- September 19, 2017
In October, director Tudor Giurgiu will begin shooting the fourth feature-length title in his career, In The Beat of a Heart (Apropierea/ Sin Aliento). Based on the popular eponymous novel by Marin Mălaicu-Hondrari, the movie will be shot in Spain and Romania and will feature Romanian actor Mihai Smarandache, alongside well-known Spanish actors Belén Cuesta, Ariadna Gil and Luis Bermejo. Shooting is set to take place in three Spanish cities: Cordoba, Seville and Candas, as well as in the Romanian town of Sângeorz-Băi. The movie depicts the story of Adrian (Mihai Smarandache), a poet who emigrates illegally to Spain in 2002 and finds employment as a night guard at a car dealership managed by Rafael (Luis Bermejo). Adrian’s life is forever changed on the Night of San Juan, when he meets Maria (Belén Cuesta), a guitar player in a jazz band. “It’s a complicated, challenging project, a very different movie from everything I’ve done before. I was fascinated by writer’s life story, so we tried to recreate both the mood of the 2000’s, when lots of Romanians left the country and barely subsisted, as well as a love story that retrieves numerous themes in the author’s prose and poetry: the nostalgia for places in his youth, the journey, certain people’s powerful ability to imagine, dream, and wish for things which are more or less tangible,” states director Tudor Giurgiu. Actor Mihai Smarandache featured in Why Me?, Tudor Giurgiu’s previous feature-length film and starred in the TV series Hacker, broadcast by the TVR1, Romanian public TV. His stage performance recently garnered him a Best Actor Award at the Undercloud Independent Theater Festival, for his role in The Glass Menagerie. He received the same accolades at the 2015 edition of the Romanian Comedy Festival, for his performance in De vânzare/For Sale. His co-star is one of the well-known up-and-coming Spanish actresses, Belén Cuesta. Known for her role in Kiki, el amor se hace (dir. Paco León, 2016), which garnered her a Goya nod for Best New Actress, Belén Cuesta has performed in dozens of film and TV productions, as well as on stage. Last year, she took home the Feroz Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the series Paquita Salas. Another major part is to be performed by Ariadna Gil, one of Spain’s most loved theater and film actresses. Established through her performances in films such as Lola, dir. Bigas Luna (her 1986 debut), Amo tu cama rica (1991), Belle Époque, dir. Fernando Trueba (1993 Goya Award for Best Actress), Lágrimas Negras (1998), Soldados de Salamina (2003) or Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), directed by Guillermo del Toro. Ariadna’s on-screen partner is actor Luis Bermejo, whose career spans more than three decades, as well as dozens of film, theater, and television performances. He was nominated for two Goya Awards, for Una palabra tuya (2009) and Magical Girl (2015), dir. Carlos Vermut. In The Beat of a Heart (Apropierea/ Sin Aliento) is Tudor Giurgiu’s fourth feature-length film. His previous title, Why Me?, premiered internationally at the 2015 Berlinale. In 2012, he was awarded Best European Short Film by the European Film Academy for Superman, Spiderman or Batman. The film’s cinematographer is Marius Panduru, a six-time Gopo Award recipient for best cinematography, for such titles as The Rest Is Silence, Police, Adjective and Aferim!. He previously worked with Tudor Giurgiu on Why Me?. Sonia Nolla is the Art Director and costumes will be designed by Fernando García, known for the acclaimed La Isla Minima (2014), A Perfect Day (2015), and Unit 7 (2012). Producers are Bogdan Craciun (Romania) and Olmo Figueredo (Spain). In The Beat of a Heart/ Apropierea/ Sin Aliento is produced by Libra Film Productions and co-produced by Tito Clint Movies (Spain) and Evolution Films (Czech Republic), with the support of the Romanian National Film Center, Canal Sur (Spain) and the European Union’s Creative Europe program. The film will premiere in fall 2018.
- August 28, 2017
One of the most beloved and well-known book adaptation in the history of Romanian cinema, The Moromete Family/ Morometii, will have a sequel, 30 years after the release of the film directed by Stere Gulea. The famous characters will return to the big screen under the direction of the same filmmaker. Marin Preda is one of the best post-WW2 Romanian novelists. In the classic 1987 film, director Stere Gulea has managed to convey, through the character of Ilie Moromete, remarkably played by Victor Rebengiuc, the archetype of the Romanian peasant. The black and white film is considered by many critics one of the best films in the history of Romanian cinema. The shooting takes place this Fall in the same house and the same village where the first film was shot in the summer of 1985 – Talpa, Teleorman County, only a few kilometers away from Silistea-Gumeşti, the native village of writer Marin Preda. The production design posed some challenges: the house of Morometii was restored according to the sketches of the old one, and the center of the village will be recreated from scratch. Important scenes will be shot in Bucharest in November. The scenario resumes the story of the Moromete family after the Second World War, in an extremely troubled historical context: the first years of the communist regime. The two main characters, Ilie Moromete and his son, Niculae, see these complex changes with different eyes, which is a source of permanent conflict. The cast is an exceptional one and brings together some of the most appreciated Romanian actors. More than 60 actors and many more extras will be involved in the making of the film. Well known film and theaters actors Horațiu Mălăele and Dana Dogaru, and young Iosif Paștina will play the main characters. They will be joined by Răzvan Vasilescu, George Mihăiță, Andi Vasluianu, Oana Pellea, Ion Caramitru, Gheorghe Visu, Florin Zamfirescu, Marian Râlea, Paul Ipate, Cuzin Toma, Liviu Pintileasa, Dorina Chiriac. Vivi Drăgan Vasile, whose style has become a landmark in Romanian cinema, will serve as DoP. Dana Păpăruz, awarded with a Gopo trophy for her work for Aferim!, will create the costumes, and Cristian Niculescu is in charge with the production design. "Moromete Family 2 is a very risky endeavour, because you already have an excellent reference – the great novel of Marin Preda, and the previous film that, to my delight, has become quite popular. The story takes place in a tougher and more unsettling period, when the communist regime takes over the country. There’s a lot of anxiety and fear. And the world we knew is about to disappear, in fact. This is what attracted me to the idea of a sequel, I wanted to bring the story of these characters who survived collectivization until the 1950s to an end. It is my tribute to this world," says Stere Gulea. "I am honored to be part of this wonderful adventure, I thank my former teacher, Stere Gulea, for trusting the capabilities of our production team to accomplish an ambitious project that I hope will remain in the history of the Romanian cinema as a landmark, as it happened 30 years ago with the first part of the The Moromete Family, " says producer Tudor Giurgiu. The Moromete Family 2 is a Libra Film production, made with the support of the Romanian National Film Center and the Cinema Studio of the Ministry of Culture. The domestic premiere is set for November 9, 2018. Transilvania Film will manage the distribution.
- August 21, 2017
Iulia Rugină’s Breaking News will be released in the Romanian cinemas on September 29th. Andi Vasluianu plays the lead character in this drama, along with young Voica Oltean, awarded the Special Jury Mention for the Best Newcomer at Karlovy Vary IFF 2017. Breaking News is a character driven drama, set in present day Romania, following three days in the life of a news reporter. After a tragic accident during a live broadcast, which leads to the death of his cameraman, reporter Alex Mazilu is given the difficult task of finding information for compiling a short tribute video about his dead colleague. The only person who is able to help is his 15-year-old daughter, a troubled teenager who has her own unsolved issues with her father. “The film does not give verdicts, it asks questions that should linger in the viewer’s mind at the end of it. What would a stranger make out of what’s left behind when we’re gone? Or, as one of the lines in the film states, “If I died tomorrow, what would they say on TV about me?”, says Iulia Rugină. Breaking News was supposed to be Iulia Rugină’s first feature film – the first draft of the script was written in 2007, just after her graduation. But many rewritings followed, therefore filming took place when draft no. 14 was ready. The story is co-written by Ana Agopian, Oana Răsuceanu and Iulia Rugină. “It's a story that has changed a lot along the years, growing and transforming itself together with the team of three scriptwriters and friends”, says Iulia. The first draft of the script was written in 2007, just after Iulia’s graduation. But many rewritings followed, until draft no. 14. The filming then took place from December 2014 to February 2015 in Bucharest and at the seaside. Breaking News is produced by Hai-Hui Entertainment and Libra Film Productions, with the support of the Romanian CNC. The film had its world premiere at Transilvania IFF.
- August 21, 2017
Young director Cristian Pascariu presented his first feature film project, October/ Octombrie, during the 17th edition of T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival (3-13 August, 2017). Together with producer Cristiana Mitea, representing Libra Film, he was selected for the eighth edition of New Horizons Studio+, which took place between 5-8 August. 20 participants – 10 director-producer pairs who are developing their first or second feature film – were selected for this edition. October follows a 18 year old teenager who receives an odd request from his father: he asks him to try to convince his best friend, a 40 year old man, to not commit suicide. The project was also developed in the frame of the ScripTeast program. New Horizons Studio+, organized by the New Horizons Association and Creative Europe Desk Polska, involves four days of workshops and lectures on various aspects related to the promotion and development of projects. Its main task is to provide young professionals with knowledge about the international film market, as well as to help them in determining their career paths. This year's lineup of lecturers included experts such as: David Pope (London Film Academy); Alya Belgaroui (EAVE), sales agent representing Wild Bunch; Aranka Matits (EAVE), representing Featurette; Mark Lautman from Intermission Film; Raquel Cabrera from The Film Agency; Jakub Duszyński from Gutek Film; and Jan Naszewski from New Europe Film Sales. Born in 1987, Cristian Pascariu graduated the Faculty of Theater and Television in Cluj Napoca in 2010. His thesis film, called Rock`n`roll Sticks, won the Black Pearl Award at Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2010, and the Award for Best Student Film at Open Society Shorts 2011. His short films have been selected in film festivals around the world including Uppsala Short Film Festival and Transilvania International Film Festival.
- August 18, 2017
The short film First Night/ Prima noapte, written and directed by Andrei Tănase, continues to collect prizes around the world, almost one year after its official premiere in the Orizzonti competition at Venice IFF. The film already qualifyed for an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film, 2018 edition, after winning the international competition at Festival International de Cine de la Huesca. Other important awards and selections followed. At the end of June, First Night won Best Romanian Short Film Award in the National Competition at NexT Film Festival, the most important festival dedicated to short films in Romania. It was also named Best Short Film at Bašta Fest, in Serbia, winning the official short film competition. This summer, the film was also selected at Grimstad IFF (Norway), Motovun IFF (Croatia), Filmul de Piatra and Anonimul IFF (Romania). Synopsis: Alex's birthday is approaching, and his father Calin has prepared a very special surprise: the first night with a girl. The cast includes young actors Alfredo Minea and Cristiana Luca, along with reknown actors Mimi Brănescu and Elvira Deatcu.
- July 18, 2017
Young actress Voica Oltean won a Special Jury Mention for the Best Newcomer at Karlovy Vary IFF 2017, for her performance in Iulia Rugina's Breaking News. The young actress is at her first role in a film. She was discovered after a long casting among high school theater groups in Bucharest. Voica was 15 years old when she made the shortlist and she was studying at Dinu Lipatti Music High School in Bucharest. “She was on her first film experience, but she was extremely open and enthusiastic, and that was a big deal”, says director Iulia Rugină. Breaking News is a psychological journey of redemption that turns into a coming-of-age experience for a 35-year -old famous news reporter (played by Andi Vasluianu) who, in a crucial moment of his life, discovers that things have somehow taken a wrong turn. After the tragic death of his cameraman, which he indirectly caused, reporter Alex Mazilu has to make an in-memoriam reportage covering his life. Three days before Christmas, in a small town on the Black Sea coast, Alex puts together puzzle pieces of this man’s life, all seen through the eyes of his troubled 15-year-old daughter. Trying to redeem the dead father, he slowly starts taking his place. Besides Andi Vasluianu and Voica Oltean, the cast is completed by Dorin Andone, Ioana Flora, Oxana Moravec and David Mihai Blaj. The film is produced by Hai-Hui Entertainment and Libra Film Productions, with the support of the Romanian CNC.
- June 23, 2017
First Night, written and directed by Andrei Tanase, qualifies for an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film, 2018 edition, after winning the international competition at Festival International de Cine de la Huesca. The Danzante Prize, worth € 5,000, was awarded to the film for "an honest, complex and powerful story, with a well-structured script and excellent performances. The short film is about the complex relationship between a son who is suffering the lack of self-stem characteristic of teenagers and a father that needs to help his son to become a man and pays for his first sexual experience," according to the jury. Alex's birthday is approaching, and his father Calin has prepared a very special surprise: the first night with a girl. The cast includes young actors Alfredo Minea and Cristiana Luca, along with reknown actors Mimi Brănescu and Elvira Deatcu. In 2012, another Libra Film production, Superman, Spiderman, or Batman (by Tudor Giurgiu), qualified for an Oscar nomination after winning the Best Short Film Award at Aspen Shortfest. First Night already has important selections and prizes in the portfolio: the short film competed in the Orizzonti section of the Venice Festival, 2016, won the grand prize of the National Competition at Filmfest Dresden, and was included in the Romanian Days competition at Transilvania IFF 2017.
- June 2, 2017
Breaking News, directed by Iulia Rugina, enters the main competition of the International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary (June 30 – July 8). At its 52nd edition, Karlovy Vary is one of the oldest and most important European film festivals. Breaking News is Julia Rugina's third feature film, after Love Building (2013) and Alt Love Building (2014). After the tragic death of his cameraman, which he indirectly caused, reporter Alex Mazilu has to make an in-memoriam reportage covering his life. Three days before Christmas, in a small town on the Black Sea coast, Alex puts together puzzle pieces of this man’s life, all seen through the eyes of his troubled 15-year-old daughter. Trying to redeem the dead father, he slowly starts taking his place. Renowned Romanian actor Andi Vasluianu plays the lead role, along with a teenager aged 16 at the time of the shooting, Voica Oltean. The cast is completed by Dorin Andone, Ioana Flora, Oxana Moravec and David Mihai Blaj. The film is produced by Hai-Hui Entertainment and Libra Film Productions, with the support of the Romanian CNC. As a project, the 81' drama was selected Selected in 2009-2010 ScriptEast Training Initiative, the Nipkow Program 2008, and Sources 2 (Graz 2008). Iulia Rugină (b. 1982, Bucharest) holds a master’s degree in direction from the National University of Theater and Film in Romania. She has a dozen short films to her credit, on which she cooperated as writer and director. Bună, Cristina! Pa, Cristina! (2006), Vineri în jur de 11 (2006), and Captivi de Craciun (2010) – together they collected awards at festivals in Oberhausen, Munich, Trieste, Brussels, and Poitiers. Despite its ultralow budget of €50,000, in the year of its production, Love Building (2013) became the second most commercially successful movie in Romanian theaters. A year later she shot the sequel Alt Love Building (2014). In addition to directing, Rugină organizes cultural events and social projects. At present she is slogging away at her doctoral dissertation on the topic of low-budget films; she also teaches screenwriting.
- April 11, 2017
Prima noapte / First Night, by Andrei Tănase, won the Minister of Fine Arts Promotion Prize at the 29th edition of Filmfest Dresden – International Short Film Festival. The prize awarded by the Saxon State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts for a film in the National Competition is worth 20.000 euros. "A special moment in the life of a young man. Which he imagined would be different. And he overreacts in his helplessness. The director sensitively reveals the fragility of the male identity during the process of maturing, and casually casts a glance at a specific social milieu. A film authentic in the moment. A film that stays in mind", according to the jury. Alex's birthday is approaching, and his father Calin has prepared a very special surprise: the first night with a girl. The cast includes young actors Alfredo Minea and Cristiana Luca, along with reknown actors Mimi Brănescu and Elvira Deatcu. First Night is co-produced by Deutsche Exotik Filmproduktion GmbH, Libra Film Productions, Commitet and ARTE/ SWR Germany. Barbu Bălăşoiu is director of photography (Sieranevada). The film written and directed by Andrei Tănase was also selected in the Orizzonti short film competition at the Venice Film Festival. Andrei Tănase (born in 1982) studied cinema at the National Film School in Bucharest (UNATC) and works as a freelance screenwriter and director. His filmography includes awarded short films such as Summer Break (Luna Prize at NexT IFF 2015, TIFF, Namur, FilmFest Dresden), Claudiu and the Fish (TIFF, Cottbus, Namur, Molodist, 2013), Kings of the Castle (short documentary, 2010, co-directed with Vlad Ilicevici), Mc Russia (short documentary, 2008), Love Forever (short fiction, 2006), Myriapod (2004).
- October 19, 2016
Cinema, Mon Amour, directed by Alexandru Belc, will be distributed in the Romanian cinemas by Transilvania Film, starting from October 21, 2016. Cinema, Mon Amour won Cinema Warrior 2016 – a cultural resistance award at Trieste Film Festival (Italy), Best Documentary Film trophy at Gopo Awards 2016 and Best Editing award at Docuart Film Festival. This summer, it was selected in the documentary competition at Sarajevo Film Festival. The film was also selected at international festivals – DOK Leipzig, Jaipur International Film Festival (India), Helsinki IFF (Finland), Tempo Documentary Festival, Stockholm, Sweden, Docs Against Gravity Film Festival (Warszaw Poland), AFI Docs, Edinburgh IFF. The documentary reflects a current situation in Romania, where most of the cities do not have a functional cinema. Cinema, Mon Amour follows the story of Victor Purice – manager, former projectionist and lifetime cinephile along with his two employees, Cornelia & Lorena, in their everyday battle to preserve Dacia Panoramic Cinema in Piatra Neamt – one of the last remaining cinemas in Romania today. Having lived through “the golden age” of cinema, Victor dreams of bringing back the good old glory days, yet struggles to keep up with the new harsh reality. In a theater that lacks heating and is slowly falling apart, with no support from the State who owns the place, it’s almost a Don Quixote fight. Producer: Tudor Giurgiu / Libra Films Productions Co-Producers: Radovan Síbrt, Viktória Hozzová / Pink Productions Producer HBO Europe: Hanka Kastelicová Producers HBO Romania: Andra Radu, Aurelian Nica Executive Producers: Bogdan Crăciun, Viktória Hozzová International Sales: Catherine Le Clef / CAT&Docs With the support of: State Cinematography Fund Czech Republic and Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA of the European Union
- August 20, 2016
Oana Giurgiu’s new documentary project, Occasional Spies, won a Special Mention at the end of the pitching forum Balkan Documentary Center Discoveries 2016 in Prizren, Kosovo, during Dokufest IFF. The awards were announced by BDC Director and Head of Studies – Martichka Bozholova, and Mr. Nedialtcho Dantchev, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Kosovo. The historical documentary tells a World War 2 little-known story about a group of ordinary young people transformed over-night in secret agents and sent by the British Intelligence in a serious mission behind enemy lines, in German-occupied Eastern Europe. They had to find an escape route for the Allies’ war prisoners and to organize the resistance movement. An almost suicide mission as these agents were Jewish young people from Palestine, sent back in their countries of origins, where their brothers were facing the “final solution”. This is the second documentary project signed by Oana Giurgiu after Aliyah DaDa. The purpose of the Balkan Documentary Center in Sofia is to train and support emerging documentary filmmakers and media professionals with a strong link to the Balkan region and to help them learn international and regional practices, providing know-how and in-house project development. The training program BDC Discoveries is the prime strategic tool for completion of the mission to make BDC a creative laboratory for linking European professionals and their production with Balkan documentary artists. Director: Oana Giurgiu Producer: Bogdan Crăciun Production company: Libra Film Genre: Historical Documentary Duration: 90 min Delivery date: 2018
- July 28, 2016
First Night / Prima noapte, written and directed by Andrei Tanase, was selected in the Orizzonti short film competition at the Venice Film Festival (August 31-September 10, 2016), now in its 73rd edition. Orizzonti section is dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema, with special attention to debut films, young talents who are not yet firmly established, indie features, as well as works that address specific genres and current production, with the aim of innovating and demonstrating creative originality. The competing short films are selected on the basis of criteria such as quality and originality of language and expression. First Night will have its world premiere at the festival. Alex's birthday is approaching, and his father Calin has prepared a very special surprise: the first night with a girl. The cast includes young actors Alfredo Minea and Cristiana Luca, along with reknown actors Mimi Brănescu and Elvira Deatcu. First Night is co-produced by Deutsche Exotik Filmproduktion GmbH, Libra Film Productions, Commitet and ARTE/ SWR Germany. Barbu Bălăşoiu is director of photography (Sieranevada). Andrei Tănase (born in 1982) studied cinema at the National Film School in Bucharest (UNATC) and works as a freelance screenwriter and director. His filmography includes awarded short films such as Summer Break (Luna Prize at NexT IFF 2015, TIFF, Namur, FilmFest Dresden), Claudiu and the Fish (TIFF, Cottbus, Namur, Molodist, 2013), Kings of the Castle (short documentary, 2010, co-directed with Vlad Ilicevici), Mc Russia (short documentary, 2008), Love Forever (short fiction, 2006), Myriapod (2004).
- July 27, 2016
After having its world premiere at Transilvania International Film Festival, in the Romanian Days competition, the documentary In Search of the Lost Father / În căutarea tatălui pierdut, by Ionuț Teianu, is ready to be shown around the world. The festivals will be announced in the coming weeks. The film follows the struggle of John Moore to be recognised as the son of Constantin Brâncuși, this fight putting the great artist's legacy into a new perspective. When John was born, in 1934, his mother gifted him with three names: John, Constantin, and Brâncuşi. She told him his father was Constantin Brâncuşi, the famous sculptor, but that he was never to tell a soul. John kept this a secret his entire life. Today, at the age of 78, he embarked on a difficult quest to find his lost father. Ionuț Teianu followed him from Paris and New York to Hobița, the Romanian village where Brâncuși was born. In Search of the Lost Father was produced by Libra Film in co-production with Piments Pourpres (France), with the support of the Romanian CNC. Ionuț Teianu previously directed the documentary The Tănase Dossier / Afacerea Tănase (2013), also produced by Libra Film, and wrote the script of Of Snails and Men / Despre oameni și melci (by Tudor Giurgiu, 2012). Romania, 2016, 61’ Director & scriptwriter: Ionuț Teianu Director of photography: Ionuț Teianu Editor: Alina Teodorescu Original music: Cristian Lolea Cast: John Moore Producer: Tudor Giurgiu
- July 19, 2016
Cinema, Mon Amour is selected in the Competition Programme – Documentary Film at Sarajevo Film Festival, where the film will have its regional premiere. According to the organizers, the films in the selection "examine issues as diverse as personal identity, national identity, emigration, social justice, family secrets, political mysteries, economical crises". As project in development, Cinema, Mon Amour won the Cat&Docs Award and the Croatian Radio Television HRT Award (each worth 2,000 euros) within the Docu Rough Cut Boutique workshop of the Sarajevo Film Festival 2015. Cinema, Mon Amour follows the story of Victor Purice – manager, former projectionist and lifetime cinephile along with his two employees, Cornelia & Lorena, in their everyday battle to preserve Dacia Panoramic Cinema in Piatra Neamt – one of the last remaining cinemas in Romania today. Having lived through “the golden age” of cinema, Victor dreams of bringing back the good old glory days, yet struggles to keep up with the new harsh reality. In a theater that lacks heating and is slowly falling apart, with no support from the State who owns the place, it’s almost a Don Quixote fight. Producer: Tudor Giurgiu / Libra Films Co-Producers: Radovan Síbrt, Viktória Hozzová / Pink Productions Producer HBO Europe: Hanka Kastelicová Producers HBO Romania: Andra Radu, Aurelian Nica Executive Producers: Bogdan Crăciun, Viktória Hozzová International Sales: Catherine Le Clef / CAT&Docs With the support of: State Cinematography Fund Czech Republic and Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA of the European Union
- July 7, 2016
Alexandru Belc's documentary was screened at AFI DOCS festival (June 22 – 26, 2016) in Washington D.C. Cinema, mon amour was one of the 94 documentaries from around the world slated for viewing at this year’s edition. In the same period, the documentary had its UK premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival. "State-owned cinemas were bustling centers of social life during Romania’s communist heyday. Today, there are fewer than 30 left in the country. Cinema, Mon Amour chronicles the quixotic struggle of one theater director, 58-year-old Victor Purice, as he attempts to reverse his beloved movie house’s decline into obsolescence. The mustachioed, cigarette-dragging Purice keeps the projectors rolling purely through his own cinematic charisma, and his efforts to improvise around the theater’s lack of heat, money, and government support make for a funny and heart-rending tale", accordind to Washingtonian.com, in the article 14 Documentaries You Should See At This Year’s AFI Docs. "As the last of Romania's once grand and abundant movie palaces slowly shutters its doors, theater owner Victor Purice and his dedicated but small staff soon find themselves going to ridiculous extremes in an effort to save their once great but now rundown theater. CINEMA, MON AMOUR is a funny and bittersweet look at the lengths that one man will go to in his quest to hold onto his dreams", writes Scott Mueller (www.afi.com). "Cinema, mon amour is a love letter to theatrical film exhibition—slam-dunk subject matter for a film festival. In this case, the setting is Romania, but the forces leading to declining paid cinema admissions are all too familiar: changing technology, piracy and disinterest among the youth" – SixSeeds AFI DOCS is the nation's documentary film festival known for showcasing the best in documentary filmmaking from the US and around the world. AFI DOCS is also the only film festival in the United States that offers the unique opportunity to connect film audiences with national opinion leaders, filmmakers and intriguing film subjects. With conversations and experiences you won't experience at any other film festival, AFI DOCS harnesses the power of this important art form and its potential to inspire change. Screenings during this annual five-day event take place in landmark venues in Washington, DC and the world-class AFI Silver Theatre, the independent film hub of the metropolitan region.
- July 1, 2016
The World Is Mine by Nicolae Constantin Tănase, will have its British premiere at East End Film Festival. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the young director Nicolae Constantin Tănase. The World Is Mine is a coming of age drama focussing on the story of Larisa (Ana Maria Guran), a regular teenager from Constanța, Romania. Larisa wants a lot from life: money, power, influence, popularity, and respect. Now that she is in love, she will do anything for that. "A teen girl with a crush on the local stud finds misplaced confidence through this uneven liaison in 'The World Is Mine', a millennial-generation drama that announces an assertive new voice in debuting helmer Nicolae Constantin Tanase." – Variety "An intense, female-driven debut feature (directed by a man)." – Hollywood Reporter Founded in 2000, the East End Film Festival is one of the UK’s largest film festivals. An annual multi-platform festival held in London, the EEFF presents a rich and diverse programme of international premieres, industry masterclasses, free pop-up screenings and immersive live events. The EEFF’s mission is to discover, support, and exhibit pioneering work by global and local independent filmmakers, and to introduce viewers to innovative and challenging cinematic experiences. Attracting an annual audience of more than 30,000, the EEFF has established itself as a major international film festival situated at the heart of London’s most dynamic quarter. Committed to the work of first and second time directors, the annual EEFF showcases more than fifty feature film screenings, several short film programmes, and a variety of cross-arts events and industry activities across the festival. EEFF 2016 takes place 23rd June – 3rd July 2016. The World is Mine will be presented at the festival with the support of Romanian Cultural Institute in London.
- April 21, 2016
Tudor Cristian Jurgiu’s second feature film project, titled And They May Still Be Alive Today/ Și poate mai trăiesc și azi, was selected among the 9 projects to attend the TorinoFilmLab’s FrameWork programme and to be eligible for World Production & Audience Awards at the next TFL Meeting Event (22-25 November 2016). The programme includes first & second feature films projects from all over the world. The film will be produced by Libra Film (Bogdan Craciun). Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, known for his first feature, Japanese Dog, also wrote the script. The creative team of the project will take part in the development lab, working on their projects throughout 2 residential workshops under the guidance of experts from various fields of filmmaking. The international trainers will include script consultants Franz Rodenkirchen, Marietta von Hausswolff von Baumgarten and Anita Voorham, film director Thanos Anastopoulos, cinematographer Marko Brdar, Israel Film Fund Executive Director Katriel Schory, post-production expert Niko Remus, producer Didar Domehri, acting coach and casting director Tatiana Vialle, sound designer Peter Albrechtsen and Audience Design Alumna and film promotion consultant Joanna Solecka. The first session will take place in Izola (Slovenia) from May 30th to June 6th, in parallel to the 12th edition of Kino OTOK – Isola International Film Festival.The second session will be held in Turin (Italy) from November 20th to 25th, within the TFL Meeting Event and during the 34th Torino Film Festival. All the 9 FrameWork projects will have the chance to be pitched in front of more than 200 professionals, who vote to assign the Audience Award. An international Jury will assign a number of World Production Awards and TFL’s partners will award collateral prizes. FrameWork is realized with the support of Creative Europe – MEDIA Sub-Programme, MiBACT (Italian Ministry of Culture), Piedmont Region, City of Turin, and RE-ACT (Fondo Audiovisivo FVG, Croatian Audiovisual Center, Slovenian Film Center).
- April 14, 2016
Andrei Tănase's short film Summer Break/ Vacanța la țară won Luno Prize at the 10th edition of NexT Film Festival in Bucharest. The award was offered by the creative group Luno for a short film in the National Competition. Summer Break is produced by Libra Film and was also screened at Transilvania IFF, FIFF Namur, Timishort, Filmfest Dresden. Mircea and his cousin Denis are spending the summer vacation at their grandparents house, in the countryside. Used to the city life, the two teenagers soon get bored and, in order to have some fun and hopefully attract media attention, they secretly create some crop circles in a nearby wheat field. Andrei Tănase (born in 1982) studied cinema at the National Film School in Bucharest (UNATC) and works as a freelance screenwriter and director. His filmography includes: Myriapod (short fiction, 2004), Love Forever (short fiction, 2006), Mc Russia (short documentary, 2008), Kings of the Castle (short documentary, 2010, co-directed with Vlad Ilicevici), Claudiu and the Fish (short fiction, 2013).
- December 15, 2015
Cinema, Mon Amour, directed by Alexandru Belc and co-produced by HBO Europe, will premiere on HBO Romania on December 17, 2015, at 8.00 PM. The documentary will also be available online on HBO GO. Cinema, Mon Amour follows the story of Victor Purice – manager, former projectionist and lifetime cinephile along with his two employees, Cornelia & Lorena, in their everyday battle to preserve Dacia Panoramic Cinema in Piatra Neamt – one of the last remaining cinemas in Romania today. Having lived through “the golden age” of cinema, Victor dreams of bringing back the good old glory days, yet struggles to keep up with the new harsh reality. In a theater that lacks heating and is slowly falling apart, with no support from the State who owns the place, it’s almost a Don Quixote fight. Producer: Tudor Giurgiu / Libra Films Co-Producers: Radovan Síbrt, Viktória Hozzová / Pink Productions Producer HBO Europe: Hanka Kastelicová Producers HBO Romania: Andra Radu, Aurelian Nica Executive Producers: Bogdan Crăciun, Viktória Hozzová International Sales: Catherine Le Clef / CAT&Docs With the support of: State Cinematography Fund Czech Republic and Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA of the European Union
- December 2, 2015
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- October 15, 2015
The prize was offered to the talented young editor Letiția Ștefănescu. The documentary featured in the competition, along 12 of the best Romanian documentaries of the year. Aliyah DaDa is a personal, well documented insight by director Oana Giurgiu into the history of the Jews in Romania. A surrealist painting that builds visually through a series of collages, combining historical context memories and individual stories. The historical tale is visually trimmed in the Dada style as a tribute to the pioneers of this movement, Tristan Tzara and Marcel Janco, two Jews of Romanian descent. The film tells the story of a non-Jew Romanian, raised under the supreme Communist truth, who starts a journey to discover the reality behind the Romanian jews aliyah (the return to the Holy Land). The story brings up the adventure of the first settlers that abandoned their modern life in East Europe at end of XIX century, for surviving in a primitive way in the hostile Palestine; then reveal the best hidden horrors of the Second World War in Romania, or Romanian communists’ secret deals for “trading” the Romanian Jews to Israel, where they became the fourth group among all population. Aliyah DaDa is the first documentary film directed by Oana Giurgiu. The film had its world premiere at the International Festival of Documentary Film Visual Anthropology Astra Film Fest, in October 2014. The film is produced by Libra FILM, supported by the Romanian National Film Center and the MEDIA Programme . The project was developed under the program ARCHIDOC.
- October 14, 2015
After winning the Best Debut Award at Transilvania IFF, a Special Mention at Karlovy Vary and Anonimul IFF Trophy, The World is Mine enters the Romanian cinemas on October 23, 2015. Nicolae Constantin Tănase's drama is a colorful and poignant film, alive and loud, about the generation of the 2000's, for which popularity is measured in views on YouTube and Facebook likes. 16-year-old Larisa (Ana Maria Guran) struggles to stay afloat after falling for the wrong guy. The small-town world in which good looks and money give power over the less fortunate doesn’t favor the rebellious and stubborn teenager. Increasingly at odds with her school, her friends, and her parents, Larisa lashes out with devastating consequences. With assured skill and disarming authenticity, first-time feature director Nicolae Constantin Tănase offers a powerful look into the inner lives of teen girls, with a tornado-like Ana-Maria Guran leading a cast made up of mostly non-professional actors discovered primarily via Facebook. An independent production by Libra Film and Radu Stancu's deFilm, The World Is Mine was written by Raluca Mănescu and was shot in 2013 with a budget sourced exclusively from private parties. Except Iulia Ciochină, who previosly played in several short films, the main actors Ana Maria Guran, Oana Rusu, Ana Vătămanu and Florin Hrițcu are all non-professional. An independent production by Libra Film and Radu Stancu's deFilm, The World Is Mine was written by Raluca Mănescu and was shot in 2013 with a budget sourced exclusively from private parties. Except Iulia Ciochină, who previosly played in several short films, the main actors Ana Maria Guran, Oana Rusu, Ana Vătămanu and Florin Hrițcu are all non-professional. "The intensity with which Tănase follows the misadventures of his protagonist is so impressive that we simply beg the director to choose a genre film as his sophomore project", according to Cineuropa.org.
- October 9, 2015
Cinema, Mon Amour was selected in the Next Masters sections at the 58th edition of DOK Leipzig – the biggest documentary and animation event in Germany. Alexandru Belc's documentary will compete for a prize of 10,000 euro along with 12 other documentaries made by filmmakers at their first or second feature film. The project also won the Cat&Docs Award and the Croatian Radio Television HRT Award (each worth 2,000 euros) within the Docu Rough Cut Boutique workshop of the Sarajevo Film Festival. Cinema, Mon Amour follows the story of Victor Purice – manager, former projectionist and lifetime cinephile along with his two employees, Cornelia & Lorena, in their everyday battle to preserve Dacia Panoramic Cinema in Piatra Neamt – one of the last remaining cinemas in Romania today. Having lived through “the golden age” of cinema, Victor dreams of bringing back the good old glory days, yet struggles to keep up with the new harsh reality. In a theater that lacks heating and is slowly falling apart, with no support from the State who owns the place, it’s almost a Don Quixote fight. *** “Victor Purice definitely deserves a medal as a “Hero of Socialist Labour”. Witnessing the desperation, the vigour, the persistence with which he keeps fighting for his cinema brings tears to the eyes. The “Dacia” Panorama Film Theatre, somewhere in the Romanian province, a concrete beauty with several hundred seats, a good-sized foyer and solid 35 mm projection equipment is on the brink of failure. It shares the fate of many Romanian cinemas; there are less than 30 left. The others were privatised, sold off, turned into amusement arcades or discotheques, even the film studio sold many of them. What nonsense – just as we are celebrating the new golden age of Romanian cinema in our part of the world! But Victor Purice and the small staff he has left will not be driven out of their dream cinema that easily. They live and cook among film reels, turn the foyer into a table tennis hall and watch a Hollywood blockbuster alone, if need be. All this is narrated affectionately and full of admiration for this modern Don Quixote who is fighting mismanagement, digital progress and a broken heating system. The price he pays is high. It’s to be feared that this story will not have a happy ending. Mission: Impossible”, writes Cornelia Klauß for DOK Leipzig. Cinema, Mon Amour is a Libra Film Production, co-produced by HBO Romania and Pink Productions (Czech Republic). The project was developed with the support of State Cinematography Fund Czech Republic and Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA of the European Union.
- October 6, 2015
October 2015 began with Warsaw Film Festival (October 9-18), where the film was selected in the Discoveries section, dedicated to "gems selected from the programmes of leading international festivals". The month continues for Tudor Giurgiu with Chicago International Film Festival (October 15 – 29, World Cinema section) and Semana International del Cine in Valladolid (October 24-31), where Why Me? will compete in the official selection with some of the most important arthouse movies recently released. The competition offers a panorama of current international cinema. The next stop is Viennale – Vienna International Film Festival (October 22 – November 5), Austria’s most important international film event, as well as one of the oldest and best-known festivals in the German-speaking world. The choice of about 300 films offers a cross-section of bold film-making which stands apart from the aesthetics of mainstream conventionality and is politically relevant. After Viennale, Why Me? embarks in a journey to Egip, for the 37th edition of Cairo International Film Festival (November 11-20). Why Me? recently won the Special Prize of the International Ecumenical Jury at Jameson Cinefest – the 12th Miskolc International Film Festival. Other awards and selections.
- August 23, 2015
The documentary project Cinema, Mon Amour, directed by Alexandru Belc, won the Cat&Docs Award and the Croatian Radio Television HRT Award (each worth 2,000 euros) within the Docu Rough Cut Boutique workshop of the Sarajevo Film Festival. Alexandru Belc was present in Sarajevo alongside producer Tudor Giurgiu and editor Ioachim Stroe. The development workshop of documentary film projects spanned from August 17 to 21, bringing together specialists of this domain and the teams of the selected movies,in group sessions, individual meetings and intensive sessions of story editing. Cinema, Mon Amour follows the story of Victor Purice – manager, former projectionist and lifetime cinephile along with his two employees, Cornelia & Lorena, in their everyday battle to preserve Dacia Panoramic Cinema in Piatra Neamt – one of the last remaining cinemas in Romania today. Having lived through “the golden age” of cinema, Victor dreams of bringing back the good old glory days, yet struggles to keep up with the new harsh reality. In a theater that lacks heating and is slowly falling apart, with no support from the State who owns the place, it’s almost a Don Quixote fight. Cinema Mon Amour is a Libra Film Production, co-produced by HBO Romania and Pink Productions (Czech Republic). The project was developed with the support of State Cinematography Fund Czech Republic and Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA of the European Union.
- July 12, 2015
The World is Mine receive a Special Jury Mention in East of the West competition at the 51st edition of Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. This is the second important prize for Nicolae Constantin Tănase’s first feature after Best Debut Award at Transilvania IFF. Director Nicolae Constantin Tănase, actors Ana Maria Guran, Oana Rusu, Ana Vătămanu, Florin Hrițcu, producers Tudor Giurgiu and Radu Stancu, scriptwriter Raluca Mănescu, Daniel Kosuth (DoP), production designer Adeline Bădescu and sound designer Tudor Petre were present at the ceremony. An independent production by Libra Film and Radu Stancu's deFilm, The World Is Mine was written by Raluca Mănescu and was shot in 2013 with a budget sourced exclusively from private parties. Except Iulia Ciochină, who previosly played in several short films, the main actors Ana Maria Guran, Oana Rusu, Ana Vătămanu and Florin Hrițcu are all non-professional. Sixteen-year-old Larisa lives in a small town by the sea. Her relationship with her mother, who struggles with a lack of finances, is far from ideal, and in addition to that, the girl has to care for her helpless grandmother pretty much by herself. When Larisa falls in love with Florin, the local playboy, she acquires a powerful enemy in Anna, a girl from a wealthy family who is determined to get rid of her rival at all costs. The small-town world in which good looks and money play the leading role does not favor Larisa. However, the stubborn girl is ready to do whatever it takes to win love and admiration, and she resolutely pushes ahead to make her dreams come true…. The film received positive reviews in the international press and will be released in Romanian cinemas in October. "Though much of the narrative covers very familiar ground, the roving handheld camerawork by cinematographer Daniel Kosuth, with its countless extreme closeups, gives the material some much-needed freshness and urgency while also foregrounding the extremely vigorous and committed performances of the leads, and there isn’t a false note in the ensemble. (…) Rather unusually, World was produced without any financial state aid but still looks like a million bucks (but reportedly cost about a fifth of that amount)". – The Hollywood Reporter "Looking far less low-budget than the reported $168,000 outlay, the pic displays gumption on- and offscreen, proving it’s possible to make slick all-Romanian features without coin from the National Center for Cinematography." – Variety
- July 1, 2015
Libra Film is the Romanian co-producer of The History of Love, Radu Mihaileanu’s first-English language film, which will be filmed in Cluj-Napoca this summer. The adaptation of Nicole Krauss’ 2005 bestseller is an ambitious intertwined tale that follows Derek Jacobi’s main character from the Holocaust to modern New York City. It co-stars Derek Jacobi, Sophie Nelisse, Gemma Arterton , Elliott Gould. Tudor Giurgiu and Oana Giurgiu are the Romanian producers. Filming started in Montreal in the spring and will continue in Romania by the end of July. It is the first big international production which will use Cluj’ amazing locations. Romanian financing comes from National Film Center (CNC) and other private companies. The story follows the characters Leo Gursky and Alma Mereminski, two young lovers of Polish-Jewish descent in 1930’s Poland. Leo writes a book for Alma titled “The History Of Love”. On the brink of World War II, Leo and Alma are split up when Germany invades Poland. Years later, Leo is a bitter old man that doesn’t realize that the book that he wrote for Alma has been printed, and has interconnected the lives of strangers that are searching for the true identities of the characters in the story. Rights to adapt the book for the big screen were acquired a decade ago and, at one time, Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity) was set to direct. Marc Antoine Robert and Xavier Rigault serve as producers.
- June 27, 2015
Lumea e a mea/ The World is Mine, Nicolae Constantin Tănase’s debut feature, will have its international premiere in the East of the West Competition at Karlovy Vary IFF (July 3 – 11, 2015). The film won the Romanian Days Award for Best Debut at Transilvania International Film Festival. An independent production by Libra Film and Radu Stancu's deFilm, The World Is Mine was written by Raluca Mănescu and was shot in 2013 with a budget sourced exclusively from private parties. Except Iulia Ciochină, who previosly played in several short films, the main actors Ana Maria Guran, Oana Rusu, Ana Vătămanu and Florin Hrițcu are all non-professional. Sixteen-year-old Larisa lives in a small town by the sea. Her relationship with her mother, who struggles with a lack of finances, is far from ideal, and in addition to that, the girl has to care for her helpless grandmother pretty much by herself. When Larisa falls in love with Florin, the local playboy, she acquires a powerful enemy in Anna, a girl from a wealthy family who is determined to get rid of her rival at all costs. The small-town world in which good looks and money play the leading role does not favor Larisa. However, the stubborn girl is ready to do whatever it takes to win love and admiration, and she resolutely pushes ahead to make her dreams come true…. “In his low-budget debut, talented Romanian director Nicolae Constantin Tănase entrusted most roles to non-pro actors whom he discovered primarily via Facebook. Their perfectly natural performances significantly contribute to the authenticity of Tănase’s perspective on a period of life filled with defiance and heightened emotions.”, writes Lenka Tyrpáková for Karlovy Vary Film Fest. Nicolae Constantin Tănase (b. 1985, Bucharest, Romania) comes from an artistic family, and his passion for storytelling became apparent at an early age. He graduated from FAMU International, subsequently continuing film directing studies at the National University of Theater and Film in Bucharest. His graduation short Outrageously Disco (2009) earned him several awards. He created the shorts Zombie Infectors 3 (2008), Next (2008), 12 minute (2013) and the multi-awarded BLU (2012). The World Is Mine is his first feature.
- June 16, 2015
Director Tudor Giurgiu received a Special Mention during the closing ceremony of the 9th Andrei Tarkovsky International Film Festival Zerkalo [Mirror] in Ivanovo, on June 14. He was awarded “for highly professional work with actors' ensemble” in his feature film Why Me?. The trophy was offered to him on the scene by the well-known Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov, member of the competition jury alongside Emmanuel Carrère, Sergey Choban, Maria Mironova, Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, Ilya Kutik, Krzysztof Gierat, Pavel Kaplevic and Alina Rudnitskaya. Tarkovsky Fest was founded in 2007, in the city of Ivanovo, Russia, to honor 75 years since Andrey Tarkovsky was born. The Festival organizing committee is headed by Mikhail Men, the Ivanovo Oblast Governor. Marina Tarkovsky, the director’s sister, is one of the inspirers and organizers of the movie forum. Since 2010, the Festival is headed by the Russian director Pavel Lungin. Why Me? was also screened in the European Corner section at International Art Film Fest, the largest film event in Slovakia (19 to 26 of June). The event is held in the cities of Trenčianske Teplice and Trenčín. The story inspired by the real drama of the young prosecutor Cristian Panait, who committed suicide in 2002, during a controversial political case, had more than 55.000 spectators in Romanian Cinemas. At Transilvania IFF, the film had more than 2000 viewers in one night, in Piata Unirii Open Air. Why Me? had it’s world premiere in Panorama section at Berlinale 2015.
- June 8, 2015
Lumea e a mea/ The World is Mine, Nicolae Constantin Tănase’s first feature film, won the Romanian Days Award for Best Debut at Transilvania International Film Festival. An independent production by Libra Film and Radu Stancu's deFilm, The World Is Mine follows the story of 16-year-old Larisa who lives in a small coastal town in a social environment where image and money afford power over others. With courage and a dogged determination that commands and intimidates, Larisa attempts to attain just such a “dream”. “Talented Romanian first-timer Nicolae Constantin Tănase captures the most intense period of a person’s life with skill and disarming authenticity”, according to Variety.com. The script was written by Raluca Mănescu and the film was shot in 2013 with a budget sourced exclusively from private parties. Except Iulia Ciochină, who previosly played in several short films, the main actors Ana Maria Guran, Oana Rusu, Ana Vătămanu and Florin Hrițcu are all non-professional. Tănase previously directed awarded short films. Blu, the first short film Tănase made after studies at the National University of Theatre and Film I.L. Caragiale, won honors at the Transilvania IFF and Cortex IFF and received two nominations at the national Gopo awards. Tănase was also named best newcomer at Gopo. The World Is Mine/Lumea e a mea will be distributed in Romania by Transilvania Film in November 2015. Main info: Director: Nicolae Constantin Tănase Screenwriter: Raluca Mănescu Director of Photography: Daniel Kosuth Music: Vlaicu Golcea Editor: Ion Tănase Art Director: Adeline Bădescu Producer: Tudor Giurgiu, Radu Stancu Production: Libra Film Productions, deFilm Main cast: Ana Maria Guran, Iulia Ciochină, Oana Rusu, Ana Vătămanu, Florin Hrițcu Country: Romania | Year: 2014 | Genre: Drama | Running time: 104’ | Language: Romanian | Format: DCP, Color, 1:1:85
- March 25, 2015
Controversial topics in the history of the country and the Hebrew community in Romania are discussed in Oana Giurgiu's Aliyah DaDa, the documentary launched in Romanian cinemas on March 26. Following 130 years of the emigration of Romanian Jews towards the Holy Land, both history of East Europe and Israel are revealed in a light, colourful film depicting history in human stories and collages, as a tribute to Tristan Tzara – born in the same town from where first Jews emigrated to Palestine in 1882. Aliyah DaDa is a personal, well documented insight by director Oana Giurgiu into the history of the Jews in Romania. A surrealist painting that builds visually through a series of collages, combining historical context memories and individual stories. The historical tale is visually trimmed in the Dada style as a tribute to the pioneers of this movement, Tristan Tzara and Marcel Janco, two Jews of Romanian descent. The film tells the story of a non-Jew Romanian, raised under the supreme Communist truth, who starts a journey to discover the reality behind the Romanian jews aliyah (the return to the Holy Land). The story brings up the adventure of the first settlers that abandoned their modern life in East Europe at end of XIX century, for surviving in a primitive way in the hostile Palestine; then reveal the best hidden horrors of the Second World War in Romania, or Romanian communists’ secret deals for “trading” the Romanian Jews to Israel, where they became the fourth group among all population. Aliyah DaDa is the first documentary film directed by Oana Giurgiu , editor of the film is Letitia Stefanescu and Mihai Tănase is the cinematographer. The film had its world premiere at the International Festival of Documentary Film Visual Anthropology Astra Film Fest, in October 2014. The film is produced by Libra FILM, supported by the Romanian National Film Center and the MEDIA Programme . The project was developed under the program ARCHIDOC. Trailer:
- March 16, 2015
De ce eu? / Why Me?, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, has won the Bulgarian Film Critics Guild with the UBFM Award for the best film in the Balkan Competition at the 19th edition of the Sofia International Film Festival (March 5-29). Running in the Balkan Competition were 11 films. Also attending the award ceremony on Saturday evening in Sofia were director Tudor Giurgiu and actors Emilian Oprea and Alin Florea. Why Me? had its Romanian premiere on February 27, having been watched by over 43,000 spectators ever since. The film will travel Romania and special screenings in the presence of the cast are scheduled. It had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, in Panorama Special. The Romanian political thriller captured the attention of the international media at Berlin Festival, where its screening was sold out. The story written by Loredana Novak and Tudor Giurgiu is inspired by the real case of prosecutor Cristian Panait, who committed suicide in 2002 at age 29, while probing into Oradea-based prosecutor Alexandru Lele and collapsing under the pressure put on him. Cristian (played by Emilian Oprea) is a young idealistic prosecutor whose career is on the rise, tries to crack a case against a senior colleague accused of corruption. The dilemma of choosing between his career and the truth weighs heavily on his shoulders. Looking further to solve the case, he enters a danger zone paved with unexpected and painful revelations. Starring as Cristian is Emilian Oprea of the Maria Filotti Theatre House of Braila, debuting as the main character in a feature film. The cast also includes Mihai Constantin, Andreea Vasile, Dan Condurache, Liviu Pintileasa, Mihai Smarandache, Alin Florea, Lucretia Mandric, Sore Mihalache, Ionut Caras, Virgil Ogasanu. Why Me? is produced by Libra Film, with support from Romania's National Filmmaking Centre, the Bulgarian National Film Centre, Eurimages, the MEDIA and SEE Cinema Network, with the participation of HBO Romania. Co-producers are Hai-Hui Entertainment, Chouchkov Brothers and Cor Leonis Film.
- January 16, 2015
Why me ?, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, will have its world premiere in the official selection of the 65th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival (February 5 to 15, 2015), one of the largest events in the film industry. Tudor Giurgiu’s third feature, inspired by the real case of prosecutor Cristian Panait, will be screened in the Panorama Special section, dedicated to important independent features and major American productions. On February 11, at 8:00 PM, the director and part of the team will be attending the gala screening at Kino International. The team will meet the international media during a press conference streamed online on www.berlinale.de. It is the second selection of the director at Berlin Film Festiva; in 2006, Love Sick premiered in Panorama. Among the titles presented in the Panorama in recent years are award-winning titles such as The Act of Killing (Best Documentary at European Film Academy Awards) and The Broken Circle Breakdown, both nominated for Oscars. One of the most anticipated Romanian films in 2015, Why Me? will be released domestically on February 27. The politicall thriller is inspired by the real case of prosecutor Cristian Panait, who committed suicide in 2002, at 29 years old, while working on a case involving another prosecutor, Alexandru Lele. Cristian (played by Emilian Oprea) is a young idealistic prosecutor whose career is on the rise, tries to crack a case against a senior colleague accused of corruption. The dilemma of choosing between his career and the truth weighs heavily on his shoulders. Looking further to solve the case, he enters a danger zone paved with unexpected and painful revelations. Emilian Oprea, a stage actor at “Maria Filotti” Theatre in Brăila, stars in his first lead role in a feature film. Other characters are played by Mihai Constantin, Andreea Vasile, Dan Condurache, Liviu Pintileasa, Mihai Smarandache, Alin Florea, Lucreția Mandric, Sore Mihalache, Ionuț Caras, Virgil Ogășanu. It is Tudor Giurgiu’s third feature film as a director, after Love Sick/ Legături bolnăvicioase (2006) and Of Snails and Men/ Despre oameni și melci (2012). He also wrote the script, together with Loredana Novak. Marius Panduru is the DoP, Lemhényi Réka did the editing, Cristian Niculescu – the production design, and Szélyes Andrea created the costumes. Viktor Chouchkov composed the music for the film. Why Me? is produced by Libra Film, with the support of the Romanian National Film Center, Bulgarian National Film Center, Eurimages, MEDIA Program and SEE Cinema Network, with the participation of HBO Romania. Co-producers: Hai-Hui Entertainment, Chouchkov Brothers, Cor Leonis Films. The project has been developed with the support of Berlinale Coproduction Market, EAVE – European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs and CineLink Co-Production Market. Ro Image 2000 and Transilvania Film will handle the distribution in Romania. Watch the trailer.
- January 13, 2015
In these two decades, the company produced awarded films and Romanian box office hits. More than 20 feature films (fiction and documentaries) and several shorts were produced or co-produced by Libra Film Productions starting from 1994. Some of the most recent titles are: Why me?, a political thriller directed by Tudor Giurgiu, due to release in February 2015; Oana Giurgiu’s documentary Aliyah Dada, which premiered at Astra Film Festival in October 2014; The Japanese Dog, by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, Romania’s entry in the Oscar race, awarded in several film festivals; America, here we come!, by Razvan Savescu; Of Snails and Men, by Tudor Giurgiu, Romania’s box office hit in 2012, awarded in Warsaw, Valladolid, SEE Fest (Los Angeles) and Skt. Petersburg IFF; Somewhere in Palilula, the debut film of famous theater director Silviu Purcarete, selected in 2012 Karlovy Vary IFF and many other fests; The Tanase Affair, a documentary directed by Ionut Teianu, and the Spanish-Romanian-French-Russian co-production Cannibal by Manuel Cuenca, awarded in many festivals and at Goya Awards. Libra Film also produced the 2012 Best European Short Film, Superman, Spiderman or Batman, by Tudor Giurgiu, awarded at European Film Awards and many international festivals. The company currently has several film projects in production: Cinema, mon amour, a documentary about decaying cinemas in Romania directed by Alexandru Belc and From the Shadows, a history of Romanian hip-hop signed by Andrei Tănăsescu and Sebastian Câmpean. Projects in postproduction: World is mine by Nicolae Constantin Tanase; Summer Break, a short film project by Andrei Tanase, developed in Archidoc program. Projects in development: Breaking news, a new feature film by Iulia Rugina, At the side of the moon by Tudor Giurgiu, Draculatour – an animation project by Cecilia Felmeri. A full presentation can be found here.
- January 13, 2015
The Japanese Dog, Romania’s entry in the race for the foreign-language film Oscar, ended the year in New York and started 2015 in Palm Springs, continuing its tour in the United States during the awards season. The film opened Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema festival in the presence of director Tudor Cristian Jurgiu. The annual event took place at Film Society of Lincoln Center's from December 4 – 8, 2014 and at Jacob Burns Film Center from December 5 – 10. Initiated and co-presented by the Romanian Film Initiative, in partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Jacob Burns Film Center, Making Waves is the only comprehensive US festival dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the best in Romanian contemporary cinema as well as rarely seen classics. “Starring Victor Rebengiuc (Forest of the Hanged, Niki and Flo), the film is about family reconciliation and has a touch of Ozu. Following a devastating flood, a reunion takes place between a villager and his estranged son”, wrote the Making Waves organisers. Next to Rebengiuc, the film features actors Șerban Pavlu, Kana Hashimoto, Ioana Abur, Constantin Drăgănescu, Alexandrina Halic and Laurenţiu Lazăr. The Japanese Dog is an very convincing debut of a promising director Tudor Crstian Jurgiu,” said Corina Seteu, Making Waves festival board president. “The film is well built, convincingly designed, and with a story that everyone can relate to in [today's] world. The lonely old father from a village chooses to mend the relationship with his son who lives and works overseas who is familiar with a totally different culture. He chose to give up his life in Romania and go live far, far away. It is so improbable, that it can only be true. The film answers a profound dilemma of modern societies in relation to a certain atypical sense of belonging. It is very original and also very simple. The selection committee was surely impressed by the story, the subject, and the acting and the way the film is put together like an 'open promise.” The Japanese Dog was also part of the selection of the New Directors/New Films festival in New York, in April 2014. Co-organized by, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), the festival is internationally famed as one of the main film events focusing on discoveries and debut films. At Palm Springs International Film Festival, “The Japanese Dog” screened in two programs, on January 3rd and 5th , Another Europe and Awards Buzz. The latter is an annual showcase of Foreign Language Oscar contenders. “The Japanese Dog” is a Libra Film production made with the support of the Romanian CNC, HBO Romania and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The original screenplay was written by Ioan Antoci.
- January 13, 2015
On December 10th 2014, Tudor Giurgiu’s feature film, “Des escargots et des hommes”, was released for French audiences. After seeing the film at l’Etoile Saint German in Paris, Toutelaculture.com describes it as a “a Full Monty à la roumaine”: “You often laugh, a laugh that is sometimes nostalgic and sometimes bitter. You leave the film full of the energy of those people who will not give up”. Agat Films & Ex Nihilo handles the distribution in France. The French company Elle Driver is the international sales agent. “Of Snails and Men” is one of the most successful Romanian films of the decade. In addition to the impressive domestic box-office, the film received the Best Acting Award of Sankt Petersburg Film Festival, for the entire cast, the Special Jury Award at the 28th edition of Warsaw Film Festival and the trophy of “Meeting Point” section at the 57th edition of Valladolid International Film Festival. It also received the “Bridging the Borders” award for Best feature film at the SEEF South-Eastern European Film Festival which took place in May 2014, at Los Angeles. Tudor Giurgiu's comedy also won the Best Director award at the 20th edition of Serbia's Palic International Film Festival). “Of Snails and Men” was selected in Wien's LET’S CEE Film Festival, in the Eastern View section of Cambridge International Film Festival and in the “East of the West” section of the 29th edition of the Haifa International Film Festival. It also screened at Cinémed – Mediterranean Film Festival of Montpellier. “Of Snails and Men” is a Romanian-French coproduction between Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France).
- January 9, 2015
The documentary Aliyah DaDa, directed by Oana Giurgiu, premiered at Astra Film Festival (October 2014), in Romania competitive program, dedicated to local productions. Described by film critics as a “terribly necessary film”, Aliyah DaDa tells the story of a non-Jew Romanian, raised under the supreme Communist truth, who starts a journey to discover the reality behind the Romanian jews aliyah (the return to the Holy Land). The story brings up the adventure of the first settlers that abandoned their modern life in East Europe at end of XIX century, for surviving in a primitive way in the hostile Palestine; then reveal the best hidden horrors of the Second World War in Romania, or Romanian communists’ secret deals for “trading” the Romanian Jews to Israel, where they became the fourth group among all population. The historical tale is visually trimmed in the Dada style as a tribute to the pioneers of this movement, Tristan Tzara and Marcel Janco, two Jews of Romanian descent. "Choosing Astra Film Festival as debut place for this film is like a promise. A promise that its mission as well as that of the documentary will be kept; that the history unfolds visually and narratively not to be forgotten, but to be integrated into the common memory so we can talk about it, as long as those who lived can still share it. And long afterwards", according to LiterNet. The film is produced by Oana Giurgiu and Tudor Giurgiu. Mihai Tanase is the DoP and Letitia Stefanescu the editor. Sebastian Zsemlye and Alexandru Dragomir are the sound designers. The project was also selected in 2010-2011 ARCHIDOC training initiative.
- January 9, 2015
Why me?, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, one of the most anticipated Romanian films of the 2015, inspired by a real event that shook Romania in the early 2000s – the suicide of prosecutor Cristian Panait – will be released on February 27 in cinemas across the country. Based on real events, Why Me? tells the story of Cristian (played by Emilian Oprea), a young idealistic prosecutor whose career is on the rise, tries to crack a case against a senior colleague accused of corruption. The dilemma of choosing between his career and the truth weighs heavily on his shoulders. Looking further to solve the case, he enters a danger zone paved with unexpected and painful revelations. “A film so strongly grounded in reality can be made in a thousand ways. I am very much preoccupied with disassembling the mechanisms by which a man, who is strong both physically as well as figuratively, can come to take his own life within no more than 20 days. What internal mechanism is activated, when you find that the entire system within which you are working is corrupt and rotten to its very core? This is a film about the quick disintegration of a man who has chosen to fight the system from within”, Tudor Giurgiu explains. Emilian Oprea, a stage actor at “Maria Filotti” Theatre in Brăila, stars in his first lead role in a feature film. Other characters are played by Mihai Constantin, Andreea Vasile, Dan Condurache, Liviu Pintileasa, Mihai Smarandache, Alin Florea, Lucreția Mandric, Sore Mihalache, Ionuț Caras, Virgil Ogășanu. It is Tudor Giurgiu’s third feature film as a director, after Love Sick/ Legături bolnăvicioase (2006) and Of Snails and Men/ Despre oameni și melci (2012). He also wrote the script, together with Loredana Novak. Marius Panduru is the DoP, Lemhényi Réka did the editing, Cristian Niculescu – the production design, and Szélyes Andrea created the costumes. Viktor Chouchkov composed the music for the film. Why Me? is produced by Libra Film, with the support of the Romanian National Film Center, Bulgarian National Film Center, Eurimages, MEDIA Program and SEE Cinema Network, with the participation of HBO Romania. Co-producers: Hai-Hui Entertainment, Chouchkov Brothers, Cor Leonis Films. The project has been developed with the support of Berlinale Coproduction Market, EAVE – European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs and CineLink Co-Production Market. Ro Image 2000 and Transilvania Film will handle the distribution in Romania. Watch the trailer.
- September 8, 2014
Tudor Cristian Jurgiu's feature film “The Japanese Dog” represents Romania at the American Academy Awards in 2015, in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The first feature film of Tudor Cristian Jurgiu premiered in New Director’s Section of San Sebastian IFF and was awarded at Warsaw International Film Festival. Tudor Cristian Jurgiu's film tells the touching story of the reunion between a father and his son, who left the country many years ago. The film marks the return of Victor Rebengiuc, in top form, as protagonist of a feature film. Next to Rebengiuc, the film features actors Serban Pavlu, Kana Hashimoto, Ioana Abur, Constantin Draganescu, Alexandrina Halic and Laurenţiu Lazar. "The Japanese Dog" is a Libra Film production made with the support of the Romanian CNC, HBO Romania and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The original screenplay was written by Ioan Antoci.
- April 7, 2014
Tudor Cristian Jurgiu's feature film “The Japanese Dog” won The best Film Award in the New Europe – New Names section of the 19th edition of the „Kino Pavasaris” Vilnius International Film Festival (March 20 – April 4). The Jury was formed of the Japanese actress Kaori Momoi, the Lithuanian director Laila Pakalnina and the festival directors Verena von Stackelberg, Ludmila Cvikova and Dimitris Kerkinos. Now in its 19th year of existence, the Vilnius film festival is one of the most important cinematic events in Lithuania. Every edition, the festival showcases over 200 films, grouped in various sections. The competitive section New Europe-New Names focuses on young filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe. Tudor Cristian Jurgiu's film tells the touching story of the reunion between a father and his son, who left the country many years ago. The film marks the return of Victor Rebengiuc, in top form, as protagonist of a feature film. Next to Rebengiuc, the film features actors Serban Pavlu, Kana Hashimoto, Ioana Abur, Constantin Draganescu, Alexandrina Halic and Laurenţiu Lazar. Recently, "The Japanese Dog" was part of the selection of the New Directors/New Films festival in New York. The celebrated film website IndieWire noted, in the "Are These the Next Master Filmmakers from around the World? Lessons from New Directors/New Films” article, that Jurgiu's film "is a compelling portrait of poignant drama emerging from the rhythms of real life." Co-organized by two of the most legendary cultural institutions in New York, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), the festival – now at his 43rd edition – is internationally famed as one of the main film events focusing on discoveries and debut films. "The Japanese Dog" is a Libra Film production made with the support of the Romanian CNC, HBO Romania and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The original screenplay was written by Ioan Antoci.
- January 13, 2014
Cristian is a Romanian- Hungarian-Bulgarian co-production. The film is financed by the Romanian National Film Center and it received a developement grant from the Media Programme of the European Union. Also, Cristian is one of the three Romanian films to receive financial support from the Bulgarian Film Center (Chouchkov Brothers – Bulgarian partner).
- January 13, 2014
“Without any crazy cinematic visuals or effects, Superman, Spiderman or Batman will unexpectedly hit your heart where you will discover something more powerful than all the superheroes combined” (filmshortage.com). The list of all the selected shorts can be found here: http://filmshortage.com/top-10-short-films-of-2013/ Superman, Spiderman or Batman received the European Academy Short Film 2012 Award.
- January 13, 2014
The project was presented in the Agora Work in Progress section (Thessaloniki Film Festival). The release is scheduled for 2015.
- January 13, 2014
Created in 1987, FIPA is the only international festival that defends all creative genres: drama, series, documentary, reportage, performing arts. As a veritable observatory of international audiovisual creation, FIPA aims to shine a spotlight on innovative, original programs that are decidedly outside-the-box. The Tanase Affair offers a new interpretation of the 1982 Tanase case which implicated the French and Romanian secret services.
- January 9, 2014
Manuel Martín Cuenca's film has been nominated by the Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences of Spain in 8 categories, including "Best Film", "Best Director" and "Female revelation of the year Olimpia Melinte" Romanian actress Olimpia Melinte received a prestigious Goya Awards nomination in the "Female revelation of the year / Mejor actriz revelación" category for her dual role in the film Cannibal directed by Manuel Martín Cuenca. The ceremony, which is the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars, will take place on February 9, at the Madrid's Auditorium Hotel.
- October 8, 2013
The cast of the film is the recipient of the Best Acting award of the 2nd edition of Sankt Petersburg Film Festival (September 13-22). The jury was so impressed with the acting in the film that it decided to grant a joint award. Of Snails and Men was one of the 14 films selected for the Official Competition. The international jury was composed of Marion Döring, director of the European Film Academy, film critic Barbara Lorey de Lacharrière and film directors Juris Poškus and Christoph Schaub. Director/writer/producer Sergey Bodrov (Prisoner of the Mountains, Mongol) was the President of the jury. Most recently, Of Snails and Men was screened at Vienna's LET’S CEE Film Festival (September 13-21) focused on Central and Eastern European films, in the "Eastern View" section of Cambridge Film Festival (September 19-29), and in the "East of the West" section of the 29th edition of the Haifa International Film Festival (September 19-28), the most important cinematic event in Israel. Of Snails and Men will also be screened during the 35th edition of Montpellier's CINEMED Mediterranean Film Festival (October 25– November 2). This year's edition gathers over 250 films from all over the world. Of Snails and Men is a Romanian-French coproduction between Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France).
- September 4, 2013
Tudor Giurgiu's second feature film was selected in the competition of the second edition of Sankt Petersburg Film Festival (September 13-22) alongside other 13 feature films competing for the Festival Trophy which will be decided by an international jury composed from Marion Döring, managing director of EFA, film critic Barbara Lorey de Lacharrière and film directors Juris Poškus and Christoph Schaub. Writer, director and producer Sergey Bodrov (Prisoner of the Mountains, Mongol) is the president of the jury. Of Snails and Men will also feature at Wien's LET’S CEE Film Festival (September 13-21) focused on films from Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Eastern View section of Cambridge International Film Festival (September 19-29). Celebrating this year its 33rd edition, Cambridge Film Festival is one of the biggest British cinematic events. Born in 1977 and reopened in 2001, Cambridge Film Festival is famous for its film selection, most titles coming from A list festivals such as Cannes or Berlin. Of Snails and Men is one of the most successful Romanian films of the decade. In addition to the impressive domestic box-office, the film received the Special Jury Award at the 28th edition of Wasraw Film Festival and the trophy of "Meeting Point" section at the 57th edition of Valladolid International Film Festival. It also received the "Bridging the Borders" award for best feature film at the SEEF South-Eastern European Film Festival which took place in May, at Los Angeles. Recently, Tudor Giurgiu's comedy won the Best Director award at the 20th edition of Serbia's Palic International Film Festival). Of Snails and Men is a Romanian-French coproduction between Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France).
- August 26, 2013
Organized for the first time in 1953, San Sebastian International Film Festival is a class A festival according to the FIAPF classification and one of the world's top cinematic events of the year. Throughout the years, the festival hosted the world premieres of Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, Woody Allen's Melinda and Melinda, or George Lucas' Star Wars. The Japanese Dog competes for the trophy of the New Directors section which focuses on first and/or second time directors. The 50.000 Euro award goes to the director and the Spanish distributor of the film. Tudor Cristian Jurgiu's film tells the touching story of the much-postponed reconciliation of a father with his son, who emigrated many years ago. The film's protagonist is played by Victor Rebengiuc, in top form. In addition, the film features actors: Șerban Pavlu, Kana Hashimoto, Ioana Abur, Constantin Drăgănescu, Alexandrina Halic and Laurentiu Lazar. Tudor Cristian Jurgiu graduated in 2009 from the Film and TV Directing department of the UNATC. In 2009, he made Oli's Wedding, also produced by Libra Film, which won the Best Short Film award in Leeds and Anonimul, the Best Romanian Short award NexT 2009 and the Best Short of the Year trophy at the Gopo Awards 2010. His latest short, In the Fishbowl, is the recipient of the 3rd prize award of Cannes' Cinefondation section. The Japanese Dog is a Libra Film production with the support of the Romanian CNC, HBO Romania and the MEDIA programme of the EU. The original screenplay of the film, written by Ioan Antoci, received the Krzysztof Kieslowski award at ScriptEast 2009. In addition, the screenplay was the winner of the HBO Romania/TIFF national screenplay contest. The film is produced by Tudor Giurgiu, while Bogdan Crăciun acted as executive producer. DoP: Andrei Butică; Editing: Dragoş Apetri. The international rights for The Japanese Dog have already been acquired by M-Appeal. The Romanian premiere is set for October 18. The Official Competition of San Sebastian will feature the Spanish-Romanian-French-Russian coproduction Cannibal by Manuel Martin Cuenca, starring Antonio de la Torre and Olimpia Melinte.
- August 1, 2013
On October 16, 2012, a gang of six Romanian men stole seven paintings from the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam. Now they’ll become the subject of a feature-length movie. Photographer Cristian Movilă and producer-director Tudor Giurgiu will develop the movie, which illustrates the exciting action leading to the possible destruction of some of the works, whose value exceeds 18 million euros. That’s transformed the burglary into one of the most notorious and high-profile burglaries in the world. The incident has already made headlines in international media, including the New York Times, The Guardian, Huffington Post, BBC, CNN, Le Figaro, Le Point, and Der Spiegel. The July 26 print edition of the New York Times told the story through Andrew Higgins’s article A Trail of Masterpieces and a Web of Lies, Leading to Anguish. The front-page article was illustrated with Cristian Movilă’s photographs. The article describes the "greatest robbery of the last decades" in cinematic style, presenting the main characters involved in this case, as well as the village of Carcaliu (Braila county), which became the main background of the action from the moment Olga Dogaru, one of the suspects’ mother, said that she had burnt the paintings in a stove. The team led by Cristian Movilă and Tudor Giurgiu is meeting now the prosecutors who are conducting the investigation and have already interviewed those who committed the robbery. The team is working together to draft the script. Cristian Movilă: "The topic has extraordinary potential. The visits to Carcaliu, the discussions with those involved, the special atmosphere in the village – all of that convinced me that there is enough material for a really special movie. I contacted Tudor, a longtime friend and collaborator, and I am confident that together we will be able to bring this story to the big screen. It’s a fanciful story but it’s also real. It’s a modern story involving centuries of history. What is the value of the artwork and how much does it vary according to the public who appreciates it? We all saw the paintings, priceless artworks worth millions of euros, but how much is a Picasso really worth in the hands of a mother who thinks she’s helping her son?” Tudor Giurgiu: ”We have already received collaboration proposals from some producers in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States. The subject sells itself, and it’s an excellent excuse for an action movie that is different from most movies in this category. The speed at which the theft occurred, the psychology and motivation of the thieves, and the fact that they come from an isolated village mostly inhabited by the elderly, will give specific color to a story with universal flavour. We are investigating the possibility of producing the movie in English, with an international cast, including top European and American actors”. The stolen artworks are "Tete d'Arlequin" by Pablo Picasso, "La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune" by Henri Matisse, "Waterloo Bridge" and "Charing Cross Bridge" by Claude Monet, "Femme devant une fenetre ouverte, dite la fiancee" by Paul Gauguin, "Autoportrait de Meyer de Haan" and "Woman with Eyes Closed" by Lucian Freud. The seven paintings, which are worth tens of millions of euros, were stolen in the Netherlands in only 2 minutes and 48 seconds. They were brought to Romania in three pillows and it seems that they ended up in a stove in the Carcaliu village. The prosecutor’s investigations, however, are ongoing. Libra Film is one of the leading film production companies in Romania. Between 2000-2012 Libra produced 27 films, out of which 13 were international coproductions. Libra Film was behind award-winning films such as Katalin Varga, by Peter Strickland, Silver Bear at Berlinale 2009 and European Discovery of the Year at the EFA Awards, the short Superman, Spiderman or Batman, by Tudor Giurgiu, awarded as Best European Short Film, at European Film Awards in 2012 or Tudor’s 2nd feature, Of Snails And Men, awarded in Warsaw Valladolid, Los Angeles, Palic IFF. Libra was also the local partner for Kornél Mundruczó’s Cannes 2008 competition film Delta, awarded with FIPRESCI award and co-produced the directorial debut of French actress Fanny Ardant, Ashes and Blood. Most recent international coproduction is Spanish film Cannibal by Manuel Cuenca, which will premier soon in Toronto and San Sebastian.
- July 29, 2013
The Spanish-Romanian-French-Russian coproduction Cannibal by Manuel Martin Cuenca will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (September 5-15). Starring Antonio de la Torre and Olimpia Melinte. The film tells the strange love story between a well-respected Granada tailor who moonlights as a sociopathic cannibal and two twin sisters. Actress Olimpia Melinte's tour de force as both sisters establishes her as one of the breakthrough performers of the year. Melinte was discovered by director Mircea Daneliuc who cast her in Floating Things and was the protagonist of the Italian film Seven Acts of Mercy. Cannibal will also be presented in the Official Competition of the San Sebastian Film Festival.
- June 28, 2013
The comedy Of Snails and Men (by Tudor Giurgiu) will have its UK premiere in the official competition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (June 19-30). Founded in 1947, EIFF is the world's oldest film festival and one of the most important scenes of the international film industry. Recently, the festival hosted the international premieres of films such as The Hurt Locker, Fish Tank, Man on Wire, Control, Tsotsi, Billy Elliot. In 2010, Romanian cinema was present in the EIFF program with If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (by Florin Șerban), Police, Adjective (by Corneliu Porumboiu) and The Cage (by Adrian Sitaru) Of Snails and Men competes for the festival trophy alongside nine other films: Before Snowfall (Norway, by Hisham Zaman), Celestial Wives of the Meadow Mari (Russia, by Alexey Fedorchenko), Fat Shaker (Iran, by Mohammad Shirvani), I.D. (India, by Kamal KM), Joy (Greece, by Elias Giannakakis), Juvenile Offender (South Korea, by Kang Yi-kwan), The Last Station (Chile-Germany, by Cristian Soto, Catalina Vergara), Noche (Argentina, by Leonardo Brzezicki), A World Not Ours (UK-Lebanon-Denmark, by Mahdi Fleifel). The film is scheduled on the 28th and the 29th of June, in the presence of its director, Mr. Tudor Giurgiu. Of Snails and Men is one of the most successful Romanian films of the past decade and, also, one of the most internationally accomplished: the Special Jury prize winner at the 28th edition of Warsaw Film Festival and ex-aequo winner (with the Belgian film Offline, by Peter Monsaert) of the Meeting Point section of the Valladolid International Film Festival. In addition, Of Snails and Men was the 2013 recipient of the Bridging the Borders award for Best Film at the Los Angeles' SEEFest (May 2-6). Of Snails and Men is a French-Romanian joint venture co-produced by Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France).
- May 9, 2013
Of Snails and Men by Tudor Giurgiu, which opened the festival, received the Bridging the Borders award for best feature, while Silviu Purcărete's film, Somewhere in Palilula, received Best Feature Debut award. “A film that is both grotesque and sublime, an operatic farce about the absurdity of Communist Romania but also the absurdity of everyday life. This is a truly ambitious, unrelenting, and intensely visual work – a film that evokes Bunuel and Pasolini – and a uniquely singular vision of what Gramschi might have called the carnivalesque.”, said the jury about Somewhere in Palilula. Another Libra Film production screening at the festival was Tudor Giurgiu's Superman, Spiderman or Batman. After eight editions, SEEFest became the foremost Californian promoter of South-Eastern European films. The festival presents a selection of productions from this region and promotes them via seminars, conferences and similar events organized throughout the year. Romania's presence at the Los Angeles fest has become a tradition, here being screened, in the past decade, films by Cătălin Mitulescu, Călin Peter Netzer or Alexandru Maftei. Recently, won the Special Mention for Best Director at the International Film and Music Festival – MEDIAWAVE'2013, which took place between April 30 and May 4 in Komárom, Hungary.
- April 15, 2013
The recently completed film is the story of an elderly widowed man who is visited by his émigré son, depicting the distance between the two generations. The dog of the title is a gift the son brings for his father. The film was presented at the Agora works in progress at the Thessaloniki IFF. The Japanese Dog was written by Ioan Antoci and won the Krzysztof Kieslowski Prize at the ScripTeast workshop in 2009. M-appeal will be presenting the film at the Cannes market.
- April 1, 2013
Somewhere in Palilula, the most nominated film of this edition (11 categories), received no less than 7 Gopo trophies: Best costumes (Lia Mantoc), Best art direction (Helmut Stürmer, Dragos Buhagiar), Best cinematography (Adrian Silisteanu), Best editing (Catalin Cristutiu, a second time Gopo winner), Best sound (Tudor Petre, Cristinel Sirli, Cristian Tarnovetchi, Florin Tabacaru), Best original score (Vasile Sirli), Best make-up and hair (Dana Roseanu, Minela Popa, Ionel Popa, Doina Popa). Adrian Silisteanu, the director of photography of Somewhere in Palilula, was also the recipient of the RSC – Romanian Society of Cinematographers award, conferred by the members of the guild. The Gopo Awards Gala is organized by Romanian Film Promotion, the organizers of the Transilvania International Film Festival.
- January 2, 2013
With 63.623 entries to date, Of Snails and Men played extremely well in over 50 cities. Most screenings were sold out, additional shows being added to the schedule. Tudor Giurgiu and the film crew – among others, the actors Andi Vasluianu, Monica Bîrlădeanu, Dorel Vișan and Ovidiu Crișan – were present to many of those screenings, sharing with the audience various details about the shooting of the film and about its characters. Of Snails and Men premiered domestically on September 14th, in 19 cities simultaneously, while the previews and the first weekend shows translated into an impressive grand total of 13.929 entries. The distributors tried to take the film to those areas which no longer have cinema venues and, thanks to a mobile team, screenings were organized in various theaters and culture houses. Recently, Of Snails and Men played in Buzău, twice, in the presence of the director and of its protagonist, Andi Vasluianu. The films was also successful internationally: the feature was awarded The Jury Prize of the 28th edition of Warsaw Film Festival, one of the most important competitive festivals in the world, and the "Meeting Point" section trophy (ex-aequo with the Belgian film Offline, by Peter Monsaert) of the 57th edition of Valladolid International Film Festival. Next, Of Snails and Men will play in festivals such as Trieste (January 17-23) and Goteborg (January 25 – February 4). Between June 20th and July 1st of 2013, the film will compete for the much coveted trophy of the oldest film festival in the world and one of the main attractions of the international film industry, the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Of Snails and Men is a Romanian-French joint venture produced by Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France). The film will premiere in France in spring 2013. The film is available on DVD and can be purchased in bookshop chains such as Cărturești, Humanitas, Librarium or at Casa TIFF, in Cluj (6 Universității street). In Romania, the film is distributed by Transilvania Film in collaboration with Ro Image. For additional info about the film, please go to www.despreoamenisimelci.ro, or to www.facebook.com/Despre.oameni.si.melci
- December 19, 2012
Cannibal (d. Manuel Martin Cuenca) a Libra Film (Romania), Luminor (France) CTB (Russia) co-production is one of the 17 projects that will receive support from Eurimages- the Council of Europe fund for the co-production, distribution, exhibition and digitisation of European cinematographic works. The announcement was made at the 129th Board of Management meeting held from 11 to 13 December in Dubai. The Board of Management Fund agreed to support 17 feature films for a total amount of 5 870 000 Euros. Cannibal received 250.000 Euro. Cannibal turns on Carlos, Granada's most prestigious tailor, a respected man who dedicates his life to his work and eating, especially women. One day, he meets Nina, the twin-sister of a woman he's eaten, an immigrant from Eastern Europe. Created in 1988, Eurimages aims to promote the European film industry by encouraging the production and distribution of films and fostering co-operation between professionals.
- December 2, 2012
Superman, Spiderman or Batman, by Tudor Giurgiu, received the Best European Short Film award during the 25th European Film Awards, held on December 1st, in Malta. The European Film Awards is a prestigious annual event organized by the European Film Academy and meant to celebrate the best European films of the year. The 17 trophies are handed over during a ceremony and the winners are decided based on the vote of the 2700 members of the Academy, filmmakers from all over Europe. Superman, Spiderman or Batman was one of the 15 short films nominated for Best European Short Film. All 15 short films entered the race for the trophy after being nominated during one of the 15 partner festivals of EFA. "I am very happy and I almost can't believe it. This film had been a constant source immense satisfactions and surprises ever since I was shooting it in Cluj and the thought of getting so far with it was not even crossing my mind. My pride and joy as a Cluj person is huge: this is a film made almost entirely by and with Cluj people, both Romanians and Hungarians, all wonderful people. This award is theirs, but it especially for the writer Doru Lupeanu, the wonder child Aaron Serban and the unique actor that is Bogdan Zsolt", said Tudor Giurgiu. Superman, Spiderman or Batman tells the story of Aron, a 5 year old boy who, together with his father, goes on a journey at the end of which, similarly to his BD heroes, he hopes to save his mother who has a serious heart condition. The short film was entirely shot in the city of Cluj Napoca, with a local team: actors Bogdan Zsolt, Cornel Răileanu, Elena Ivanca, Ovidiu Crişan, Maria Seleş, Adriana Băilescu and, the film's little hero, Aaron Şerban. The screenplay was written by Doru Lupeanu, also known for writing The Yellow Smiley Face, by Constantin Popescu. The film's DoP was Adrian Silişteanu, Eugen Kelemen was the editor and Bogdan Crăciun executive produced. Chainsaw Europe did the postproduction. Superman, Spiderman or Batman's honors list includes the Aspen Shortfest 2012 trophy – the most celebrated short film festival in the US – and the Valladolid, Munich and Manhattan Shorts awards. Superman, Spiderman or Batman is the second Libra Film production awarded by EFA. In 2009, the feature film Katalin Varga by Peter Strickland received the European Discovery award. Starting today, the short film will be available for online viewing on Tudor Giurgiu's personal blog, tudorgiurgiu.ro. Starting December 12, the short film will open a series of special screenings of the feature film Of Snails and Men, scheduled all over the country. Additional info about the screenings schedule will be available soon. The European Film Academy Gala will air on HBO Romania Saturday, December 8, starting with 6:25 PM. Superman, Spiderman of Batman is a Libra Film production co-financed by the Romanian CNC and Zenith Media with the support of Digital Cube.
- November 9, 2012
Libra Film, Luminor (France) and CTB (Russia) are set to co-produce Cannibal, a suspense thriller from Manuel Martin Cuenca ("The Weakness of the Bolshevik," "Half of Oscar") set up at Spain's Mod Producciones ("Agora," "Biutiful," "Fin") and Martin Cuenca's label, La Loma Blanca. Cannibal turns on Carlos, Granada's most prestigious tailor, a respected man who dedicates his life to his work and eating, especially women. One day, he meets Nina, the twin-sister of a woman he's eaten, an immigrant from Eastern Europe. Antonio de la Torre, who played the husband of Penelope Cruz's character in "Volver" and has reunited with Pedro Almodovar for "I'm So Excited," will limn Carlos. Principal photography is skedded for January in Granada. Film Factory has acquired international rights to Cannibal. In 2012, Cannibal was selected for Rotterdam's Cinemart and then for the Cannes Festival's Cinefondation Atelier workshop.
- November 7, 2012
The Japanese Dog, the debut feature film by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, was selected in the “Work in Progress” division of Agora, the film industry oriented section of Thessaloniki International Film Festival (the 53rd edition takes place between 2 and 11 of November 2012). Organized for the first time in 2005, Agora became one of the most important meeting forums for the professionals of the European film industry – the events organized within Agora are focused on the promotion of special projects in different stages of production from Central Europe, the Mediterranean region and the Balkans. The Japanese Dog is one of the 12 projects selected for Works in Progress, which is particularly focused on films which are in the post-production phase. On November 8, within a private screening, these titles will be introduced to the festival guests (sales agents, distributors, festival programmers, etc.). A jury of three professionals will decide the winner whose prize consists of post-production services offered by Graal S.A., one of Greece’s leading post-production companies. Recently, The Japanese Dog was selected in the CentEast Projects Market which takes place in Moscow (October 16) and Warsaw (October 19-21). The Japanese Dog, the feature film debut by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, based on a script by Ioan Antoci, tells the story of Costache Moldu, an old man who lost his wife, house and livelihood in a big flood. When he is faced with a tough decision – to keep or to sell the land given to him by the Town Hall –, the unexpected return of his son, Ticu, who’s been living in Japan for very many years, will help him make up his mind. The project is one of the winners of the annual CNC (National Centre for Cinema) contest and has already received the support of HBO Romania and the MEDIA Programme of the EU (for script development). The script was awarded the Krzysztof Kieslowski prize for best Central and Eastern European Script within the ScriptEast 2009 program. In addition, the script was the winner of the 2008 “Best script for a Feature Film” HBO contest which is organized by HBO Romania in partnership with Transilvania International Film Festival. The film is produced by Tudor Giurgiu. Executive Producer: Bogdan Crăciun. Director of Photography: Andrei Butică. Editing: Dragoş Apetri. The Japanese Dog stars Victor Rebengiuc, one of Romania’s best and most beloved actors, Șerban Pavlu, Ioana Abur and Constantin Drăgănescu. The Japanese Dog is produced by Libra Film Productions and will premiere in cinemas in the Fall of 2013.
- October 29, 2012
One week after its successful Warsaw Film Festival screening, where it received the Special Jury Award, Of Snails and Men by Tudor Giurgiu adds a new trophy to its honors list. Thus, the film won the 15.000 Euro "Best Feature" award (ex-aequo with the Belgian production Time of my life, by Nic Balthazar) of the "Meeting Point" section during the 57th edition of Seminci: Valladolid International Film Festival (October 20-27). Established in 1956, Seminici: Valladolid International Film Festival (Spain) is one of the oldest and most celebrated film events in Europe, praised both for the high quality of its selection and for the many young talents it discovers every year. For example, films such as One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Milos Forman or The Wild Child by Francois Truffaut premiered in Valladolid. Of Snails and Men competed against other 14 European films. The "Meeting Point" jury was composed of film directors Daniela Fejerman and Nacho Pérez de la Paz and the director of the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Christian Sida-Valenzuela. Of Snails and Men is a Romanian-French joint venture produced by Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France). Last year, during the 2011 edition of Seminici: Valladolid International Film Festival, Superman, Spiderman or Batman by Tudor Giurgiu, was awarded the Best European Short award, thus becoming the first Romanian short to compete for the European Oscar, which will be awarded on the 1st of December, in Malta.
- October 22, 2012
Of Snails and Men by Tudor Giurgiu, one of the most successful Romanian feature films of the decade, also proves its worth on the international festival scene. Thus, the film received the Special Jury Award of the 28th edition of Warsaw Film Festival (12-21 of October 2012), one of the most important competitive cinematic events in the world, member of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Established in 1985, Warsaw Film Festival is a key event of the international film industry which takes place, every year, at the beginning of October, in the Polish capital. The American weekly entertainment-trade magazine Variety lists the festival among the 20 most important similar events in Europe. The Romanian feature played in the international competition, next to other 17 films, and drew the attention of the Polish distributors who are interested in distributing the film domestically. In addition, following its successful Warsaw screenings, Of Snails and Men was invited to the Edinburgh International Film Festival (20 June – 1 July), the oldest film festival in the world and, at the same time, one of the main attractions of the international film industry. Soon, Of Snails and Men will be screened in the Meeting Point competitive section of Valladolid International Film Festival (20-27 October). Of Snails and Men is a Romanian-French joint venture produced by Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France). In Romania, the film is distributed by Transilvania Film in collaboration with Ro Image. For additional info, please check the official website www.despreoamenisimelci.ro
- October 18, 2012
8th of March, directed by Alexandru Belc and produced by Libra Film Productions, was selected in the East Silver 2012, the largest East European documentary film market of its kind. The Silver Eye awards will be picked from among thirty nominees by international juries comprising of representatives from world’s prominent organizations, companies and film festivals. The announcement and awarding will take place on Saturday, October 27, at Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival closing ceremony. The main purpose of East Silver is to promote and enhance international distribution of creative documentaries from Central and Eastern Europe by mediating connection among key international industry players and local film professionals. The 9th edition of the event highlights the best documentaries in three categories – short, mid-length and feature docs. 8th of March is one of the 12 documentaries that compete for the Silver Eye Award in the feature docs’ section, from a total number of 600 submissions. The winners of the feature docs’ category will be decided by a Jury comprised of Ina Rossow – Deckert Distribution (Germany), Rada Sesić – Sarajevo FF, IFF Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Francis Kandel – CANALPLUS (France). 8th of March had its premiere during the 11-th edition of Transilvania International Film Festival and will also be presented at Making Waves, the 7th edition of a Romanian film season in NYC, which is set to take place at Lincoln Center, from November 29 to December 5. 8th of March is set to offer a image of “International Women’s Day”, that is celebrated every March in Romania in the former socialist countries. During the celebration, all women received special attention that day, and we, the children, were happy to show them how much we loved and respected them. According to Variety, the film shows how even the good parts of communist philosophy have been bankrupted by subsequent governments while Hollywood Reporter states that Alexandru Belc’s film is an empathetically observational documentary executed with steady, safe-hands professionalism Alexandru Belc graduated The Caragiale University of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 2007. One of his documentaries, The Sound of Mountains was presented at Berlinale in 2007. Rebel Rebel, another documentary directed by Belc, was selected at the Vision Du Reel International Film Festival in 2010.
- October 16, 2012
Of Snails and Men, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, begins its international journey with the 48th edition of the Chicago International Film Festival, which will take place between the 11 and the 25 October. The feature will be screened on the 13th and 14th of October in the „World Cinema Program” section. This section presents the most recent productions of worldwide acclaimed directors – for example, the 2011 edition of the festival presented the films of internationally celebrated directors such as Simon Staho, Nuri Bilge Ceylon, Ruben Östlund, Mathieu Amalric, Karim Aïnouz or Béla Tarr . Next, Of Snails and Men will be screened in the Warsaw FF and the Valladolid IFF competitive sections. Between the 12 and the 21 of October, the Romanian feature will also compete in the 28th edition of the Warsaw Film Festival, which is one of the most important 14 competitive festivals in the world, officially acknowledged by The International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Warsaw Film Festival is a key event in the international cinema industry, taking place every year at the beginning of October in the heart of Poland. Variety Magazine lists this festival among the most important European 20 events of its kind. Of Snails and Men will also be presented in the „Meeting Point” competitive section of the Valladolid International Film Festival held between the 20 and the 27th of October. Last year, during the 56th edition, Superman, Spiderman or Batman by Tudor Giurgiu won the best European short. Valladolid International Film Festival was born in 1965 and it’s one of the oldest and strongest festivals in Europe, being appreciated not only for its qualities and its programming, but also for its capacity to discover new talents. Of Snails and Men had its national premiere on the 14th of September, hitting cinemas simultaneously in 19 cities, on approximately 40 screens. Until now, the film was screen in over 44 cities around the country. Previously, no other Romanian feature had this kind of exposure within the first month of its cinematographic release. The action of the movie Of Snails and Men, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, is set in 1992, in and around the ARO car factory in Cîmpulung Muscel. The audience can discover an exciting comedy about a resourceful group of Romanians who embark on a great adventure. In Of Snails and Men, audiences will have the chance to enjoy performances by well-loved Romanian actors such as Andi Vasluianu, Dorel Vişan, Monica Bîrlădeanu, Andreea Bibiri, Valeria Seciu, Ovidiu Crişan, Ion Grosu, Clara Vodă and Alina Berzunţeanu, as well as the renowned French actor Jean François Stevenin and his son, Robinson Stevenin. The script belongs to Ionuț Teianu, who moved to France in 199, after graduating the Film and Drama University in Bucharest. Cinematography is signed by Vivi Drăgan Vasile and Vlaicu Golcea is the film's music composer. The film is distributed in theatres by Transilvania Film in collaboration with Ro Image.
- October 10, 2012
The feature Somewhere in Palilula, directed by Silviu Purcarete was selected in the competition section of both, the International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (held between 6 and 12 of October) and in the Valladolid International Film Festival (which will take place between 20 and 27th of October) Somewhere in Palilula will be screened as part of the international competition of the 49th edition of the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival which takes place during 6 and 12 of October in Antalya, Turkey. There are 10 feature films in the competition, and the jury is led by the prestigious hungarian cinematographer István Szabó. Silviu Purcarete’s debut feature is also selected in the 57th edition of Valladolid International Film Festival(SEMINCI) which will take place October 20th-27th, in Spain. Somewhere in Palilula will be competing for the Golden and Silver Spike Award, Best Director (for 1st and 2nd feature), Best director, Best actress, Best actor, Best Director of Photography, Best screenplay. The Valladolid Film Festival is one of the oldest and most consolidated festival in Europe, festival that hosted feature premiers like Milos Forman’s “Flight over a cockoo’s nest” (Zbor deasupra unui cuib de cuci) or Francois Truffaut’s “Wild Child” (Copilul salbatic). The feature represents the debut of the renowned theatre director in film, being a grandiose project which brings together important names from the Romanian theatre and film scene. Along side Aron Dimeny (Serafim) and George Mihaita (Ilie Tudorin), the cast includes renowned Romanian actors such as Constantin Chiriac, Razvan Vasilescu, Sorin Lenoveanu, Ofelia Popii, Horatiu Malaele and many more. Somewhere in Palilula tells the story of Serafim, a young doctor assigned on short-term at the hospital in Palilula, a little town lost somewhere on the map of the country, following the death of the previous pediatrician, old man Pantelică. Serafim gradually adapts to this world and ends up, unawares, to belong here. More information about the film on the official website www.undevalapalilula.ro/l/en Silviu Purcarete is one of the most appreciated theater directors in Romania and Europe. He has an experience of over 30 years and he made memorable performances especially at the National Theatre of Craiova and, recently, at the one in Sibiu. He is a member with a personal title of the European Theatres Union, owner of Golden Globe Peter Brook Prize for Best Theatre Director in 1995 and the Hamada Fundation Award for Artistic Excellence (Edinburgh International Festival 1991). In 2009, the play "Faust" was one of the points of maximum attraction of the Edinburgh Festival, the largest event of its kind in the world. This year in 2012 Silviu Purcarete received the Herald Angel Award for the “Gulliver’s Travels”. Somewhere in Palilula is produced by Libra Film, with the support of the Romanian Film Centre and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The script has received international acclaim, winning the 2005 "Balkan Fund" Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
- October 9, 2012
Superman, Spiderman or Batman, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, won the Gold Medal (Best Short Award) at the Manhattan Short Film Festival that took place between September 28 and October 7, 2012 . Manhattan Short is a global event which took place in over 300 cities across 6 continents during one week. The winners of the festival were elected by the votes from over 100,000 people who had the chance to watch the 10 shorts selected from a total number of over 600. Thereby, with 19.549 votes, Superman, Spiderman or Batman won the Gold Medal of Manhattan Short, outrunning the second place of the Netherlander short “A Curious Conjunction of Coincidences” with more than 4000 votes. Recently Superman, Spiderman or Batman won the “Best Short” at Kaliber 35 Munich International Short Film Festival from Munchen Germany. In April 2012, won the prize for ”Best fiction short film” at the Aspen Shortfest, one of the most renowned short film festivals in the United States of America. This prize makes Superman, Spiderman or Batman eligible for a nomination at the Oscars, Live Action Short Film category. Superman, Spiderman or Batman, has also been nominated, alongside other 14 short films from Europe, for the short film category of the European Film Awards 2012, which will take place in Malta on December 1st. Superman Spiderman or Batman tells the story of Aron, a 5-year old boy, who, together with his worried dad, one morning, leaves for the hospital, where he wishes, just like cartoon heroes, to save his mother from her heart disease. The short was filmed exclusively in Cluj Napoca, in several locations from the neighborhoods of Gheorgheni, Grigorescu or Spitalul de Recuperare, with a local crew: actors Bogdan Zsolt, Cornel Răileanu, Elena Ivanca, Ovidiu Crişan, Maria Seleş, Adriana Băilescu and the film’s hero, child actor Aaron Şerban. The script was written by Doru Lupeanu, also known for his script for the short Faţa galbenă care râde (The Yellow Smiley Face), directed by Constantin Popescu. The Director of Photography is Adrian Silişteanu, a long term collaborator of director Adrian Sitaru, the editor of the film is Eugen Kelemen, the casting was carried out by Kokino (Levente Molnar), who also collaborated for Morgen, and the executive producer is Bogdan Crăciun. The post-production was completed in the Chainsaw Europe studios. The short Superman Spiderman or Batman is a Libra Film Productions production, co-financed by Romanian National Center and Zenith Media and realized with the support of Digital Cube.
- October 8, 2012
After an unprecedented promotional campaign, for a Romanian film, the results are also impressive: Of Snails and Men has register, from the release date at Transilvania International Film Festival in Cluj utill now, a total number of 19.612 admissions. Out of 19.612 people (first weekend audience), the previews and performances of the first weekend amounted to a record audience: 13.929 viewers. The numbers obtained during the premiere weekend puts Of Snails and Men on the top of the last 10 years Romanian movie premieres, out taking the results of the movies: 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days – with 10.851 sdmissions and If I want to whistle, I whistle – with 7.013 admissions. Out of the total number mentioned above there were registered 447 viewers at the film screenings organized by distributors in Lugoj (Traian Grozavescu National Theatre) and Sibiu (Promenada Mall), also 5.236 paying viewers for the film screenings registered during Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) in Cluj, TIFF Sibiu and Târgoviste. The comedy Of Snails and men had its national premiere on the 14th of September, getting on its first week in 19 towns, on approximately 40 screens. The movie could be seen in: Bucharest, Bacău, Arad, Cluj, Timişoara, Iaşi, Constanţa, Tulcea, Braşov, Piteşti, Satu Mare, Slatina, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Baia Mare, Targu Mureş, Oradea, Brăila, Ploieşti, Craiova, Sibiu şi Lugoj. Besides the screenings in traditional theatres, the distributors Transilvania Film and Ro Image, will continue to display the movie to areas and towns where normal screenings aren’t possible, by using alternative screening methods. For this purpose there were put together three mobile teams that will set these screenings with selling tickets, in different Romanian cities, theatres, cultural centers; the screening program will be announced in advance on the movie site: www.despreoamenisimelci.ro The distributors aim to stimulate the audience and raise their interest to come in theatres and other unconventional locations to see a Romanian movie. The series of gala opening nights will continue this week, Tuesday 18th of September at Cinema Arta in Târgu Mureş, Thursday 20th of September in Galaţi and Brăila. The action of the movie Of Snails and Men, directed by Tudor Giurgiu is set in 1992, at Cîmpulung Muscel at ARO car factory. You will discover an exciting comedy with resourceful Romanians that embark in a great adventure. In Of Snails and Men, audiences will have the chance to enjoy performances by well-loved Romanian actors such as Andi Vasluianu, Dorel Vişan, Monica Bîrlădeanu, Andreea Bibiri, Valeria Seciu, Ovidiu Crişan, Ion Grosu, Clara Vodă and Alina Berzunţeanu, as well as the renowned French actor Jean François Stevenin and his son, Robinson Stevenin. The script belongs to Ionuț Teianu, who moved to France in 1991, after he graduated the Film and Drama University in Bucharest. Cinematography is signed by Vivi Drăgan Vasile and Vlaicu Golcea is the film's music composer. The film is distributed in theatres by Transilvania Film in collaboration with Ro Image. The promotion campaign was supported by: Vodafone, Kiss FM, Ringier, Grand Digiplex Baneasa, Baneasa Shopping City, Fan Courrier, Carrefour, Olay, Fertilia, Petrom Theatrical distribution was supported by: Ringier, Grand Cinema Digiplex and Băneasa Shopping City. The promotion partners are: Cinemagia, Evenimentul Zilei, Zile şi Nopți, Cinematique, Cinema Rx, Cinefan, Film Reporter, Hip Mag, B365, Metropotam, Feeder, Tpu.ro, Mixtopia.
- October 8, 2012
Somewhere in Palilula, the first feature directed by Silviu Purcarete, had it’s European premiere at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on the 1st of July 2012, in the East is West Competition. The screenings were held in the presence of the director, Silviu Purcarete, the producers Tudor Giurgiu and Oana Giurgiu, the actors Aron Dimeny, George Mihaita, the composer Vasile Sirli, and the production designer Dragos Buhagiar. The Romanian delegation travel to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival was supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute. The feature represents the debut of the renowned theatre director in film, being a grandiose project which brings together important names from the Romanian theatre and film scene. Along side Aron Dimeny (Serafim), George Mihaita (Ilie Tudorin), the cast includes renowned Romanian actors such as Constantin Chiriac, Razvan Vasilescu, Sorin Lenoveanu, Ofelia Popii, Horatiu Malaele and many more. Somewhere in Palilula tells the story of Serafim, a young doctor assigned on short-term at the hospital in Palilula, a little town lost somewhere on the map of the country, following the death of the previous pediatrician, old man Pantelică. Serafim gradually adapts to the life in this world and ends up belonging to it, even without wanting. More information about the film on the official website www.undevalapalilula.ro/l/en Silviu Purcarete is one of the most appreciated theater directors in Romania and Europe. He has an experience of over 30 years and he made memorable performances especially at the National Theatre of Craiova and, recently, at the one in Sibiu. He is a member with a personal title of the European Theatres Union, owner of Golden Globe Peter Brook Prize for Best Theatre Director in 1995 and the Hamada Fundation Award for Artistic Excellence (Edinburgh International Festival 1991). In 2009, the play "Faust" was one of the points of maximum attraction of the Edinburgh Festival, the largest event of its kind in the world. Somewhere in Palilula is produced by Libra Film, with the support of the Romanian Film Centre and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The script has received international acclaim, winning the 2005 "Balkan Fund" Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. The film is distributed in Romania by Transilvania Film. The sponsors and partners of the film are: Millenium Bank, Unicredit Tiriac Bank, Dacia, Rin, Residence Hotels, Aqua Carpatica, Bergenbier.
- October 8, 2012
Superman, Spiderman or Batman, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, has been nominated, alongside other 14 short films from Europe, for the short film category of the European Film Awards 2012. The nominees will be presented to the over 2,700 members of the European Film Academy and it is they who will elect the overall winner: the European Film Academy Short Film 2012 which will be presented at the 25th European Film Awards Ceremony on 1 December in Malta. Superman Spiderman or Batman tells the story of Aron, a 5-year old boy, who, together with his worried dad, one morning, leaves for the hospital, where he wishes, just like cartoon heroes, to save his mother from her heart disease. The short was filmed exclusively in Cluj Napoca, in several locations from the neighborhoods of Gheorgheni, Grigorescu or Spitalul de Recuperare, with a local crew: actors Bogdan Zsolt, Cornel Răileanu, Elena Ivanca, Ovidiu Crişan, Maria Seleş, Adriana Băilescu and the film’s hero, child actor Aaron Şerban. The script was written by Doru Lupeanu, also known for his script for the short Faţa galbenă care râde (The Yellow Smiley Face), directed by Constantin Popescu. The Director of Photography is Adrian Silişteanu, a long term collaborator of director Adrian Sitaru, the editor of the film is Eugen Kelemen, the casting was carried out by Kokino (Levente Molnar), who also collaborated for Morgen, and the executive producer is Bogdan Crăciun. The post-production was completed in the Chainsaw Europe studios. The short Superman Spiderman or Batman is a Libra Film Productions production, co-financed by Romanian National Center and Zenith Media and realized with the support of Digital Cube.
- September 11, 2012
September's must-see movie in theatres is the comedy Of Snails And Men, which will have its national premiere on September 14, reaching 22 cities during its first week, on approximately 40 screens. Thus, during the first weekend, the film will screen in: Bucharest, Bacau, Arad, Cluj, Timisoara, Iasi, Constanta, Tulcea, Brasov, Pitesti, Satu Mare, Slatina, Rimnicu Vilcea, Baia Mare, Targu Mures, Oradea, Braila, Ploiesti, Craiova, Sibiu, Bistrita and Hunedoara. The distributors, Transilvania Film and Ro Image, have put together an impressive promotion campaign, aiming to register a record number of viewers for a Romanian production and, at the same time, intending to bring this film to the audiences in towns and areas which lack cinema theatres, by using alternative screening options. To that effect, 3 mobile teams were put together to screen Of Snails and Men in different Romanian towns, in theatre halls and cultural centers, according to a screening programme which will be announced in advance. In addition to the traditional promotion means (outdoor, print, TV), the distributors have decided to invest in a massive on-line campaign, in the making of personalized video materials and clips, in sampling activities and in setting displays and unconventional materials (e.g. snail cans with the film's main characters), wishing to catch the attention and trigger the interest of the viewers. Gala opening nights with the participation of the actors, the directors and crew members will take place in Bucharest, Targoviste, Oradea, Cluj, Arad, Timisoara, Bacau, Iasi, Constanta, Galati, Brăila, Ploiesti, Targu Mures, Alba Iulia and Sibiu. www.despreoamenisimelci.ro The movie's official website, www.despreoamenisimelci.ro, includes both extensive material from the shooting period and news, details on the unconventional campaigns ran and testimonials with filmmakers, cast and crew. Here, visitors can also check the weekly screening programme in cinema theatres or the special locations for their respective cities. On the film 1992, Cîmpulung Muscel, Romania. The ARO car factory is bankrupt and about to be privatized in one week. It's going be sold to a French company which means to turn it into a snail farm. Out of the 3,000 workers employed here, only 300 will keep their job. Everything changes however when one of the guys finds an original solution meant to save his mates from unemployment and the factory from bankruptcy. This is Tudor Giugiu's second feature film, after his Love Sick debut (starring Maria Popistasu, Ioana Barbu, Tudor Chirila), which premiered in Romania in 2006. In Of Snails and Men, audiences will have the chance to enjoy performances by well-loved Romanian actors such as Andi Vasluianu, Dorel Vişan, Monica Bîrlădeanu, Andreea Bibiri, Valeria Seciu, Ovidiu Crişan, Ion Grosu, Clara Vodă and Alina Berzunteanu, as well as the renowned French actor Jean Francois Stevenin and his son, Robinson Stevenin. Jean Francois Stevenin played important parts in films by directors such as Francois Truffaut, Jacques Rivette, Bertrand Blier, Jacques Demy and Jean-Luc Godard, this being his first role in a Romanian movie. The script belongs to Ionut Teianu, who moved to France in 1991, after he graduated the Film and Drama University in Bucharest. Cinematography is signed by Vivi Drăgan Vasile and Vlaicu Golcea is the film's music composer. On shooting Shooting took place in various locations in Bucureşti, Călaraşi, Amara, Targoviste, Breaza and Ploiesti and it lasted 6 weeks. The film received financing from the National Film Center (CNC) in the 2010 summer Call for projects and benefited from financial support from Eurimages and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. Moreover, South Eastern Cinema Network (SEE Cinema Network) granted it a prize for script development. HBO Romania has also contributed to the financing process. On Snails and Men is a Romanian-French co-production, produced by Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France). The film is scheduled to premiere on September 14th in theatres across the country. The film is distributed in theatres by Transilvania Film in collaboration with Ro Image. The promotion campaign was supported by: Vodafone, Kiss FM, Ringier, Grand Digiplex Baneasa, Baneasa Shopping City, Fan Courrier, Carrefour, Olay, Fertilia, Petrom Theatrical distribution was supported by: Ringier, Grand Cinema Digiplex and Băneasa Shopping City.
- July 4, 2012
The prize consists in film from Kodak for the director’s next project and time-management software from Xpert-Design. 35 films from 25 countries have been selected in the official Competition of Munich festival. These short films were grouped in themed categories named after five flavours. Superman, Spiderman or Batman was presented in the “Sweet” category. Superman Spiderman or Batman tells the story of Aron, a 5-year old boy, who, together with his worried dad, one morning, leaves for the hospital, where he wishes, just like cartoon heroes, to save his mother from her heart disease. The short was filmed exclusively in Cluj Napoca, in several locations from the neighborhoods of Gheorgheni, Grigorescu or Spitalul de Recuperare, with a local crew: actors Bogdan Zsolt, Cornel Răileanu, Elena Ivanca, Ovidiu Crişan, Maria Seleş, Adriana Băilescu and the film’s hero, child actor Aaron Şerban. The script was written by Doru Lupeanu, also known for his script for the short Faţa galbenă care râde (The Yellow Smiley Face), and directed by Constantin Popescu. The Director of Photography is Adrian Silişteanu, a long term collaborator of director Adrian Sitaru, the editor of the film is Eugen Kelemen, the casting was carried out by Kokino (Levente Molnar), who also collaborated for Morgen, and the executive producer is Bogdan Crăciun. The post-production was completed in the Chainsaw Europe studios. In April 2012, Superman, Spiderman or Batman won the prize for ”Best fiction short film” at the Aspen Shortfest, one of the most renowned short film festivals in the United States of America. This prize makes Superman, Spiderman or Batman eligible for a nomination at the Oscars, Live Action Short Film category. At the Aspen Shortfest Superman, Spiderman or Batman also won the BAFTA L.A Short Film Prize. In October 2011, Superman, Spiderman or Batman won the prize for Best European Short at the 56th edition of Valladolid International Film Festival. The prize consists of 2,000 euro and in the inclusion of the film on the list of the 15 shorts that will compete at the European Film Awards 2012. Thus, Superman, Spiderman or Batman is the first Romanian film competing for the European Oscar, which will be awarded on the 1st of December 2012, in Malta. The short Superman Spiderman or Batman is a Libra Film Productions production, co-financed by Romanian National Center and Zenith Media and realized with the support of Digital Cube.
- July 4, 2012
Elder Costache Moldu lost his wife, his house and all his life earnings due to a flood. He is put in front of choosing to keep or not the land received from the townhall and the return of his son, Ticu, from Japan, after a long period of time, will help him take a decision. The project benefits from funding offered by the National Cinematography Center as well as from HBO Romania and MEDIA Program of the European Union (for developing the script). The screenplay received the Krzysztof Kieslowski award for Best Script in Central and Eastern Europe of the ScriptEast 2009 program. The jury’s motivation was the following: “Ioan Antoci created an emotional and provocative script which promises to turn into a real cinema experience. Subjects like family, sufferance and faith might reason with an universal audience and they’re treated in an enchanting manner, full of sensitivity. The audience will be conquered by the liberating goodness of the characters and the end of the script will definitely generate tears of joy.” Before obtaining this award, the screenplay won in 2008 the HBO Award for Best Feature Screenplay in the National Screenwriting Competition organized by HBO Romania in partnership with Transilvania IFF. Afterwards, the screenplay was adapted by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu and Gabriel Gheorghe. The Producer of the film is Tudor Giurgiu, Bogdan Crăciun is Executive Producer and Andrei Butică is the film’s DOP, meanwhile the editing is realized by Dragoș Apetri. The cast includes Victor Rebengiuc, Şerban Pavlu, Kana Hashimoto, Constantin Draganescu, Ioana Abur, Alexandrina Halic, Laurentiu Lazar. The filming began at the middle of June and will last for approximately 4 weeks in different villages in Giurgiu county. The film will be distributed by Transilvania Film and will have its premiere in 2013. For more information and photos, please visit the film’s facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/CaineleJaponez.
- April 8, 2012
The short feature Superman, Spiderman or Batman, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, is in competition in important film festivals – Aspen Shortfest, Gulf International Film Festival, Kyiv International Short Film Festival and Seattle International Film Festival. Thus, Superman, Spiderman or Batman is presented in competition during the 20th edition of Aspen Shortfest (April 10- 15), one of the most important festivals dedicated to short films. Superman, Spiderman or Batman is one of the 60 short films selected from more than 3.200 submissions. Recognized as one of the world's "50 Leading Film Festivals" by IndieWIRE, Aspen Shortsfest is one of the world's premier international short film and video showcases for the trend-setting art form: the short. This Oscar-qualifying international competition offers a lively, thought-provoking, and humorous selection of drama, comedy, animation and documentary – all at 40 minutes or less. Also, Superman, Spiderman or Batman has been selected at the fifth edition of the Gulf Film Festival, that will take place from April 10 to 16. On the other hand, the short movie directed by Tudor Giurgiu will also be screened at the Kyiv International Short Film Festival, that will be held in Kiev, Ukraine on April 20-22. Also, Superman, Spiderman or Batman will return to USA at the 38th edition of Seattle International Film Festival and will be screened as an official selection for SIFF's ShortsFest Weekend, May 24-28. SIFF is also a recognized Oscar nominating Festival in the categories of Best Short Film and Best Animated Short Film. The Seattle International Film Festival [SIFF] is the largest and most well-attended film festival in the United States with 160,000 attendees expected in 2012. SIFF screens a wide selection of the best new international features and documentaries over the 25-day festival, presenting more than 400 films from over 50 countries. Superman, Spiderman or Batman tells the story of Aron, a 5-year old boy, who, together with his worried dad, one morning, leaves for the hospital, where he wishes, just like cartoon heroes, to save his mother from her heart disease. Superman, Spiderman or Batman won the prize for Best European Short at the 56th edition of Valladolid International Film Festival (22nd – 29th October). The prize consists of 2,000 euro and in the inclusion of the film on the list of the 15 shorts that will compete at the European Film Awards 2012. Thus, Superman, Spiderman or Batman is the first Romanian film competing for the European Oscar, which will be awarded on the 1st of December 2012, in Malta. The short feature Superman, Spiderman or Batman is a Libra Film Productions production and was premiered during the 10th edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival (the 3rd – the 12th o June, Cluj Napoca). Also, the short was screened during the 8th edition of the Anonimul International Film Festival (the 8th – the 14th of August), the Warsaw Film Festival (the 7th – the 16th of October), the Valladolid International Film Festival (the 22nd – the 29th of October) and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival (the 4th – the 13th of November).
- April 8, 2012
Somewhere in Palilula, written and directed by Silviu Purcărete, will be available from April 2012. The movie will be launched in theathers around Romania. The film is placed in the 60s in Romania and tells the story of Serafim, a fresh graduate of medical school, brought by a gloomy whim of destiny to the town of Palilula. Nowhere, that is. Palilula is a ghost town, lost in the middle of the Vallahian plain. A quarantine area, a sanatorium, improbable hospital, a gynecological clinic in a settlement where no child is born. A community of Italians who forgot their language, but not the nostalgia of their canzonets. Italians with Danubian taste and disorientation. The young doctor Serafim will not get to practice his profession as a pediatrician, in this childless town. He will be drowning in the sweet and poisoned honey of the place, like a fly caught by a frog. Among main actors are top-Romanian names such as Dimeny Aron, George Mihăiţă, Răzvan Vasilescu, Ofelia Popii, Constantin Chiriac or Horaţiu Mălăele. Director of Photography is Adrian Silişteanu, a long-term collaborator of director Adrian Sitaru, while music is being composed by Vasile Şirli. Art directors are Helmut Sturmer and Dragos Buhagiar. Somwhere in Palilula is produced by Libra Film Productions, with the support of The National Cinema Center (CNC) and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The script was well appreciated internationaly and won the „Balkan Fund” Award at Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
- April 8, 2012
The documentary project "Banished from the Heavens/ Cerul Interzis", written and directed by Andrei Schwartz, produced by Libra Film Productions, was awarded a financial grant of 40.000 Euros from Eurimages. EURIMAGES is a support fund for the co-production, distribution and exhibition of European cinematographic works, established by the Council of Europe in 1988. Since it was set up in 1988, EURIMAGES has supported 1420 European co-productions for a total amount of approximately 429 million euros.
- April 8, 2012
The pre-production for the feature film The Japanese Dog, by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, has started. The feature tells the story of Costache Moldu, an elder from an old, forgotten village, which has lost everything – his house and savings of a lifetime – after a flood. After he lived for several months in the school, Costache receives from the state a house – the former pharmacy -, and a piece of land away from the village on the lake. Meanwhile, he is pressed by the mayor to sell the piece of land. When Costache Moldu finally decides to sell the land, his son, Ticu, that left the country for many years, returns home. The feature is produced by Libra Film Productions and is financed by the National Film Centre in Romania.
- April 8, 2012
Cristian, directed by Tudor Giurgiu and produced by Libra Film Productions, was selected at the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 12 – 14), that will take place during the Berlin International Film Festival (February 9 – 19, 2012). The movie tells the story of a young idealistic prosecutor, that tries to solve a case against an elder colleague accused of corruption, Further looking for the truth, he enters a danger zone paved with unexpected and painful revelations… Cristian is produced by Libra Film Productions and is financed by the Romanian National Film Center. Also, the film received a developement grant from the Media Programme of the European Union. The film has a budget of over 1 million Euros and the shooting will take place in the fall of 2012. The official selection of projects for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2012 includes 25 exciting new feature film projects (chosen out of 311 entries). They will be presented by their producers, who have international experience and at least 30% of their financing already in place. The projects all have budgets between one and seven million euros. A large number of the projects selected for 2012 include directors who have presented films in the past at the Berlinale: Gustavo Taretto (Medianeras, Panorama), Giulio Manfredonia (Qualunquemente/Whatsoeverly, Panorama) and Marcela Said (El Mocito, Forum) all screened their last films at the Berlinale 2011. Also Taika Waititi, Hans Petter Moland, Alexei Popogrebsky, Petri Kotwica, Ruben Östlund, Ineke Houtman, Tudor Giurgiu and Chico Teixeira are well known for their earlier works shown at the Festival. Awaited with great suspense as well are new projects by “WCF director” Ciro Guerra (The Wind Journeys); a directorial debut by Stéphanie Weber Biron, known for her camera work on Xavier Dolan’s films; and the first Indian project in the official selection, Bobby Bedi’s Kutch. Over the years, out of the projects selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market, more than 120 films have already been realised. At 40%, the success rate of these co-production meetings is exceptionally high. The programme of the Berlinale Co-Production Market will also feature further networking opportunities, as well as an up–to-date series of events concentrating on the latest information and trends in film financing and international co-productions. At the ninth Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 12 to 14, 2012), the producers and directors of 39 selected film projects from 30 countries will meet with 450 potential co-production and financing partners. For each of these projects, the Berlinale Co-Production Market team will arrange approximately 25 meetings with interested partners. This means carefully scheduling more than 1000 meetings in two days according to the individual wishes of the participants and the priorities of the projects. Libra Film is an independent film production company founded by Tudor Giurgiu in 1994. Libra produced in 2004, the award-winning documentary "Great Communist Bank Robbery", by Alexandru Solomon, co-production with Les Films D’Ici (France), BBC, ZDF/ARTE, France 2 with support of Eurimages, Jan Vrijman Fund and Discovery Campus Masterschool. Tudor Giurgiu’s debut film "Love Sick", had the exclusive world premiere at Panorama – Berlinale 2006 and was a local box-office hit. Libra Film was also the Romanian partner for Kornél Mundruczó’s Cannes 2008 competition film Delta, awarded with FIPRESCI award and co-produced the directorial debut of French actress Fanny Ardant, “Ashes and Blood”. "Katalin Varga", by Peter Strickland was awarded with a Silver Bear at Berlinale 2009 and Best European Discovery at EFA Awards 2009. Titus Muntean’s “Kino Caravan” had world premiere in competition at Busan International Film Festival and Eran Riklis' "Mission of the Human Resources Manager" was awarded in Locarno 2010. Among the projects from the 2012-2013 lineup of 2011 – 2012 we can mention: “Somewhere at Palilula”, the debut film of worldwide famous theater director Silviu Purcarete, Tudor Giurgiu’s second film “Of snails and men”, a coproduction with Agat Films (France), supported by Eurimages (in postproduction) and three other debut films – Iulia Rugina’s “Breaking news”, "Japanese Dog" by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu (awarded with Best Script at 2008 ScripTeast competition) and Razvan Savescu’s “America, here we come!”, as well as Oana Giurgiu’s documentary “From Romania to Zion”, developed in Archidoc program.
- March 21, 2012
The feature Of Snails and Men, by Tudor Giurgiu, is currently in post-production and will be available from May 2012. Of Snails and Men is inspired by true events and tells the story of the workers from a Romanian factory that want to donate sperm in order to obtain funds to save their factory from being privatized. The cast includes Romanian actors Andi Vasluianu, Monica Birladeanu, Dorel Visan, Valeria Seciu, Ion Besoiu, Ovidiu Crişan, Ion Grosu, Clara Vodă, Alina Berzunţeanu, Puya and the French actors Jean François Stevenin and Robinson Stevenin. The script is written by Ionut Teianu. The DOP of the film is renowned Romanian cinematographer Vivi Dragan Vasile. The Romanian company Libra Film Productions in partnership with French company Agat Films produce Tudor Giurgiu’s second feature. Tudor Giurgiu, Oana Giurgiu and Patrick Sobelman are the producers. The budget for the production is 1.2 million Euros. The feature is financed by National Film Center, Eurimages, the MEDIA Programme of the European Unionon, Romanian National Television and HBO Romania. Also, the script was awarded with a development grant by the South Eastern Cinema Network (SEE Cinema Network). The movie already has an international sales agent – the French company Elle Driver.
- March 21, 2012
8th of March, directed by Alexandru Belc and produced by Libra Film Productions, was presented during Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival, in the industry section. As part of the industry program in Jihlava, IDF organizes unique informal breakfasts focused on certain countries and its co-production possibilities. Invited guests discuss all aspects of film funding and producing documentary films in selected countries. The main goal of the co-production meetings is to offer an overview of the situation in the country, to cover the production and funding system, as well as present filmmakers the various ways of funding and co-production possibilities available for documentary projects in different countries across Europe. The guests of the Romanian event were: Sanda Vișan (TVR – Romanian public channel, Cinema Dept.), Aurelian Nica (HBO Romania), Alexandru Solomon (Hi Film Productions, DocuMentor, One World Romania), Ileana Stanculescu (Art Doc), Hanno Hofer (Mobra Films), Robert Lakatos (Argo Audiovisual Association, Inforg Studio), Alexandru Belc (Libra Film Productions), Vlad Voinescu (Manekino Film), Alexander Nanau (Alexander Nanau Production, Strada Film), Laura Capatana-Juller (Hi Film Productions), Horia Marusca (Productive International Invest SRL) and as a guest of honor Mircea Dan Duta (Romanian Cultural Institute in Prague). 8th of March is set to offer a image of “International Women’s Day”, that is celebrated every March in Romania in the former socialist countries. During the celebration, all women received special attention that day, and we, the children, were happy to show them how much we loved and respected them.
- March 21, 2012
Somewhere in Palilula, written and directed by Silviu Purcărete, is currently in final post-production, sound mixing process has just been completed in Paris at Creative Sound under the supervision of Cristinel Sirli. The story of the film is placed in the 60s in Romania and tells the story of Serafim, a fresh graduate of medical school, brought by a gloomy whim of destiny to the town of Palilula. Nowhere, that is. Palilula is a ghost town, lost in the middle of the Vallahian plain. A quarantine area, a sanatorium, improbable hospital, a gynecological clinic in a settlement where no child is born. A community of Italians who forgot their language, but not the nostalgia of their canzonets. Italians with Danubian taste and disorientation. The young doctor Serafim will not get to practice his profession as a pediatrician, in this childless town. He will be drowning in the sweet and poisoned honey of the place, like a fly caught by a frog. Among main actors are top-Romanian names such as Dimeny Aron, George Mihăiţă, Răzvan Vasilescu, Ofelia Popii, Constantin Chiriac or Horaţiu Mălăele. Director of Photography is Adrian Silişteanu, a long-term collaborator of director Adrian Sitaru, while music is being composed by Vasile Şirli. Art directors are Helmut Sturmer and Dragos Buhagiar The film is set for release in 2012.
- March 21, 2012
The research for the documentary film From Romania to Zion, directed by Oana Giurgiu and produced by Libra Film, started in Israel in October. Following 130 years of the emigration of Romanian Jews towards the Holy Land, both history of East Europe and Israel will be revealed, in a light, colourful film depicting history in human stories and collages, as a tribute to Tristan Tzara – born in the same town from where first Jews emigrated to Palestine in 1882. At the same time we will discover all absurdities and contradictions in the relationship between Romanians and Jews: Romanians were responsible for some of the cruelest pogroms during the Second World War, but still Romania had the largest Jewish surviving population at the end of the war, after USSR. Communist regimes were trading this population with Israel, and Ceausescu made even a step forward requesting cash payment per person, but same Ceausescu was the one convincing Egypt to sign the peace with Israel. In Israel, the population from Romania became the country’s fourth largest group, but they always stayed in the shadow, sometimes hiding their origins, even though important personalities emerged from that community, even though they have brought important elements to their new country; the Israeli anthem and national dance “hora” are both inspired of the Romanian folklore, to mention just that. Today, a return to democracy in Romania has attracted many Israeli investors, almost the same number as the former Jewish community that is slowly vanishing. In Israel, a museum of Romanian Jewry will be built, in the first settlement made by them in Rosh Pina. But will their memory be carried on by the new generations?