This year’s edition of the Film O’Clock International Festival brought together film enthusiasts and professionals from 11 countries – Romania, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, South Africa, Serbia, Hungary, and Poland – in a celebration of cultural diversity and dialogue through cinematic art. The festival screened 38 films across 94 screenings, offering a unique platform for connection and reflection on cinema.
The Short Film Competition was a central element of the event, judged by a prestigious international jury: Romanian director and screenwriter Bogdan Mureșanu, Hungarian cinematographer Eszter Csepeli, and Egyptian producer Muhammad Taymour. The Jury Prize Ex Aequo was awarded to Truth or Dare, directed by Simona Borcea (Romania), for “precise performances and a well-defined coming-of-age universe,” and Hushes and Phonics, directed by Piotr Kamiński (Poland), for its “subtle cinematography and nuanced acting.” A Special Jury Mention was given to From You, directed by Jędrzej Gorski (Poland), for its “exceptional portrayal of the father-son relationship.”
The Audience Award, voted by film lovers from the 11 participating countries, went to A Promise to the Sea, directed by Hend Sohail (Egypt). The film deeply moved viewers with its human and universal story, capturing hearts through its sensitive and complex exploration of themes such as promises and human connections across cultures.
One of the highlights of the festival was a cinema education masterclass for children, led by Greek experts from Schedia Art. The event also included interactive Q&A sessions with competing filmmakers and a vibrant intercultural evening.
Poland stood out as a major focus of the program under the banner Solidarity on Screen, organized in partnership with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, as part of the international cultural initiative during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. A standout moment was the launch of the Romanian-language podcast Celluloid Solidarity, exploring the influence of Polish cinema in an international context. Addressing the theme of solidarity on multiple levels, the podcast serves as an educational and cultural resource for Romanian and regional audiences. The pre-launch event featured filmmakers Hanna Polak, Zuzanna Solakiewicz, and Hanka Nobis, alongside Serbian film critic Nikola Radic and Romanian film critic Ion Indolean.
Another highlight was the screening of the contemporary documentary Solaris Mon Amour, directed by Kuba Mikurda – a poetic exploration of Stanisław Lem’s masterpiece. Mikurda was also the keynote speaker at the conference Archives, Cinema and Collective Healing, organized in partnership with UNATC Bucharest, which addressed the role of archives in preserving collective memory and the connection between cinema and healing processes.
Film education was a central theme of this edition as well, with an online discussion titled Poets or Engineers on Filmmaking, featuring Polish director Rafael Kapelinski – author of a book on this topic – and representatives of prestigious Polish film schools. The discussion explored the contrast between poetic and technical approaches in filmmaking, offering a complex perspective on the development of contemporary filmmakers.
In the classic film section, the festival screened Camera Buff, directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski, a landmark in Polish cinema. The screening was preceded by a conversation between film critic Andrew Mohsen and festival director Mirona Radu, delving into Kieslowski’s body of work, themes, and influences.
This special edition not only celebrated the creativity and heritage of Poland but also emphasized the festival’s commitment to offering a platform for meaningful cultural dialogue, connecting international audiences with powerful stories and innovative perspectives.
On April 10–11, Mirona Radu, the festival director, is attending an international conference in Szolnok, Hungary, where she is presenting the concept and achievements of this edition. Alongside professionals from Hungary, Romania, and Serbia, she highlights the importance of the festival as a platform for intercultural dialogue and an example of best practices in promoting cinema as a tool for connection and social transformation.
Film O’Clock International Festival #5 is a cultural project produced by Creatrix Fama and co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN). The fifth edition is organized under the umbrella of “Solidarity on Screen – Polish Presidency Film Review,” with support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute as part of the international cultural program of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2025.
Partners include: National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” Bucharest (UNATC), Romanian Filmmakers Union (UCIN), DACIN SARA, National Film Archive, Cinemateca Eforie, Polish Institute Bucharest, F-Sides Cineclub, Filmoteka Narodowa – Instytut Audiowizualny, Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych i Fabularnych, Kino Iluzjon (Poland), 35 mm online, Bulgarian National Film Archive, National Academy of Theatre and Film – NATFA (Bulgaria), Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania), Lithuanian Film Centre, CNC Moldova, Mediacor Chișinău, National Film Institute Hungary, Tisza Mozi (Hungary), Dovjenko Centre, Zhovten Cinema (Ukraine), Schedia – Centre for Artistic and Pedagogical Training (Greece), Romanian-Hellenic Art and Culture Association (Greece), Otvoreni Univerzitet Subotica Doo (Serbia), Cinemaeuropa Subotica (Serbia), Delta Video (Serbia), Neelsie Cinema (South Africa), Jesuit Cinema Club (Egypt), Medfest Egypt, ART, thestoryspectrum.com.
Romania Journal has supported the festival as media partner.