Stere Gulea to Chair the Jury at Bucharest International Film Festival 2025

After being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 anniversary edition of BIFF, acclaimed director Stere Gulea will return to the spotlight as President of the International Jury at the 2025 Bucharest International Film Festival. Joining him are Argentine director Pablo César, actress Olimpia Melinte, and BBC journalist Vincent Dowd — three distinct voices bringing perspectives from three continents.

The 21st edition of BIFF will take place from September 19–28, 2025, presenting audiences with a selection of international films in national premiere, within the only feature film competition held in Bucharest.

This year’s major new addition: a short film competition.
The international selection has already been finalized, and BIFF is now seeking the best Romanian short films. Romanian directors are invited to apply via the online form:
https://www.biff.com.ro/inscriere-scurtmetraje/
BIFF welcomes short, powerful stories — films that leave a mark, not just an impression.

A festival that grows year after year
The 2024 edition attracted over 40,000 spectators, featured 30 world premieres, and held screenings in spectacular venues. In 2025, BIFF will include five sections: feature film competition, short film competition, panorama, Romanian authors, and history & cinema. For 10 days, Bucharest will once again become a hot spot on the European cinema map.

Organized by the Charta Foundation and the Grigore Vasiliu Birlic Cultural Association under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania, with support from the Ministry of Culture, the festival celebrates its role in promoting film and intercultural dialogue.

“We started this journey hoping to offer the public something different from TV blockbusters. I never imagined we’d be celebrating 21 years. BIFF is back with new films, international premieres, powerful debuts, special guests, and many surprises. I hope we’ll all enjoy a September full of cinema,” said Dana Dimitriu Chelba, BIFF Director.

About the Jury Members:

Stere Gulea is a renowned Romanian film director and screenwriter, born on August 2, 1943, in Mihail Kogălniceanu, Constanța County. Of Aromanian heritage, he graduated from the I.L. Caragiale Institute of Theatre and Film Arts in 1970. He later became a professor, dean, and interim general director of Romanian Television (1996–1998). He debuted with the documentary “The Water Like a Black Buffalo” (1970), co-directed with Dan Pița and Mircea Veroiu. His most notable films include “Iarba verde de acasă”, “The Carpathian Castle”, “Bear’s Eye”, and the Moromeții trilogy (1987, 2018, 2024). He has received numerous accolades, including the National Order “The Star of Romania” in the rank of Commander (2000) and a Gopo Award for Moromeții 2 (2019).

Pablo César, born in Buenos Aires in 1962, began making films at 13 with a Super 8 camera gifted by his older brother. Between 1975 and 1984, he made dozens of short and two feature films. His professional debut came in 1988 with The Holy Family. César is a pioneer in South-South cinematic collaborations, creating films with countries such as Tunisia, India, Mali, Benin, Angola, Ethiopia, Namibia, and Morocco. His films explore shared stories, pre-colonial cultures, and a unique cinematic language. He teaches at the University of Cinema in Buenos Aires and has won awards at festivals across the globe.

Olimpia Melinte is a celebrated actress known for her versatility and emotional depth. She was nominated for a Goya Award for Canibal and has performed in films selected at Locarno, Venice, San Sebastián, and Berlin. In Romania, she gained widespread popularity in the hit series VLAD, also sold internationally. She recently starred in Moromeții III, directed by Stere Gulea. Alongside her acting, Olimpia completed a PhD at the National University of Theatre and Film, focusing on female representation in TV series through a feminist lens.

Vincent Dowd served as Arts Correspondent for BBC World Service from 2014 to 2023 and remains a regular contributor. He previously covered UK politics at Westminster and produced arts-focused Witness History episodes for the BBC, featuring figures like Stanley Kubrick and Derek Jarman. He also created a BBC Radio 4 documentary on folk singer Pete Seeger. Dowd spent a year working on a WHO health education project in Bihar, India, and reported from major film festivals like Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. He was also a juror for the prestigious Olivier Awards.