TIFF Sibiu marks 18yrs: Romanian films in premiere, documentaries about music and focus on German film

By Romania Journal Last updated Sep 3, 2024

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The most important film festival in the country announces the 18th edition in Sibiu. Under the slogan “in a reelationship”, between September 12 – 15, TIFF Sibiu will bring to the screens in Piața Mare, at CineGold and at the German Forum, premieres of Romanian films, Hollywood blockbusters, documentaries about music and a focus on German film. Directors, actors and screenwriters are expected in the city. Among the more than 30 films in the program are the most anticipated Romanian productions of the year.

In Piața Mare, entry is free, and access to the screenings dedicated to children is based on the reservation of a ticket with a value of 0. Perhaps the most anticipated Romanian film of the year, Moromeții 3 (dir. Stere Gulea), will have a special preview, in the presence of the team, at TIFF Sibiu. The last film in Stere Gulea’s trilogy based on Marin Preda’s novels, Moromeții 3 has at the center of the action Niculae, the youngest son of Ilie Moromete, who has become a young writer called to support the party line and participate in collectivization. The top cast brings together, among others, Alex Călin, Horațiu Mălăele, Mara Bugarin, Olimpia Melinte, Iulian Postelnicu and Răzvan Vasilescu.

Another unprecedented screening will be that of the film The New Year That Never Came, the feature film debut of director Bogdan Mureșanu, which just premiered in the Orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival. The film, a tragicomedy whose action takes place in a single day, before the 1989 Revolution, stars Adrian Văncică, Iulian Postelnicu, Emilia Dobrin, Mihai Călin and Nicoleta Hâncu. With an impressive cast – Maia Morgenstern, Rodica Lazar, Rodica Negrea, Diana Gheorghian, Nelu Serghei, Claudiu Istodor – Rusalka (dir. Claudiu Mitcu) presents five old friends who spend a few days together in the resort where they used to go in their youth. One of them will give them news that will disturb their vacation and their lives.

The TIFF Sibiu program also includes other new Romanian films, such as Clasat (dir. Horia Cucuta, George Ganeard), a story constructed as a press investigation that won the Romanian Film Days Award at TIFF.23, or Where the Elephants Go ( r. Gabi Virginia Șarga, Cătălin Rotaru), a story of love and friendship between three characters in a difficult moment of their existence.

One Life (dir. James Hawes, UK, 2024), the latest film with Sir Anthony Hopkins, May December (dir. Todd Haynes, USA, 2023), with Julian Moore and Natalie Portman, and Longlegs (dir. Oz Perkins, USA, 2024) with Nicholas Cage, complete the TIFF Sibiu selection.

Music lovers will be able to discover three documentaries about rock bands: Mogwai: If The Stars Had A Sound (Mogwai: If The Stars Had A Sound, dir. Antony Crook, Great Britain, 2024), The Story of Gogol Bordello (Scream of My Blood: a Gogol Bordello Story, dir. Nate Pommer, Eric Weinrib, USA, 2023) and Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd, dir. Roddy Bogawa, Storm Thorgerson, UK , 2023).

A selection of contemporary films spoken in German will be presented in the German Film Days section, with the support of the Goethe Institut and the German Cultural Center in Sibiu.

The documentary about dancers Dancing Heartbeats (dir. Lisa Wagner, Germany, 2024), Me and Sisi (dir. Frauke Finsterwalder, Germany, 2023) with Sandra Hüller, or the multi-award winning comedy When , finally again as it never was (Wann Wird Es Endlich Wieder So, Wie Es Nie War, dir. Sonja Heiss, Germany / Belgium, 2023) are just some of the titles.

The full program and tickets for each screening are available online.

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