Wednesday 29 April 2009
New Review of the Film Festival on Empire Online
Check out this very interesting review of the Romanian Film Festival in the Empire Online http://www.empireonline.com/festivalsandseasons/main.asp?FID=762. The review contains in-depth commentaries about the main films to be showcased at Curzon Mayfair.
More Detailed Programme of Festival
The countdown to the Festival has begun! Make sure you buy your tickets either in person at the Curzon Mayfair, online at www.curzoncinemas.com or by phone at 0871 7033 989.
Here's a more detailed description of the films that will be shown during the Festival (the original Romanian title is in brackets):
FRIDAY 1 MAY 6.20PM
Opening Film: SILENT WEDDING (Nunta Muta)
plus Q&A
Director: Horatiu Malaele
Cast: Meda Andreea Victor, Victor Rebengiuc, Alexandru Potocean / Romania 2008 / 87 mins
A rural wedding celebration gets disturbed by Stalin’s death, but the villagers are not easily defeated. A story about resistance during harsh Communist times, told in a fairytale style.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 2.00PM
HOOKED (Pescuit Sportiv)
plus introduction
Director: Adrian Sitaru
Cast: Maria Dinulescu, Ioana Flora, Adrian Titieni / Romania/France 2008 / 80 mins
Having set out for a trip in the countryside, secret lovers Mihai and Miha hit prostitute Ana in a roadside accident. Awakening unscathed, Ana decides to accompany them to their picnic…
Screening with: WAVES (Valuri)
Director: Adrian Sitaru / Romania 2007 / 16 mins
A day on the beach takes a dark turn under the bright sunshine.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 4.00PM
THE OTHER IRENE (Cealalta Irina)
plus Q&A
Director: Andrei Gruzsniczki
Cast: Andi Vasluianu, Doru Ana, Gabriel Spahiu / Romania 2008 / 90 mins
Sharing similar grounds with some of the finest European thrillers, The Other Irene is based on a real story, uncovering a political and bureaucratic landscape that is truly eerie to watch.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 6.15PM
CONSTANTIN AND ELENA (Constantin si Elena)
plus Q&A
Director: Andrei Dascalescu / Romania 2008 / 103 mins
This multi-award winning documentary follows Constantin and Elena who’ve been married for 55 years in a rural village. A reflection on life, dying traditions and a heartfelt story of two very loving, artistic and wise people.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 8.45PM
EXCHANGE (Schimb Valutar)
plus Q&A
Director: Nicolae Margineanu
Cast: Cosmin Selesi, Aliona Munteanu, Andi Vasluianu / Romania 2008 / 98 mins
Having lost his job, Emil’s life soon spirals out of control and he decides to try his luck in Bucharest. Here, bank notes travel from thief to thug and the tragedy caused by this circle of events is the Romanian answer to Robert Bresson’s L’Argent.
SUNDAY 3 MAY 2.00PM
ROMANIAN SHORTS PROGRAMME plus introduction
TIGER DANNY (Danut Pleaca pe Vapor)
Director: Radu Potcoava / Romania 2008 / 27 mins
Tiger Danny is about to spend a working year in the US but getting out of Bucharest is not that easy.
YELLOW SMILEY FACE (Fata Galbena care Rade)
Director: Constantin Popescu / Romania 2008 / 14 mins
Two computer illiterate parents in their early 50s have to learn how to use Skype in order to communicate with their son, who studies abroad.
ALEXANDRA (Alexandra)
Director. Radu Jude / Romania 2007 / 25 mins
A single father tries to maintain a relationship with his daughter, despite the hateful ex-wife and her new man.
WATER (Apa)
Director: Constantin Popescu / Romania, 2007 / 33 mins
During World War II, some soldiers are stuck in a trench in the scorching heat with a pond of ice cool water separating them from their opponents.
SUNDAY 3 MAY 4.00PM
MOROMETII
plus Q&A
Director: Stere Gulea
Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Luminita Gheorghiu, Gina Patrichi / Romania 1988 / 142 mins
Morometii, based on a modern classic of Romanian literature by Marin Preda, follows the life of Ilie Moromete, the archetype of the Romanian peasant. Ilie faces constant problems: his sister's nagging, the taxes and the work in the fields whilst his sons, almost grown-up, are now showing signs of rebellion.
SUNDAY 3 MAY 7.00PM
ELEVATOR plus introduction
Director. George Dorobantu
Cast: Cristi Petrescu, Iulia Verdes / Romania 2008 / 85 mins
Imagine being young, and fancying your schoolmate a little: where would you go if you wanted to be alone for a while? Inside a lift in an abandoned factory, on the outskirts of your hometown, perhaps?
MONDAY 4 MAY 6.30PM
WEEKEND WITH MY MOTHER (Weekend cu Mama)
plus Q&A
Director. Stere Gulea
Cast: Adela Popescu, Medeea Marinescu, Tudor Aaron Istodor / Romania 2009 / 90 mins
Stere Gulea’s latest film is a contemporary drama about migration and addiction, with all the ingredients that made Trainspotting so much of its time. Yet it has the quality of Romanian filmmaking, with depth and contemporary issues at its heart.
Here's a more detailed description of the films that will be shown during the Festival (the original Romanian title is in brackets):
FRIDAY 1 MAY 6.20PM
Opening Film: SILENT WEDDING (Nunta Muta)
plus Q&A
Director: Horatiu Malaele
Cast: Meda Andreea Victor, Victor Rebengiuc, Alexandru Potocean / Romania 2008 / 87 mins
A rural wedding celebration gets disturbed by Stalin’s death, but the villagers are not easily defeated. A story about resistance during harsh Communist times, told in a fairytale style.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 2.00PM
HOOKED (Pescuit Sportiv)
plus introduction
Director: Adrian Sitaru
Cast: Maria Dinulescu, Ioana Flora, Adrian Titieni / Romania/France 2008 / 80 mins
Having set out for a trip in the countryside, secret lovers Mihai and Miha hit prostitute Ana in a roadside accident. Awakening unscathed, Ana decides to accompany them to their picnic…
Screening with: WAVES (Valuri)
Director: Adrian Sitaru / Romania 2007 / 16 mins
A day on the beach takes a dark turn under the bright sunshine.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 4.00PM
THE OTHER IRENE (Cealalta Irina)
plus Q&A
Director: Andrei Gruzsniczki
Cast: Andi Vasluianu, Doru Ana, Gabriel Spahiu / Romania 2008 / 90 mins
Sharing similar grounds with some of the finest European thrillers, The Other Irene is based on a real story, uncovering a political and bureaucratic landscape that is truly eerie to watch.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 6.15PM
CONSTANTIN AND ELENA (Constantin si Elena)
plus Q&A
Director: Andrei Dascalescu / Romania 2008 / 103 mins
This multi-award winning documentary follows Constantin and Elena who’ve been married for 55 years in a rural village. A reflection on life, dying traditions and a heartfelt story of two very loving, artistic and wise people.
SATURDAY 2 MAY 8.45PM
EXCHANGE (Schimb Valutar)
plus Q&A
Director: Nicolae Margineanu
Cast: Cosmin Selesi, Aliona Munteanu, Andi Vasluianu / Romania 2008 / 98 mins
Having lost his job, Emil’s life soon spirals out of control and he decides to try his luck in Bucharest. Here, bank notes travel from thief to thug and the tragedy caused by this circle of events is the Romanian answer to Robert Bresson’s L’Argent.
SUNDAY 3 MAY 2.00PM
ROMANIAN SHORTS PROGRAMME plus introduction
TIGER DANNY (Danut Pleaca pe Vapor)
Director: Radu Potcoava / Romania 2008 / 27 mins
Tiger Danny is about to spend a working year in the US but getting out of Bucharest is not that easy.
YELLOW SMILEY FACE (Fata Galbena care Rade)
Director: Constantin Popescu / Romania 2008 / 14 mins
Two computer illiterate parents in their early 50s have to learn how to use Skype in order to communicate with their son, who studies abroad.
ALEXANDRA (Alexandra)
Director. Radu Jude / Romania 2007 / 25 mins
A single father tries to maintain a relationship with his daughter, despite the hateful ex-wife and her new man.
WATER (Apa)
Director: Constantin Popescu / Romania, 2007 / 33 mins
During World War II, some soldiers are stuck in a trench in the scorching heat with a pond of ice cool water separating them from their opponents.
SUNDAY 3 MAY 4.00PM
MOROMETII
plus Q&A
Director: Stere Gulea
Cast: Victor Rebengiuc, Luminita Gheorghiu, Gina Patrichi / Romania 1988 / 142 mins
Morometii, based on a modern classic of Romanian literature by Marin Preda, follows the life of Ilie Moromete, the archetype of the Romanian peasant. Ilie faces constant problems: his sister's nagging, the taxes and the work in the fields whilst his sons, almost grown-up, are now showing signs of rebellion.
SUNDAY 3 MAY 7.00PM
ELEVATOR plus introduction
Director. George Dorobantu
Cast: Cristi Petrescu, Iulia Verdes / Romania 2008 / 85 mins
Imagine being young, and fancying your schoolmate a little: where would you go if you wanted to be alone for a while? Inside a lift in an abandoned factory, on the outskirts of your hometown, perhaps?
MONDAY 4 MAY 6.30PM
WEEKEND WITH MY MOTHER (Weekend cu Mama)
plus Q&A
Director. Stere Gulea
Cast: Adela Popescu, Medeea Marinescu, Tudor Aaron Istodor / Romania 2009 / 90 mins
Stere Gulea’s latest film is a contemporary drama about migration and addiction, with all the ingredients that made Trainspotting so much of its time. Yet it has the quality of Romanian filmmaking, with depth and contemporary issues at its heart.
Working Lunch on Saturday 2nd May at Ratiu Foundation
The Romanian Film Festival will host a special working lunch at the Ratiu Foundation, 18 Fitzhardinge St, London W1H 6EQ, on Saturday 2 May 2009, at 12pm. Subjects to be discussed will include the present state of Romanian cinema and its recent successes, as well as the legacy of previous generations of film directors.
The special guests include: actor and director Horatiu Malaele, screen legend Victor Rebengiuc, veteran director Stere Gulea, charismatic star Andi Vasluianu, and documentary film director Andrei Dascalescu.
If you are interested in participating, register as soon as possible at mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk. The event is free of charge, but there are a limited number of seats.
The special guests include: actor and director Horatiu Malaele, screen legend Victor Rebengiuc, veteran director Stere Gulea, charismatic star Andi Vasluianu, and documentary film director Andrei Dascalescu.
If you are interested in participating, register as soon as possible at mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk. The event is free of charge, but there are a limited number of seats.
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Competition: Win an International Film Guide 2009 book!
Wallflower Press, the leading independent specialists publishing across the full spectrum of cinema and the moving image, are offering to three lucky members of the Romanian Film Festival's audience one of the most important film-related publications of this year: THE TCM INTERNATIONAL FILM GUIDE 2009. The Definitive Annual Review of World Cinema, edited by Ian Haydn Smith.
In order to win one of the three prizes, all you have to do is to answer one very simple question:
Romanian acting legend, Victor Rebengiuc, will honour us with his presence in the Festival. What is the name of the film, directed by Lucian Pintilie and starring Victor Rebengiuc, that was screened in the first edition of the Romanian Film Festival in London, in 2003?
Hint: there's a website where the information from all our Festivals is archived (see links on these pages).
Send your replies until Sunday 3 May 2009 at mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk. Don’t forget to include in your message your FULL NAME and a TELEPHONE NUMBER where we can contact you. The winners will be selected through a raffle from all the correct answers received until the end of 3 May 2008, and will be notified in writing at the e-mail address provided.
In order to win one of the three prizes, all you have to do is to answer one very simple question:
Romanian acting legend, Victor Rebengiuc, will honour us with his presence in the Festival. What is the name of the film, directed by Lucian Pintilie and starring Victor Rebengiuc, that was screened in the first edition of the Romanian Film Festival in London, in 2003?
Hint: there's a website where the information from all our Festivals is archived (see links on these pages).
Send your replies until Sunday 3 May 2009 at mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk. Don’t forget to include in your message your FULL NAME and a TELEPHONE NUMBER where we can contact you. The winners will be selected through a raffle from all the correct answers received until the end of 3 May 2008, and will be notified in writing at the e-mail address provided.
Monday 27 April 2009
Welcome!
The Romanian Film Festival is a yearly event organised by the Ratiu Family Foundation in London, UK. The 6th edition of the Festival will take place between 1st and 4th of May at the Curzon Mayfair cinema (38 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TY).
This year's title 'All Change!' is a reflection on the rapidly expanding talent that has emerged from the recently hailed Romanian New Wave, with debut features alongside new work by established directors. The theme of change is equally visible in the films’ stories, many of them served with a good dose of humour.
This Romanian Film Festival London blog intends to keep you up to date with the latest news, information and media before and during the festival. To 'stay in the loop', we encourage you to:
- subscribe to the news feed of this blog
- check out the Festival's website
- join the Facebook account of the Romanian Film Festival by clicking here
- get Twitter updates
This year's title 'All Change!' is a reflection on the rapidly expanding talent that has emerged from the recently hailed Romanian New Wave, with debut features alongside new work by established directors. The theme of change is equally visible in the films’ stories, many of them served with a good dose of humour.
This Romanian Film Festival London blog intends to keep you up to date with the latest news, information and media before and during the festival. To 'stay in the loop', we encourage you to:
- subscribe to the news feed of this blog
- check out the Festival's website
- join the Facebook account of the Romanian Film Festival by clicking here
- get Twitter updates
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
