ARCS Project

Lives, Not Grades
2022-11-04 16:30 - 17:30 UTC | Online
Please join us for a Q&A about the award-winning documentary Lives, Not Grades, Nov. 4 at 4:30pm PST. We’ll be joined by director Daniel Druhora and cinematographer Teodora Totoiu. Moderated by Radu Smîntînă, ARCS board member.
About the documentary:
A team of USC college students travels to Moria Camp in Greece, known as “the worst refugee camp on earth,” to design and build innovations that can improve the lives of the refugees fleeing wars and natural disasters.
The film is available to stream on PBS for free. Sign up for the Q&A here.

Daniel Druhora

Daniel has worked on the development and post-production of feature films The Land, Gangster Squad, and The Lego Movie. Following his own experience as an émigré to the U.S. in the aftermath of Romania’s 1989 Revolution, Daniel has been involved in humanitarian development work in several countries which influences his work. His screenplay “Climbers” about Rwanda’s Olympic cycling team has been optioned by Paris-based Forecast Pictures. Daniel is the co-founder of U.K.-based Safe Passage Films and is currently producing I Am Sarah about Olympic swimmer, humanitarian and accused “criminal mastermind” Sarah Mardini for European broadcasters ARD and ARTE. His short film “Elie’s Overcoat” won an MPSE Golden Reel Award. Daniel teaches “Innovation in Engineering and Design for Global Crises” – a course open to all majors – and serves as an advisor to student teams launching social innovation startups. He is also the creator and co-host of “Escape Velocity,” a podcast about the human side of engineering.

Teodora Totoiu

Teodora Totoiu is a Romanian-American cinematographer based in Seattle. Her background in anthropology and photography inspires her creative approach when shooting scripted narrative and documentary film. With a passion for visual storytelling, she enjoys collaborating and working creatively to echo each director’s vision through texture and movement that best supports story. Her recent work includes “Waterschool” (2017), which is currently streaming on Netflix, “Francesco” (2020) directed by Academy Award-nominated Evgeny Afineevsky and most recently, “Lady Cameraman” (2020) which premiered at EnergaCAMERIMAGE in November 2020. Her work spans internationally with projects in Brazil, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Austria, Romania, Uganda, India, China and across the U.S.

Radu Smîntînă

Radu was largely raised in Western Washington, alongside several Romanian families who immigrated approximately the same time as his own. Since moving to the States as a child, his Romanian community has become a second family that he is immensely proud of, and grateful for.
As a former English Language Learner and high school teacher, he is passionate about bettering outcomes for students in public education. After transitioning out of his teaching role with Denver Public Schools, Radu moved back to Washington to work at an education non-profit. He attended the University of Washington as an undergrad and graduate student, earning a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus on Education Policy. He currently works at OneAmerica as the education coalition manager where he partners with educators, families, and community members to move work that benefits immigrant and refugee students.
He is excited to join ARCS in promoting Romanian culture, particularly among second generation Romanian Americans.

Romanian Film Festival Seattle, 9th Edition
2022-11-11 - 2022-11-27 | Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122
THE ROMANIAN FILM FESTIVAL, 9TH EDITION: "HomeLands"
WHEN: NOVEMBER 11-27, 2022WHERE: Online, Nov. 11-27Northwest Film Forum, Nov. 11-13 and Nov. 18-20
Nov. 11, 7:30pm - MetronomNov. 12, 6pm - Things Worth Weeping ForNov. 13, 5pm - The IslandNov. 18, 7:30pm - Blue MoonNov. 19, 6pm - Metronom
The 9th edition of the RFF titled Homelands reflects on this year’s current events, while celebrating the power of film to map out new meanings into a world where people have been displaced by wars, economic crises, political instability, and natural disasters. The internationally acclaimed movies featured in our carefully curated selection, covering all forms and genres, as well as our film related events with special guests, will redefine our sense of homelands and belonging, in relation to our families, neighbors, countries of origin, and, by extension, to our planet itself. As Daniel Ursache’s poster illustrates, movies remain, year after year, our main path and answer, when everything else seems out of place.
After two successful virtual editions in 2020 and 2021, the festival will continue to showcase the best of the newest film productions from Romania and Europe, promoting outstanding directors, both established and up-and-coming. It will also keep its partnership with Northwest Film Forum, Romanian Film Fest Arizona and its sister-organizations ARCS Arizona and ARCS Detroit. The Romanian Film Festival Arizona, will have its in person screenings November 19-20 at Majestic Tempe 7 in Tempe, AZ.
We will offer you virtual opportunities to interact with local, national and international special guests.In the meantime, please support our fundraising efforts. So far we raised over $16,000 from 60+ donors through Facebook and the ARCS website and we could not be more grateful to you! Will you help us reach our next target of $17,000? No amount is too small! Our goal is to raise $20,000 in two months. Let’s keep the story going for the 9th time!If you have a business or reprezent an organization, please check out our sponsorship package and let us know if you would like to benefit from our advertising opportunities.
Festival Official Partners and Co-organizers: Festival Institutional Partners:
Supporting Sponsors:
Festival Ambassadors: This project is carried out with the support of the Department for the Romanians Abroad. (Acest proiect este realizat cu sprijinul Departamentului pentru Românii de Pretutindeni.)
Community Partners - Thank you for helping us spread the word about the film festival:
Please follow the Festival on social media!
FILM FORMATS:
All virtual film programs in the 2022 festival are available to view ONLY in the U.S. You can purchase our films and watch them when it is most convenient for you, during the period of the festival. You have 48 hours to finish watching a film after you start playing it.
**Many online screenings in Romanian Film Festival in Seattle 2022 include a live discussion or filmmaker Q&A, available on zoom. All panels and talks take place over Zoom, and will be automatically recorded and added to the end of the film playlist on Northwest Film Forum's Eventive virtual cinema for viewing throughout the fest.
Note to in-person attendees: NWFF patrons will be required to wear masks that cover both nose and mouth while in the building. Disposable masks are available at the door for those who need them. We are not currently checking vaccination cards. Read full Covid policies here.
Fundraising CampaignThank you for your generosity! Our goal is to raise $20,000 to cover costs associated with programming, publicity, technical support and film distribution rights. We will keep the fundraising campaign open on our website and Facebook. Raised$22,178Goal$20,000

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$25 Many ThanksWe will integrate a special thank you credit on our website.

$50 Festival FriendSpecial thank you credit on our website!

$100 Festival SupporterSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to two films showing at the festival.

$250 Festival BenefactorSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to four films showing at the festival.

$500 Festival AmbassadorSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to eight films showing at the festival, thank you credit after the each film screening and special thank you credit on our website (with your company logo, if applicable).

$1,000 Supporting SponsorWe are offering up to three full festival passes, credit before the screenings, special thank you credit on our website with your logo and link to your website.

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American Romanian Cultural Society1931 E Lynn StSeattle, WA 98112 FilmsTrailerImmaculateby Monica Stan and George Chiper-Lillemark2021, Drama, 114 min(Romania)
When her junkie boyfriend ends up in prison, Daria is taken by her parents to rehab to quit heroin and become a good daughter again. Inside the clinic, Daria’s unwavering...
When her junkie boyfriend ends up in prison, Daria is taken by her parents to rehab to quit heroin and become a good daughter again. Inside the clinic, Daria’s unwavering loyalty to her boyfriend makes her exceptional in the eyes of the male junkies and saves her from their sexual pressures. Being desired yet protected by everyone makes Daria feel special for the first time in her teenage life. She relishes her position until a new mysterious patient is committed. His arrival confronts Daria with her own desires, triggering wild competition among the men. Suddenly trapped between everyone’s clashing expectations, Daria must find her own path.
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TrailerMetronomby Alexandru Bell2022, Drama, 102 min (Romania, France)
Bucharest, 1972. Ana, 17, dreams of love and freedom. One night, while partying with her friends, they decide to send a letter to Metronom, the musical program which Radio Free Europe broadcasts...
Bucharest, 1972. Ana, 17, dreams of love and freedom. One night, while partying with her friends, they decide to send a letter to Metronom, the musical program which Radio Free Europe broadcasts clandestinely in Romania. It is then that the Securitate, Ceausescu’s secret police, arrives...
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TrailerMan and Dogby Ștefan Constantinescu2022, Drama, 107 min (Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden, Germany)
After having received a mysterious text message, Doru (42) returns home from Sweden in the midst of the Corona outbreak due to the suspicion that his wife is having an affair....
After having received a mysterious text message, Doru (42) returns home from Sweden in the midst of the Corona outbreak due to the suspicion that his wife is having an affair. His family is a bit concerned about his unexpected visit, suspecting that he might have been fired from the job that they all rely on; at the same time, they are delighted to see him. As the days pass by, it becomes clear that Doru is pursuing an investigation. Alongside his mother’s rowdy dog, Amza, he is shadowing his wife around town, trying to uncover the possibilities of her betrayal.
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TrailerWoodby Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan, Michaela Kirst, Ebba Sinzinger2020, Documentary, 97 min (Austria, Germany, Romania)
Illegal logging is a global business worth billions. Alexander von Bismarck, descendant of the Iron Chancellor and head of the Environmental Investigation Agency in Washington D.C., successfully pursues the machinations of the...
Illegal logging is a global business worth billions. Alexander von Bismarck, descendant of the Iron Chancellor and head of the Environmental Investigation Agency in Washington D.C., successfully pursues the machinations of the timber mafia worldwide – with dyed hair, a concealed camera and sound recording equipment. His primary concern isn't to expose a scandalous situation, but rather to promote a change in the consciousness of politics and civil society and to bring about a new code of conduct for the global economy and consumers. WOOD is an environmental thriller that draws its tension from sad everyday reality.
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TrailerA Higher Lawby Octav Chelaru2021, Drama, 125 min(Romania)
Ecaterina, a high school Religion teacher and wife of the town priest, gets involved with Iuliu, a 16-year-old student with a troubled past. Ecaterina tries to keep him under control,...
Ecaterina, a high school Religion teacher and wife of the town priest, gets involved with Iuliu, a 16-year-old student with a troubled past. Ecaterina tries to keep him under control, but she loses her own control in the process. As Ecaterina faces a genuine crisis of faith, Iuliu’s infatuation turns increasingly dangerous when he takes his sins to the priest, her husband.
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TrailerThe Islandby Anca Damian2022, Animation, 84 min(Romania, France, Belgium)
Discover a musical fable on the Robinson Crusoe myth: The Little Prince meets Monty Python. Robinson is a doctor and his solitude is voluntary in an island invaded by migrants, NGOs...
Discover a musical fable on the Robinson Crusoe myth: The Little Prince meets Monty Python. Robinson is a doctor and his solitude is voluntary in an island invaded by migrants, NGOs and guards. He saves Friday, a castaway, the only survivor of his illegal refugee boat. During his journey on the island, Robinson encounters extraordinary beings and events. He will confront current affairs through visual poetry and symbolism in a world where everybody looks for its own paradise.
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TrailerThings Worth Weeping Forby Cristina Groșan2021, Comedy/Drama, 87 min (Hungary)
Maja’s life is finally coming together and her boyfriend couldn’t be more pleased. In the midst of moving out from their student flat, Maja’s evening takes a surprising turn when...
Maja’s life is finally coming together and her boyfriend couldn’t be more pleased. In the midst of moving out from their student flat, Maja’s evening takes a surprising turn when she stumbles upon an old relative who is without a doubt, dead. As she waits for the authorities, Sara, Maja’s childhood friend, joins. Hours pass and absurd situations arise. Are they allowed to eat next to a dead person? Did the woman just move her hand? And what is the proper way to say goodbye to someone you didn’t actually know?
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TrailerUs Against Usby Andra Tarara2020, Documentary, 74 min (Romania)
The director and her father take a camera in hand and film each other during interviews in which they discuss schizophrenia, their own pasts, and their personal conceptions of happiness. The film...
The director and her father take a camera in hand and film each other during interviews in which they discuss schizophrenia, their own pasts, and their personal conceptions of happiness. The film is a personal statement of two people affected by or marked by a mental disorder - a father forced to live with it and a daughter who had to grow up with a sick and often absent father. During filming, they try to find understanding for each other while revealing their inner traumas. One of the secondary topics is what it is like to undergo treatment for a mental disorder in Romania, as the father expresses frustration with the way he and his condition are viewed by the local healthcare system.
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TrailerThe Certainty of Probabilitiesby Raluca Durbacă2021, Documentary, 90 min(Romania)
As an instrument of ideological domination, language, both verbal and visual, defines, describes, delimits and dissimulates the manner in which the social, political and economic reality of a society is...
As an instrument of ideological domination, language, both verbal and visual, defines, describes, delimits and dissimulates the manner in which the social, political and economic reality of a society is perceived. In order to critique a dominant group's ideology, one must fragment and recontextualize its discourse. The Certainty of Probabilities seeks such a critique. Comprised entirely of archival footage produced during 1968, one of the most optimistic and prosperous years in the history of socialist Romania by the most important state-run documentary film studio, this essay film surveys the efforts undertaken by the state in order to ensure social stability in a society claiming to have quashed all exploitative and alienating labour relations.
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TrailerPlastic Semioticby Radu Jude2021, Stop motion short, 22 min(Romania, France, Belgium)
The life of human beings, seen from birth to old age. Only that this generic life is not represented with humans, but with the artifacts that we the humans have...
The life of human beings, seen from birth to old age. Only that this generic life is not represented with humans, but with the artifacts that we the humans have created for our children (or should we say “cubs”?), in order to prepare them for life: the toys. So, the film is a collage of scenes in which the toys help us understand better a possible essence of our life.
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TrailerThe Man Who Would Be Freeby Mihai Mincan and George Chiper-Lillemark2019, Documentary, 106 min (Romania)
July 1999, Bucharest. A dead man’s body is found in a small apartment. The case is quickly classified by the police as suicide. That man’s name was Cezar Mititelu and...
July 1999, Bucharest. A dead man’s body is found in a small apartment. The case is quickly classified by the police as suicide. That man’s name was Cezar Mititelu and he was 54 at the time of his death. Throughout his life, Cezar Mititelu never had any kind of property. He refused to be ever employed and referred to “paid work” as “corruption”, something that stood in the way of living as a truly free and responsible person. He fathered a son, but he had no true family, nor did he ever wish for one. In the eyes of the communist authorities, he was a “social parasite”, hunted all his life by the Secret Police and sent to prison twice. For some people, however, Cezar Mititelu was a teacher, a bearer of light in a world made of lies and ignorance. For his followers, this man was the proof that a life of complete freedom was really possible, with one condition: stepping outside of the lies and the hypocrisy created by “modern life” and starting the search for the true humanity that’s inside each of us. This is the story of Cezar Mititelu. The story of a man who embarked on a radical pursuit of finding true freedom and discovered, along the way, that he needs to change the entire world.
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TrailerUkrainian Sheriffsby Roman Bondarchuk2015, Documentary, 85 min (Ukraine, Latvia, Germany)
Like a bird, the Ukrainian flag flies along perched on the car of two affable "sheriffs" deputized by the mayor of a village in southern Ukraine. There's a sly bum...
Like a bird, the Ukrainian flag flies along perched on the car of two affable "sheriffs" deputized by the mayor of a village in southern Ukraine. There's a sly bum whose gift is not to work. There's a guy who puts an anaconda in his woman's shed. The advent of Euromaidan, and draft-dodgers abound. Town folks are dipping in icy water and laughing, but are they divided in their loyalty? These sheriffs are taking you along for the ride.
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TrailerSpiralby Cecília Felméri2020, Drama, 98 min(Hungary, Romania)
Spiral is about letting go. A strange triangle story by a mysterious lake, between one man and two women. Sometimes we can’t let go and this might result in consequences that...
Spiral is about letting go. A strange triangle story by a mysterious lake, between one man and two women. Sometimes we can’t let go and this might result in consequences that end in tragedy. There’s only one thing we can do: face ourselves.
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TrailerAmokby Balázs Turai2022, Animated short, 14 min(Hungary, Romania) After losing his fiancée and his good looks in a freak accident, Clyde must confront his inner demon.TrailerBlue Moonby Alina Grigore2021, Drama, 85 min (Romania)
The film follows a girl’s psychological journey to her dehumanizing process. While struggling to achieve higher education and escape the violence of her extended dysfunctional family, Irina metamorphoses from victim...
The film follows a girl’s psychological journey to her dehumanizing process. While struggling to achieve higher education and escape the violence of her extended dysfunctional family, Irina metamorphoses from victim into abuser as a result of subtle violent contexts. An ambiguous sexual experience with an artist gives her the strength to fight the violent approach of the males in her family.
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TrailerThe Deer Passed in front of Meby Vlad Petri
2020, Documentary short, 27 min (Romania)

During the Covid-19 lockdown the director's grandmother passed away. As he sifted through personal archives, he found an audio recording of her and some old photo albums. Composed entirely from photographs, this...
During the Covid-19 lockdown the director's grandmother passed away. As he sifted through personal archives, he found an audio recording of her and some old photo albums. Composed entirely from photographs, this is the story of her life against the backdrop of the historical changes Romania have been through in the 20th century.
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TrailerThe Marshal's Two Executionsby Radu Jude2018, Historical fiction short, 10 min (Romania)
The film confronts two different views of the execution of General Ion Antonescu, Romania’s leader during the Second World War. On one side is silent black-and-white footage of the execution as...
The film confronts two different views of the execution of General Ion Antonescu, Romania’s leader during the Second World War. On one side is silent black-and-white footage of the execution as recorded in 1946 by cameraman Ovidiu Gologanl; on the other are scenes from a biographical film shot in 1994 by director Sergiu Nicolaescu.
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Opening Night Reception
When: Nov. 11, 2022 at 6:00 PM PSTWhere: Northwest Film Forum.
After two years of clinking our glasses virtually, we are excited to celebrate the 9th edition of the festival in person! Please join us Nov. 11 at 6pm for the Opening Night Reception at Northwest Film Forum. We'll enjoy light refreshments and some catching up. After the reception, there will be a screening at 7:30pm for "Metronom" by Alexandru Belc.Q&A SessionsQ&A with director Cristina Groșan When: Nov. 13, 2022 at 10:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion. Q&A with director Anca DamianWhen: Nov. 14, 2022 at 10:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion. Moderated by Ileana Marin, Ph.D. Q&A with director Ștefan Constantinescu and actress Ofelia PopiiWhen: Nov. 15, 2022 at 10:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion. Q&A with director Andra TararaWhen: Nov. 17, 2022 at 12:00 PM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion.Q&A with director Raluca DurbacăWhen: Nov. 18, 2022 at 10:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion.Q&A with director Cecília FelmériWhen: Nov. 19, 2022 at 9:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion.Q&A with director Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan and Michaela KirstWhen: Nov. 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion.Q&A with directors Mihai Mincan and George Chiper-LillemarkWhen: Nov. 20, 2022 at 9:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion.Q&A with director George Chiper-Lillemark and actress Ana DumitrașcuWhen: Nov. 20, 2022 at 11:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion.Q&A with director Alina Grigore and actress Ioana ChițuWhen: Nov. 21, 2022 at 12:00 PM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion. Moderated by Luiza Pîrvu. Q&A with director Alexandru Belc and actress Mara BugarinWhen: Nov. 22, 2022 at 10:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion. Moderated by film critic Robert Horton. Q&A with director Roman Bondarchuk and Andrei DăscălescuWhen: Nov. 23, 2022 at 10:00 AM PSTWhere: OnlineRegister HERE for the live discussion. Moderated by Kateryna Ruban.Guests
Cristina GroșanCristina Grosan is a Hungarian-Romanian filmmaker and visual artist working on fiction films screened at festivals worldwide. Her award-winning short “Holiday at the Seaside” exploring a mother-daughter relationship screened at more than 40 festivals.

Cristina is keen on connecting to the places she’s lived in, working in both her homecountries, Hungary and Romania. Her debut feature “Things Worth Weeping For” premiered at the Sarajevo International Film Festival's main competition and received several nominations for Best Film at film festivals. The film’s lead actress, Nóra Rainer-Micsinyei was awarded Best Actress at the Bosphorus International Film Festival in 2021. Her second feature, “Ordinary Failures”, was developed with Czech writer Klára Vlasákova. The film premiered at the Giornate degli Autori competitive section in September 2022, as part of the Venice Biennale where Cristina was awarded the “Autrici under 40 - Valentina Pedicini award” for Best Director.

Anca DamianAnca Damian studied at the Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Bucharest where she majored in cinematography and later obtained a doctor’s degree in Arts, Cinema and Media. She worked as a director, screenwriter, and producer for several documentaries on art related topics. She was director of photography of two long feature films and several shorts. Her second feature the animated documentary, “Crulic: The Path to Beyond” (2011, Cristal Award in Annecy), has been selected in more than 150 international festivals like Locarno IFF, Telluride, New Director new films, and received more than 35 international prizes. Her extensive filmography includes Crossing Dates (2008), A Very Unsettled Summer (2013), The Magic Mountain (2015), Moon Hotel Kabul (2018), and Marona′s Fantastic Tale (2019). Her films were distributed worldwide and she has been awarded with numerous international prizes, including Cristal for Best Feature Film Award at Annecy, Best Director Award at Warsaw, Mirada International Award at Madrid, and Audentia Award by Eurimages. The Island is her seventh feature.
Ileana Marin, Ph.D.Ileana Marin teaches interdisciplinary courses at the University of Washington in Seattle and at the Center of Excellence in Image Studies at the University of Bucharest. Her long-standing academic career on both sides of the ocean has given her the opportunity to establish contacts between Romanian and American scholars, artists, and institutions. She, thus, initiated the first UW Exploration Seminar to Romania, and to Eastern Europe, and opened the fund for Romanian Studies, hoping that Romanian language will be taught regularly in Seattle. With a BA in Romanian and a PhD. in Comparative Literature from the University of Bucharest (2000), and one in Textual Studies from the UW (2011), Ileana is a strong believer in the power of education and bilingualism. In ARCS, she advocates the expansion of the Romanian language programs in the US and for disseminating the most recent Romanian cultural achievements. On her agenda as president, Ileana Marin has two major tasks: board development and recruitment to ensure the successful implementation of ARCS mission through meaningful programs.
Ştefan ConstantinescuŞtefan Constantinescu (1968, Bucharest) is a Romanian filmmaker and artist. He works in multiple mediums, including film, photography, artist books and painting. He has studied classical painting, film and video at the Bucharest Academy of Art and Film and at the Royal Art Academy in Stockholm. In 2009 he represented Romania at the Venice Biennale with the film Troleibuzul 92. In 2012 his short film Family Dinner screened in Semaine de la Critique in Cannes, and in 2013 his short film Six Big Fish premiered in the competition of the Locarno Film Festival. His feature length documentary My Beautiful Dacia (2009) went on to numerous international festivals (IDFA, Jihlava, Montreal, among others) and received the Jury Prize in Documenta Madrid. "Noah’s Ark – An Improbable Space Survival Kit" is a book he created alongside Corina Ilea.
Ofelia PopiiOfelia Popii is a prolific Romanian film and theater actress. She graduated from The Faculty of Theater of the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca in 2001. She holds a PhD in Theater and Performance Arts. In 2001, she played first role in the movie Grand Hotel Victoria. In 2015 she won the Gopo Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the film Quod erat demonstrandum by Andrei Gruzsniczki. In 2019 she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Moon Hotel Kabul by Anca Damian.

Andra TararaAndra Tarara (b.1994) is an artist working in cinema, video art, photography. She is a UNATC Bucharest graduate in Film (2016) and a master's degree graduate in Visual Anthropology from SNSPA Bucharest (2018).

Us Against Us (premiered at Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival 2020) is Tarara’s first feature film, a documentary made in collaboration with her father, which explores their relationship through an authentic dialogue about the illness that affected both their lives. It was selected in various Romanian and international film festivals, won Best Romanian Film Award at Astra Film Festival 2021, and it was also part of cultural initiatives that aim to fight against the stigmatization of mental illnesses.
Raluca DurbacăRaluca Durbacă (b. 1983) is a Romanian director and film critic. She is a graduate of the National Film and Theatre School in Bucharest (2015) with a degree in Film Studies and of the National School for Communication and Public Relations (2006) with a degree in Political Communication. She has been a contributing editor for well-known Romanian film magazine Film Menu from 2012 to 2016 and has published film studies essays in two editions of the collective volume The Politics of Film in 2014 and 2018. She has has over 10 years experience in film production and development and is an alumni of Talents Sarajevo 2014 and Torino FilmLab's 2012 AdaptLab programe. The Certainty of Probabilities is her first feature documentary.
Cecília FelmériCecília Felméri (b.1978) graduated from the Sapientia University of Cluj-Napoca and then at the Bucharest I. L. Caragiale National Film Academy finished masterclass of filmmaking. She is currently the Assistant Professor at the Sapientia University Film-Photography-Media School in Cluj-Napoca. She is a one of the founding member and vice-president of the Hungarian Film Association of Transylvania.

Filmography as a Director:
2012 The Pill of Happiness – short fiction film, 12 min
2011 Infinite Minutes – short fiction film, 19 min
2010 Matthias, Matthias – animated documentary, 13 min
2008 Cuckoo - short fiction film, 17 min
Monica Lăzurean-GorganMonica Lăzurean-Gorgan was the delegate producer of Adina Pintilie's Golden Bear Winner Touch Me Not. With her newly established company Manifest Film, she produced Acasă, My Home, recipient of the Special Jury Award for cinematography in the World Cinema Documentary at Sundance 2020. She also directed A Mere Breath (2016), which won Best Documentary at LET'S CEE Film Fest and in Sarajevo.

Filmography:

Free Dacians (2018), A Mere Breath (2016), My Vote (2011)
Michaela KirstMichaela Kirst worked for many years as a journalist in New York and has headed the Berlin office of Sagafilm since 2011. She creates documentaries for TV and cinema as director and/or producer. Her films like DISGUSTINGLY HEALTHY, BROWN BABIES – GERMANY'S LOST CHILDREN or CRIME SCENE RAIN FOREST have won many awards. Filmography: Darwin on Times Square (2020), Himmel über Peking (2013), Tatort Regenwald: Undercover gegen die Holzmafia (2012), Jesus Loves You (2011).
Mihai MincanMihai Mincan is a Philosophy graduate from the University of Bucharest. Between 2004 and 2016 he worked as a journalist, editing many articles and investigative materials for the most important newspapers in Romania. In 2008 we wrote the script for the short film "The Palm Lines", which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival. Since then he wrote and directed the shorts The Comet (2017) and Idilă (2019) and the documentaries Bondoc (2015), Emigrant Blues (2019) and The Man who would be free (2019). In 2022 his feature film debut To the North had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in the Orizzonti section, and received the Bisato d'Oro prize for best film.

George Chiper-LillemarkGeorge Chiper-Lillemark is a director of photography and director living in Copenhagen. He has photographed numerous feature and short films, including Touch Me Not (2018) by Adina Pintilie. He also co-directed the short The Sandpit #186 (2009) with Adina Pintilie and The Man who would be free (2019) with Mihai Mincan. His short The Palm Lines (2009) was screened by Locarno and Rotterdam IFF. The drama Immaculate, which he co-directed with Monica Stan, was selected as Romania's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Oscars.
Ana DumitrașcuAna Dumitrașcu was born on December 5 1997 in Dragasani, Romania. She studied Acting at the National University of Theatre and Film "I.L.Caragiale" in Bucharest, Romania. Before graduating, she played her first leading part in Immaculate (2021), awarded the Lion of the Future Award for Best Debut at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. Ana Dumitrașcu's performance was praised in Cineuropa, ICSfilm along with several Romanian publications. Immaculate is Romania's Oscar entry for 2023, and it won the Lion of the Future Award for Best Debut at the Venice Film Festival in 2021, GdA Directors' Award in Giornate degli Autori Section, and the FIPRESCI award at TIFF Romania and a few other prizes and nominations. Ana is also a member of the Berlinale Talents community as she participated in Sarajevo Talents Program this year, in the Acting Studio Section. She is also known for several theatre shows and several short films including the musical "Crezi că-i grav" (2019), the queer drama "Our home" (2021), and the upcoming experimental,,Arcane/Anarhe’’. She started her career as a producer in 2021 by enrolling in the MA Program for film production at the same university, and she started producing several short films including Alin Duruian’s ,,Payday” and a feature, the upcoming ,,Loyal Customers’’ directed by Bogdan Balla. She is also a writer for the film publication ,,Film Menu’’ where she constantly challenges her vision upon cinema.
Alina GrigoreAlina Grigore has a bachelor degree at UNATC - Bucharest, Acting/Directing department, Adrian Titieni’s class. She is now a PhD student at the same university and an assistant researcher at CINETIC “International Research and Education Center for Innovative and Creative Technologies” in Bucharest.
While preparing the release of Blue Moon and its festival track for 2021, she is producing her second feature “Some Irrelevant Stories about Moms” (working title) having attached the Oscar winning actress Melissa Leo (The Fighter, Frozen River, 21 Grams, Prisoners) to star in it.

-Alumni Berlinale Talents 2018
-Best Actress, Subtitle Film Festival, Ireland 2016 for Illegitimate
-Best Script, Subtitle Film Festival, Ireland 2016 for Illegitimate
-Best Actress Europe, Autour De L’Europe Film Festival, France 2016 for Illegitimate
Luiza PârvuLuiza Pârvu is a filmmaker and educator based in Tempe, AZ. She is a member of the European Film Academy. She holds an MFA in Film Production from New York University - Tisch School of The Arts, New York, USA. She is an experienced media maker with professional working knowledge of all areas of production and post-production. Her directing and editing work covers a variety of genres, in both fiction and creative non-fiction: documentary, multimedia installation, and immersive media.

Her debut feature documentary, Ubi Bene Ibi Patria, is currently in post-production. Shot across Europe and the US, the film explores the theme of immigration and issues of ethnicity, gender and class in the form of an urgent and personal movie diary.

The award winning films she has directed or edited so far have been recognized in over 150 film festivals and events worldwide such as Karlovy Vary IFF, Sundance FF, BFI London, Busan IFF, Transilvania IFF, Tribeca FF or Abu Dhabi IFF. In 2012, she was a nominee in the Rising Star category at the GOPO Romanian Film Industry Awards for directing her short film Draft 7.
Alexandru BelcAlexandru Belc was born in 1980 in Romania. He graduated from the Bucharest Film School in 2007 and obtained a master’s degree in political sciences in 2012. During his studies, he made several short films and documentaries. He then worked as an Assistant Director for Corneliu Porumboiu and Cristian Mungiu. He worked as script supervisor on Cristian Mungiu's 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 1 DAY (Palme d'Or in 2007). His first feature documentary, MARCH 8th, about women in the workplace, screened in numerous international festivals in 2013. His second feature documentary, CINEMA MY LOVE, a portrait of a Romanian art-house exhibitor, was distributed by Outplay Films in France and released in theaters in May 2017. METRONOM, his first fiction film, is in the Official Selection Un Certain Regard at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
Mara BugarinMara Bugarin is a Romanian film and theatre actor, who was born in 2001 in Timisoara, Romania. She graduated from the German High School in 2020, and next year she will complete her studies at the National University of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography. Mara played the leading role of ‘Ana Stefan’ opposite Vlad Ivanov in Alexandru Belc’s feature film METRONOM, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and which won the director’s prize there. Mara also played the part of ‘Alice’ in the television series EXPORT ONLY, which was directed by Cristina Iliescu. She is a frequent collaborator with the German Theatre in Timisoara, and since 2012 she has performed in plays with SAS Theatre in Bucharest. Next year, Mara will star in two major new productions in Romania.
Robert HortonRobert Horton is the film critic for Seattle Weekly and the Everett Herald, and a longtime contributor to Film Comment. He curated the Magic Lantern film-discussion program at the Frye Art Museum for ten years, teaches film at Seattle University, and is a guest speaker for Smithsonian Journeys. His books include Frankenstein (Columbia University Press) and Billy Wilder: Interviews (University Press of Mississippi) as well as the zombie-Western graphic novel Rotten (Moonstone Books), and he blogs on movies at The Crop Duster (roberthorton.wordpress.com). He is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. In 2012 he curated the Museum of History & Industry's "Celluloid Seattle: A City at the Movies" exhibit.
Roman BondarchukRoman Bondarchuk graduated from the Kyiv state University of Theatre, Cinema and TV. His teacher was Yuriy Illenko – one of the founders of Ukrainian Poetic Cinema school. Roman has created a number of short films, documentaries and music videos. He's an author of the book of novels, photography and contemporary art exhibitions. He's also been an award-winner at national and international film festivals. Roman works as art director and member of Selection Committee of International Human Rights documentary film festival Doucdays UA. As a documentary director he collaborated with MDR, ZDF, Arte and other TV channels. Among his famous films "The taxi-driver", "Radunytsia", "Cafe "Voyage", "Euromaidan. Rough cut". "Ukrainian Sheriffs" is his first feature-length documentary.
Andrei DăscălescuAndrei Dăscălescu is an established Romanian documentary film director, cinematographer and editor. His first two feature documentaries, Planet Petrila (2016) and Constantin and Elena (2008) have won prestigious awards (including awards at IDFA and Sarajevo Film Festival), have been selected in major international film festivals across the world (IDFA, San Francisco, Vancouver, Krakow, DocLisboa, Docaviv, Sarajevo, Montpellier etc.). Andrei was nominated 4 times and won "Best Documentary Award" in 2018 at the Gopo Awards (the Romanian equivalent to Academy Awards) with his documentary, Planet Petrila. His third documentary, Holy Father (2020) premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival, where it won the Jury Award. It also won the Audience Award at Astra Film Festival (Sibiu, Romania), the Best Director Award at Qara Film Festival (Almaty, Kazakhstan) and has been screened at festival such as Black Nights Tallinn, Magnificent 7 Belgrade, Go East Wiesbaden, Trieste Film Festival, Zagreb Dox and others). He is the founder and owner of FilmLab production company since 2007.
Kateryna RubanKateryna Ruban is a Ukrainian historian. In September 2022 she received a PhD from New York University. In her dissertation, Dr. Ruban explores the role of abortion in Soviet life. Earlier, she earned masters degrees in Central European University in Hungary and in Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Before coming to the US, Kateryna was a part of the Visual Culture Research Center in Kyiv. Starting from December 2022, Dr. Ruban will be a Junior Visiting Fellow at the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at the George Washington University and will focus on turning her dissertation into a book. She will also continue her research on how Russian academia presents the war in Ukraine and its role in this war for the Western audience.

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Romanian Film Festival Seattle, 10th Edition
2023-11-04 - 2023-11-12 | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109
The Romanian Film Festival Seattle is excited to celebrate its 10th anniversary edition this year. Running Nov. 4-12, the festival will mark the return to SIFF Uptown Cinema Nov. 4-5 (its home until 2020), and will continue the following weekend at Northwest Film Forum. The online program will be available for the duration of the festival.
Started in 2014 with the scope of bringing Romanian cinema to audiences in Seattle, the festival has adapted and blossomed over the years. It soldiered through the pandemic, thanks to a loyal audience that followed it as it transformed to a virtual program. This year it continues to enjoy a hybrid format, with an online selection available in the continental US and in-person screenings at SIFF Cinema Uptown and Northwest Film Forum.
Through the years, each edition has brought thought-provoking and award-winning productions from Romania and Eastern Europe, giving a platform to upcoming and established directors alike.
This year’s theme “One Eye Laughing, One Eye Crying” is a nod to its first edition in 2014 - the duality of the Romanian spirit that propels it forward in spite of constant hardships. The first year saw an overwhelming success following a grassroots effort to mobilize the Romanian community in the greater Seattle area.
This year’s nuanced edition celebrates the rich cultural fabric of Romania, while exploring current topics with the unflinchingly honest perspectives that fans of the festival have come to expect from Romanian cinema. The program will comprise of critically-acclaimed films and newly released films, and featuring special guests from Romania.
Daniel Ursache, the graphic artist behind the festival posters over the years, has once again turned his creative eye to reflect the unstopping energy of the festival.
Mark your calendars and let’s keep the story going!
If you have a business or reprezent an organization, please check out our sponsorship package and let us know if you would like to benefit from our advertising opportunities.
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American Romanian Cultural Society1931 E Lynn StSeattle, WA 98112 TrailerBoss by Bogdan Mirică
2022, Thriller, 126 min(Romania, Luxembourg, Sweden)

Bogdan, an innocuous ambulance driver, becomes involved in an armed robbery to support his ailing mother's medical needs. While fleeing from the scene, he accidentally hits a witness, who ends...
Bogdan, an innocuous ambulance driver, becomes involved in an armed robbery to support his ailing mother's medical needs. While fleeing from the scene, he accidentally hits a witness, who ends up in a coma. As Bogdan's paranoia intensifies, he immerses himself further into the lives of his accomplices, while causing major problems in his own.
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TrailerBetween Revolutions by Vlad Petri
2023, Hybrid documentary, 70 min (Romania, Croatia, Qatar, Iran)

“Between Revolutions" illuminates the letters exchanged between Maria, a Romanian, and Zahra, an Iranian, who forge a deep connection while studying together at medical school in 1970s Bucharest. The letters...
“Between Revolutions" illuminates the letters exchanged between Maria, a Romanian, and Zahra, an Iranian, who forge a deep connection while studying together at medical school in 1970s Bucharest. The letters poignantly illustrate the challenges faced by everyday people, especially women, during the Iranian Revolution and Ceaucescu's repressive rule in Romania, juxtaposed with documentary footage portraying daily life and the widespread propaganda in their respective societies.
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TrailerPlayback by Iulia Rugină
2023, Documentary, 77 min (Romania)

In communist Romania of the 80s, DJs were the only ones who brought outside music to the people. Tracks were trafficked on vinyl or secretly recorded from foreign radio stations...
In communist Romania of the 80s, DJs were the only ones who brought outside music to the people. Tracks were trafficked on vinyl or secretly recorded from foreign radio stations and played to dancing crowds. Playback offers a present-day portrait of one of the most famous DJs of those times while recreating a selective chronology of the musical events that changed the face of a society to the democracy of today.
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TrailerTaxi Drivers by Bogdan Theodor Olteanu
2022, Dark comedy/drama, 106 min (Romania, Bulgaria)

Taxi Drivers Liviu and Lică navigate the nocturnal life of Bucharest, picking up passengers who turn to them for therapy, political discussions, assistance in criminal enterprises, and more. Each driver...
Taxi Drivers Liviu and Lică navigate the nocturnal life of Bucharest, picking up passengers who turn to them for therapy, political discussions, assistance in criminal enterprises, and more. Each driver must decide what's more important to him: the wild ride or their lives off the meter.
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TrailerMen of Deeds by Paul Negoescu
2022, Dark comedy/drama, 106 min (Romania, Bulgaria)

Ilie settles in the countryside as a policeman, seeking a more tranquil lifestyle. However, his relaxed approach to his job entangles him in a violent crime. When he finally starts...
Ilie settles in the countryside as a policeman, seeking a more tranquil lifestyle. However, his relaxed approach to his job entangles him in a violent crime. When he finally starts to become a justice seeker, he quickly learns the unbecoming consequences of getting involved in others’ affairs.
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TrailerWhy Do They Write On Walls? by Alin Boeru2023, Documentary, 85 min (Romania)
"Why Do They Write on the Walls?" delves into the history and ideology of Romanian street art and graffiti, interwoven with interviews of the country's most renowned street artists. Started...
"Why Do They Write on the Walls?" delves into the history and ideology of Romanian street art and graffiti, interwoven with interviews of the country's most renowned street artists. Started as an objective analysis of a counterculture, the film transforms into an intimate coming-of-age story of a young corporate employee who gets sucked into a world that is in total opposition to his own.
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TrailerE Pericoloso Sporgersi by Nae Caranfil
1993, Romantic comedy, 104 min(Romania)

Horațiu, an army recruit, is hot on the heels after Cristina, a senior in high school. She’s not necessarily against it, but only after a mandatory engagement, something he will...
Horațiu, an army recruit, is hot on the heels after Cristina, a senior in high school. She’s not necessarily against it, but only after a mandatory engagement, something he will soon give up on with the appearance in town of Dino, a second-rate actor, but reputed provincial Casanova.
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TrailerPhoenix Har/Jar by Cornel Mihalache
2022, Music documentary, 70 min (Romania)

"Phoenix. Har/Jar" reunites the members of the legendary rock band from the period before they left communist Romania in 1977, and highlights the important moments in the band's tumultuous chronology,...
"Phoenix. Har/Jar" reunites the members of the legendary rock band from the period before they left communist Romania in 1977, and highlights the important moments in the band's tumultuous chronology, from the first appearances in 1962 under the name "Sfinții" (the Saints) to the present day. The documentary presents, for the first time, the events that the musicians went through in the country, the relationship with the Securitate, the communist political police, their departure from Romania and the band's activity before and after the 1989 Revolution.
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TrailerThe Chalice. Of Sons and Daughters by Cătălina Tesăr and Dana Bunescu
2022, Documentary, 84 min(Romania)

The documentary follows Peli and Nina, a young Roma couple striving to conceive a son in order to comply with local custom. While they live under tremendous strain and keep...
The documentary follows Peli and Nina, a young Roma couple striving to conceive a son in order to comply with local custom. While they live under tremendous strain and keep taking fertility and ultrasound checks, their respective families are disputing their rights in the chalice pledged by Peli’s father to Nina’s family when they arranged the couple’s match. The intricacies of this marriage are teased out by Peli’s sister, Bara, who provides a gripping confession about the lived female condition in this community.
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Guests
Iulia RuginăIulia Rugină is a Bucharest based director and screenwriter. She has a BA and a MA degree in film and television directing at Bucharest’s National University of Theatre and Film (UNATC). In 2020 she completed a PhD on low budget cinema at the same university.

She has written and directed twelve shorts and three feature films, among which Stuck on Christmas (2010), Love Building (2013), Dying from a Wound of Love (2014), Breaking News (2016). In 2018 she made her theater debut with the multimedia show Neverland, which she wrote and directed. In 2020 she directed six of the eight episodes of the HBO Max series Ruxx.

Since 2099 she is also actively involved in cultural management (through Control N, the cultural NGO she has co-founded), and film education (through various projects she has participated in, as a film tutor), having worked with professional screenwriters, amateur filmmakers, children, ethnic minorities, inmates and drug addicts.

She taught screenwriting at the National University of Theater and Film in Bucharest for 10 years, before switching to script consultancy in national and international projects.

Iulian PostelnicuIulian Postelnicu graduated from the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest with a Bachelor's Degree in acting.

He played several supporting characters in films such as Domestic (2012), A Decent Man (2018), and One Floor Below (2015) for which he received a Gopo nomination as Best Supporting Character. In 2019 he played the character of Vali in Arrest, for which he won the Gopo Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

His more recent characters include Costin in Otto the Barbarian (2020), nominated for the Gopo Award as Best Supporting Character, Daniel in the HBO TV show Ruxx (2022), Sorin in the HBO TV show Spy/Master (2023), and Ilie in Men of Deeds (2022), for which he won the Best Performance Award at FIFF Namur, the Outstanding Individual Performance Award at FilmFestival Cottbus, and the Gopo Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

In addition to his acting career, Iulian Postelnicu worked as a writer for several Romanian TV shows like Mondenii, SRC, and Las Fierbinti. He co-wrote, together with Bogdan George Apetri, the screenplay for Unidentified (2020), for which they won the Gopo Award for Best Screenplay. Supporters
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Romanian Film Festival Seattle - 11th Edition
2024-11-01 19:00 - 2024-11-03 20:00 | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109
10 Romanian and Moldovan feature films will be screened in Seattle on November 1-3, during the 11th edition of the Romanian Film Festival Seattle.
Buy a festival pass or tickets here.
The Cultural Association Control N (based in Romanian) is joining ARCS this year as co-organizer of the 11th edition of Romanian Film Festival Seattle, working as a bridge between Romanian filmmakers and the American public.
See the full press release about the festival and our new collaboration here.
Launched in 2014 in order to promote Romanian film to diverse American audience, including the Romanian diaspora in Washington State, the festival has grown over the past 10 years, becoming one of the most important events of its kind on the west coast, a platform for facilitating access to the most recent internationally awarded Romanian films and for Romanian filmmakers, directors, actors and producers, attending the festival.
The Romanian Film Festival in Seattle will take place November 1-3 at SIFF Cinema Uptown, an important cultural setting and promoter of European film.
For the past three years, alongside the screenings organized in Seattle, the festival has also had editions during the same period in Detroit, MI and Phoenix, AZ with a number of films selected, and organized by two other sister organizations, ARCS Arizona and ARCS Detroit. The three festivals share the same brand and visual identity, created by Daniel Ursache, a Romanian artist settled in Montreal, Canada. This year's festival theme is Rhythms of Life.
The festival is organized with the support of 4Culture and the National Center for Cinematography in Moldova.
We are excited to welcome special guests, Dorian Boguță, main actor and producer of Another Lottery Ticket, Ruxandra Ghițescu, screenwriter of Clara, and Sergiu Cumatrenco Jr., producer of Carbon!
In the meantime, please support our fundraising efforts. The longevity of this festival is a testament that its success relies on your support. Your donations will help us pay for rental fees, event insurance, publicity, distribution rights, as well as for lodging and travel expenses for our guests.
We welcome sponsors! Check out our sponsor package here. This project did not benefit from the support of the Romanian state.
Do you want to help out during the festival? Check out the volunteer slots and sign up today!
Festival Official Partners and Co-organizers:
Festival Institutional Partners:
Supporting Sponsors:
Festival Ambassadors:

Fundraising Campaign
Thank you for your generosity! Our goal is to raise $20,000 to cover costs associated with programming, publicity, technical support and film distribution rights. We will keep the fundraising campaign open on our website and Facebook.
Raised$19,625Goal$20,000

How much would you like to donate?(Required)

$25 Many ThanksWe will integrate a special thank you credit on our website.

$50 Festival FriendSpecial thank you credit on our website!

$100 Festival SupporterSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to two films showing at the festival.

$250 Festival BenefactorSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to four films showing at the festival.

$500 Festival AmbassadorSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to eight films showing at the festival, thank you credit after the each film screening and special thank you credit on our website (with your company logo, if applicable).

$1,000 Supporting SponsorWe are offering up to three full festival passes, credit before the screenings, special thank you credit on our website with your logo and link to your website.

$5,000 Festival Official Partner and Co-OrganizerWe are offering up to five full festival passes, credit before the screenings, special thank you credit as a festival official partner and co-organizer on our website with your logo and link to your website.
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American Romanian Cultural Society1931 E Lynn StSeattle, WA 98112

Films

Trailer

Another Lottery Ticketby Paul Negoescu
7:00pm, Nov. 1 Q&A with lead actor Dorian Boguță
2023, Comedy, 86 min(Romania)

Dinel, Sile and Pompiliu want to get rich by mining crypto but they soon manage to lose the USB stick with their digital fortune.
Dinel, Sile and Pompiliu want to get rich by mining crypto but they soon manage to lose the USB stick with their digital fortune.
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Trailer

Refugeby Liviu Marghidan
11:05am, Nov. 2
2023, Drama, 83 min (Romania)

A family of four, having been affected by a divorce, undertake their annual trip to the mountains, meant to get the children and their parents closer, as they live in...
A family of four, having been affected by a divorce, undertake their annual trip to the mountains, meant to get the children and their parents closer, as they live in different countries, France and Romania. Their holiday is turned upside down when the children vanish, running away on the pathway to a mountain hut, thus creating a tense atmosphere filled with frantic searches, confrontations between the adults and a climatic ending.
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Trailer

Noraby Carla-Maria Teaha
12:50pm, Nov. 2
2023, Documentary, 85 min(Romania)

Poet, novelist and translator, 91-year-old Nora Iuga is a unique character on the Romanian contemporary literature scene. This is largely due to the author’s particular mix of playfulness and charisma, which is reflected in her writing at...
Poet, novelist and translator, 91-year-old Nora Iuga is a unique character on the Romanian contemporary literature scene. This is largely due to the author’s particular mix of playfulness and charisma, which is reflected in her writing at every level. With her books being banned for eight years under the communist regime, accused of a “morbid eroticism”, the documentary follows Nora Iuga for the duration of 3 years and tries to gently discover where her eroticism comes from and how it still influences her work. In a very intimate exploration of her mind and soul, we are invited to discover the secret of always staying young and to relentlessly searching for love, towards which Nora has a very special approach.
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Trailer

Holy Week (US Premiere)by Andrei Cohn
2:40pm, Nov. 2
2024, Drama, 133 min(Romania)

The Holy Week, around 1900, somewhere in Romania. The tense relationship between the Jewish innkeeper Leiba and Gheorghe, his Christian employee,reaches the point where the innkeeper decides to expel the...
The Holy Week, around 1900, somewhere in Romania. The tense relationship between the Jewish innkeeper Leiba and Gheorghe, his Christian employee,reaches the point where the innkeeper decides to expel the latter. Revengeful, Gheorghe promises Leiba that he will return on Easter Night to “settle” his accounts. This threat comes as a last straw against Leiba’s attempts to cohabit with his hostile, anti-Semitic environment. From then on, Leiba will struggle distinguishing between the real danger and the one fabricated by his anxieties, engaging onto a path of transformation leading toextreme consequences.
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Trailer

Freedomby Tudor Giurgiu
5:20pm, Nov. 2
2023, Drama, 109 min (Romania, Hungary)

In the chaotic days of the December 1989 revolution that overthrew the Communist regime, the Transylvanian city of Sibiu becomes the scene of a violent assault on a Police unit...
In the chaotic days of the December 1989 revolution that overthrew the Communist regime, the Transylvanian city of Sibiu becomes the scene of a violent assault on a Police unit that quickly escalates into a bloody confrontation between soldiers, policemen, civilian protesters and representatives of the secret police. In a desperate attempt to escape the siege, Police captain Viorel is captured by the army and thrown into an empty swimming pool along withhundreds of prisoners accused of being terrorists.
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Trailer

Claraby Sabin Dorohoi
7:35pm, Nov. 2Q&A with screenwriter Ruxandra Ghițescu
2023, Drama, 85 min (Romania)

Clara is a divorced Romanian mother who babysits a little girl in a German town by the Danube River. Her son, feeling abandoned, runs away from home in an attempt...
Clara is a divorced Romanian mother who babysits a little girl in a German town by the Danube River. Her son, feeling abandoned, runs away from home in an attempt to reach his mother by traveling on a small boat upriver.
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Trailer

Gone Wildby Dan Curean
11:05am, Nov. 3
2012, Documentary, 88 min(Romania)

In the waterlogged lands of the Danube Delta, in Romania, some horses were abandoned, when the collective farms collapsed at the same time as the Communist regime. They survived and...
In the waterlogged lands of the Danube Delta, in Romania, some horses were abandoned, when the collective farms collapsed at the same time as the Communist regime. They survived and in time they went wild, forming a unique colony of wild horses that is increasing. Meanwhile the local people, who were similarly left to their own devices, are struggling to survive. The film explores this extraordinary paradox: an increasing herd of horses and a decreasing number of villagers - and the threat to both groups, through the eyes of Ivan, a young village boy, who over the years has developed a unique and powerful bond with the horses.
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Trailer

Where Elephants Go (US Premiere)by Cătălin Rotaru and Gabi Șarga
1:00pm, Nov. 3
2024, Drama, 115 min(Romania)

Nine-year-old Leni is witty and wise for her age and quite a match for the homeless intellectual Marcel, who is a 23-year-old child. Leni's mother Magda refuses to accept the...
Nine-year-old Leni is witty and wise for her age and quite a match for the homeless intellectual Marcel, who is a 23-year-old child. Leni's mother Magda refuses to accept the failure of Leni's medical treatment and rebuffs Marcel's friendship, even as he and Leni demonstrate every step through life can be a joyous adventure.
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Trailer

Nasty (US Premiere)by Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu, Tudor D. Popescu
3:25pm, Nov. 3
2024, Documentary, 104 min(Romania)

This ultimate film about Ilie Nastase, the legendary sportsman coming from an unknown country behind the Iron Curtain, charts his impressive achievements, his one-of-a-kind antics and uncontrolled bursts of anger....
This ultimate film about Ilie Nastase, the legendary sportsman coming from an unknown country behind the Iron Curtain, charts his impressive achievements, his one-of-a-kind antics and uncontrolled bursts of anger. Lovable, charming and generous, yet temperamental, arrogant and obscene, Mr. Nice’n’Nasty was tennis’ first global rockstar.
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Trailer

Carbonby Ion Borș
5:55pm, Nov. 3Q&A with producer Sergiu Cumatrenco Jr.
2022, Dark comedy, 103 min(Moldova, Romania, Spain)

Moldova, early 90s: Dima, a tractor driver, wants to be enrolled in the military troops to take part in the local war on the Transnistrian border. Vasea, an Afghanistan war...
Moldova, early 90s: Dima, a tractor driver, wants to be enrolled in the military troops to take part in the local war on the Transnistrian border. Vasea, an Afghanistan war veteran, joins him. While on their way to the front, they find a carbonized body. Authorities ignore them without helping to identify the body. Dima and Vasea decide to bury the corpse according to the proper Christian rituals, but shortly they will go, together with the body, on an absurd journey to discover his identity.
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Guests
Dorian BoguțăActor Dorian Boguță, best known for "The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu" (2005) and "Francesca" (2009) was born in Kishinev, USSR (now Chișinău, The Republic of Moldova) on April 24, 1971. He graduated from Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University in Georgia in 1992 and started his acting career at the National Theatre in Chișinău, where he played numerous noticeable lead roles. In 1999 he moved to Bucharest and started acting in films, gaining recognition with the TV series "Lombarzilor 8" (2006) and later with "Francesca" (2009. In 2009 he made his debut in directing, with the short-film "10", marking the beginning of a series of highly successful short-films, including "From now on" (2012), "Kazimir” (2014) and “Finale” (2015). He later on made his debut in feature film with the drama “Legacy” (2019). Following his passion for acting and directing, he founded actoriedefilm.ro with fellow actors, Dragoș Bucur and Alexandru Papadopol, which encompasses both an acting school and a producing company. Their purpose is to introduce their students to an acting style that is realistic and comes naturally. In 2013, they produced box office hits like “Love Building,” “Another Love Building”, “Two Lottery Tickets” (2016) and “Another Lottery Ticket”(2023), all of which Dorian both produced and acted in.

Ruxandra GhițescuRuxandra Ghițescu is a Romanian visual artist and filmmaker. She is a graduate student of the Media Art School, in Karlsruhe, Germany. Ruxandra is currently working as a director on films, commercials and as a scriptwriter. She was selected to participate in Berlinale Talents in 2015, as well as in Sarajevo Talents and Transylvania Talents in 2014. Her debut feature Otto the Barbarian, a Romanian-Belgian coproduction, was part of L’Atelier de Cinefondation 2017, Berlinale Script Station 2016, CineLink Sarajevo 2016 - winner of the Macedonian Film Institute Prize, CineLink Work in Progress 2019 and premiered in 2020 at Sarajevo IFF.

Sergiu Cumatrenco Jr.Sergiu Cumatrenco Jr. is one of the leading producers from Moldova. He is CEO and a co-founder of the YOUBESC Creative Institute, Executive Director of the Art Consumers Association and the founder of the RAVAC International Film Festival. A member of the Moldavian Filmmakers Association and a member of the European Film Academy, he has produced and co-produced 15 film projects, among them six international co-productions. Among the most recent films created in co-production with partners from Moldova, Romania, Spain, the USA, Germany, France and Austria the following stand out: BILLION, CARBON, ANOTHER LOTTERY TICKETS, VARVARA, THUNDERS, MMXX, TRANSIT TIMES.

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Private donors

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Mihai and Gabriela Aluaș

Cosmin and Elena Catrinescu

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Mary Sherhart

Tracy Sharpe and Roxana Arama

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Dana Cozmei

Luana and Marian Stanescu

Nick Voicu

Raluca and Gabriel Hera

Alexandrina Maicaneanu and Radu Simionescu

Irina & Cristi Salvan

Festival benefactor · $250 and more

Ileana Marin

Ramona and Marian Pungan

Anonymous

Roxana Teodorescu

Andrei Marinescu

In loving memory of Eugenia Lup and Rodica Gutan

Oana and Doru Nica

Vasi Rusu

Thomas Richardson

Marius Popa

Claudiu Raileanu

Maya Bacioiu teen fundraiser

Alexandru Popa

Miruna Ticrea

Tudor and Adina Trufinescu

Isabella Fu and Radu Palanca

Festival supporter · $100 and more

Helene Kaplan

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Carmen Rautu

Adriana Popescu

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Linda Morris

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Silviana Ciurea Ilcus

The New Year That Never Came - Romanian Film at SIFF
2025-05-18 18:15 - 2025-05-19 18:00 | AMC Pacific Place
Romanian Film at SIFFARCS is a proud supporter of The New Year That Never Came, an official selection of the 51st Seattle International Film Festival and a debut feature by director Bogdan Mureșanu. About the film: Six lives intertwine in the days leading up to the 1989 Romanian revolution in this darkly funny ensemble film about living under Communist rule. Winner of the 2024 Venice Film Festival’s Horizons Award and the Palm Springs New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize. Playing May 18th and May 19th at AMC Pacific Place. Get your tickets here. Enjoy $3 off with our special discount code, ARCS51. Click here for redemption instructions. Awards: Venice International Film Festival 2024 (Best Film: Horizons, FIPRESCI Prize), Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025 (New Voices New Visions Prize) See you at the movies!

Happy Hour
2025-10-27 19:00 | Pizzeria La Rocca, 8404 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98103
Happy Hour at Pizzeria La Rocca
We're kicking off the countdown to the Romanian Film Festival Seattle at Pizzeria La Rocca! Join us for a laid-back evening of drinks and film talk.Share your most anticipated films, chat themes and get ready for an exciting new edition of the film festival.
📌October 27 at 7pm Pizzeria La Rocca8404 Greenwood Ave NSeattle, WA 98103 RSVP Here

Romanian Film Festival Seattle - 12th Edition
2025-11-07 19:00 - 2025-11-09 20:00 | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109
https://arcsproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/RFF25-trailer-small.mp4
Tickets and passes on sale now!The Romanian Film Festival in Seattle returns for its 12th edition November 7-9 at SIFF Cinema Uptown, an important cultural setting and promoter of European film. The Cultural Association Control N (based in Romania) is joining ARCS for a second year as co-organizer of the film festival, working as a bridge between Romanian filmmakers and the American public.
This year’s theme, Unifying Stories, illustrates the breadth of our shared human experiences touching on ideas of ambition, ethical dilemmas, and displacement, alongside funny struggles spiced with the proverbial dark Romanian humor. The festival will continue to showcase the best of the newest film productions across genres from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, promoting outstanding directors and actors, both established and up-and-coming. Our special guests this year are directors Tudor Giurgiu and Natalia Shaufert, and cinematographer Boróka Biró.
Launched in 2014 in order to promote Romanian film to diverse American audience, including the Romanian diaspora in Washington State, the festival has grown over the past 11 years, becoming one of the most important events of its kind on the west coast, a platform for facilitating access to the most recent internationally awarded Romanian films and for Romanian filmmakers, directors, actors and producers, attending the festival.
The festival is organized with the support of 4Culture.
In the meantime, please support our fundraising efforts. The longevity of this festival is a testament that its success relies on your support. Your donations will help us pay for rental fees, event insurance, publicity, distribution rights, as well as for lodging and travel expenses for our guests.
We welcome sponsors! Check out our sponsor package here.
Check out volunteer opportunities here.
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FilmsTickets and Passes

Fundraising Campaign
Thank you for your generosity! Our goal is to raise $20,000 to cover costs associated with programming, publicity, technical support and film distribution rights. We will keep the fundraising campaign open on our website and Facebook.
Raised$18,570Goal$20,000

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$25 Many ThanksWe will integrate a special thank you credit on our website.

$50 Festival FriendSpecial thank you credit on our website!

$100 Festival SupporterSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to two films showing at the festival.

$250 Festival BenefactorSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to four films showing at the festival.

$500 Festival AmbassadorSpecial thank you credit on our website and free access to eight films showing at the festival, thank you credit after the each film screening and special thank you credit on our website (with your company logo, if applicable).

$1,000 Supporting SponsorWe are offering up to three full festival passes, credit before the screenings, special thank you credit on our website with your logo and link to your website.

$5,000 Festival Official Partner and Co-OrganizerWe are offering up to five full festival passes, credit before the screenings, special thank you credit as a festival official partner and co-organizer on our website with your logo and link to your website.
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American Romanian Cultural Society1931 E Lynn StSeattle, WA 98112

TrailerThe Moromete Family 3: Father and Sonby Stere Gulea
7:00pm, November 7Q&A with producer Tudor Giurgiu
2024, Drama, 112 min(Romania)

The year 1954 puts Niculae Moromete to the test: the tumultuous love affair with a married woman, the crisis of political conscience and the loss of confidence in the literary...
The year 1954 puts Niculae Moromete to the test: the tumultuous love affair with a married woman, the crisis of political conscience and the loss of confidence in the literary guild overwhelm him. The providential appearance in his life of a young poet offers him a way out of his professional and personal dilemmas, inspiring him to publish the novel The Moromete Family.
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TrailerThe Spruce Forest (US Premiere)by Tudor Giurgiu
12:00pm, November 8Q&A with director Tudor Giurgiu
2025, Hybrid documentary, 75min(Romania)

This gripping hybrid documentary, the latest film by renowned director Tudor Giurgiu, recreates the struggles faced by a Romanian community in Bassarabia while under Soviet occupation during World War II....
This gripping hybrid documentary, the latest film by renowned director Tudor Giurgiu, recreates the struggles faced by a Romanian community in Bassarabia while under Soviet occupation during World War II. A dramatic separation of a young couple becomes the least of their problems when the wife and two little girls are deported to Siberia, and the young husband escapes to Romania crushed by the guilt of losing the loved ones. Yet, the unfathomable happens and the two meet later in life. It is through the mastery of the actors who perform the theatrical reenactment that the story is revived and becomes a comment on our own times.
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TrailerHigh School Thievesby Tudor Petremarin
2:10pm, November 8
2024, Comedy drama, 110 min(Romania)

In order to fulfill their dreams, four teenagers decide to make money by selling the SAT prompts online.Sofi wants to raise money to pay for her college in Switzerland, Alex...
In order to fulfill their dreams, four teenagers decide to make money by selling the SAT prompts online.Sofi wants to raise money to pay for her college in Switzerland, Alex dreams to build his own recording studio, Amalia seek to impress her senator father, and Tomiță looks for an adventure.Everything is going well until they are all forced to face the reality around them and the consequences of their actions.
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TrailerInk Washby Sarra Tsorakidis
4:25pm, November 8
2024, Drama, 90 min(Romania, Greece, Denmark)

Seeking shelter in her work from the pain of a breakup, Lena, a painter turning 40, is commissioned to decorate a brutalist hotel nestled in the depths of a Romanian...
Seeking shelter in her work from the pain of a breakup, Lena, a painter turning 40, is commissioned to decorate a brutalist hotel nestled in the depths of a Romanian forest. There, where the Danube ends its course in seemingly miraculous springs, Lena’s moral views are confronted with an overwhelmingly corrupted community. The beautiful cinematography records the subtle interaction between landscape, human sensibility, and art.
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TrailerThe Dreamby Cătălin Saizescu
6:20pm, November 8
2023, Comedy drama, 136 min(Romania)

Alex, a downcast actor facing both romantic and professional failure, starts an unusual creative project: staging Pyramus and Thisbe (from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream) inside a prison. What begins as...
Alex, a downcast actor facing both romantic and professional failure, starts an unusual creative project: staging Pyramus and Thisbe (from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream) inside a prison. What begins as an artistic experiment evolves into a transformative experience for the inmates, culminating in an unexpected moment where art, hope, and escape collide in front of a live audience.
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TrailerTWST: Things We Said Todayby Andrei Ujică
11:25am, November 9
2024, Hybrid documentary, 85 min(Romania, France)

By famous documentarist Andrei Ujică, TWST takes as its starting point the arrival of the Beatles in New York for their August 1965 concert at Shea Stadium, and as its...
By famous documentarist Andrei Ujică, TWST takes as its starting point the arrival of the Beatles in New York for their August 1965 concert at Shea Stadium, and as its title a Beatles song that already anticipates a time when the present moment will have become a haunting past, neither retrievable nor forgettable. But the frame of reference steadily broadens. Adjacent realities of 1965 are juxtaposed—the New York World’s Fair, the Watts riots filtering through from the East Coast on television. It becomes a cinematic poem of that generation embedded in its own history.
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TrailerComatogenby Igor Cobileanski
1:00pm, November 9
2024, Drama, 110 min(Romania, Moldova)

Trying to get money to cover a debt for her son, who is in danger of going to prison, Alina, a nurse, faces an unexpected ethical problem. In a city...
Trying to get money to cover a debt for her son, who is in danger of going to prison, Alina, a nurse, faces an unexpected ethical problem. In a city of social disparities, the rich have neither time nor empathy for the poor, while the poor cannot afford resisting financial temptations. Will Alina give in and abandon her faith and morality?
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TrailerMoldovan Talesby Vlad Bolgarin, Evgheni Dudceac, Adriana Vasilcov, Ioana Vatamanu-Mărgineanu, Natalia Shaufert
3:30pm, November 9Q&A with director Natalia Shaufert
2024, Comedy, 104 min (Moldova)

A diverse and hilarious cast of characters in contemporary Moldova encounters surprising opportunities and obstacles through a series of unexpected adventures, all capturing the essence of humor, struggles, and spirit...
A diverse and hilarious cast of characters in contemporary Moldova encounters surprising opportunities and obstacles through a series of unexpected adventures, all capturing the essence of humor, struggles, and spirit of both rural and urban life.
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TrailerThe New Year That Never Cameby Bogdan Mureșanu
6:00pm, November 9Q&A with cinematographer Boróka Biró
2024, Comedy drama, 138 min(Romania, Serbia)

Six people find themselves in the eye of the storm without realizing it, as Ceaușescu's regime is on its last legs. A TV director has to find a way to...
Six people find themselves in the eye of the storm without realizing it, as Ceaușescu's regime is on its last legs. A TV director has to find a way to save his New Year’s show after the key actress defects. The solution lies with a distressed theatre actress who can’t reach her ex-boyfriend in Timișoara. Meanwhile the director’s son, a student, plans to flee to Yugoslavia by swimming across the Danube. Watching the son is an officer of the Securitate secret police, who struggles to move his mother from her soon-to-be-demolished house to a new apartment she cannot stand. The move is being executed by a factory worker, who panics after his son writes a letter to Santa Claus revealing that his father wants Ceaușescu dead. All these lives, under constant and invisible surveillance by the Securitate, converge in Bodgan Mureșanu’s tragicomedy.
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Guests
Tudor GiurgiuMember of the European Film Academy, Tudor Giurgiu is the founder and President of the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF), the most prestigious film-related event in Romania. His directorial debut feature Love Sick was selected in Panorama section of 2006 Berlinale and awarded in several int’l festivals. His short Superman, Spiderman or Batman (2011) won Best European Short at the 2012 edition of European Film Academy Awards. Tudor’s 2nd feature, Of Snails and Men, was awarded in Warsaw IFF and Valladolid IFF. Why Me?, an unsettling legal thriller based on a real case of corruption in present-day Romania, premiered in 2015 Berlinale Panorama. His most recent films are Libertate / Freedom (2023), a story inspired by real events that happened during the Romanian Revolution and Nasty (2024), a documentary about the Romanian tennis legend Ilie Năstase co-directed alongside Cristian Pascariu and Tudor D. Popescu, which premiered as a Special Screening at Festival de Cannes in 2024.
Natalia ShaufertNatalia Shaufert is a Moldovan-American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. She is a graduate alumnus of the Dramatic Writing Department at New York University 2025. She writes slightly distorted real-life stories that emphasize, hyperbolize and satirize societal dilemmas and tragic, man-made fates. Nataliaholds a film degree and an MFA in Directing animation from Academy of Arts in Moldova. She has been internationally awarded for her films Ana, Mother Nature, You and Me, and Resentment.
Boróka BiróBoróka Biró is a Bucharest-based emerging cinematographer and alumna of the National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale” (MA). She is a Berlinale Talents 2021 and Sarajevo Talents 2017 alumna. She began her career in the camera department during her studies, quickly advancing from focus puller to camera operator, contributing to acclaimed productions such as Sieranevada (dir. Cristi Puiu), Touch Me Not (dir. Adina Pintilie), and Wednesday (dir. Tim Burton, Netflix). Her feature debut as a cinematographer, It Takes Two to Fence (dir. Andrei Gheorghe), premiered at Mons International Film Festival and earned her the Young Hope Award at the Gopo Gala for cinematography. Most recently, she lensed Bogdan Mureșanu’s The New Year That Never Came, which had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won Best Film in the Orizzonti section, the FIPRESCI Award, and the Bisato d’Oro Award for Best Screenplay. For her work, Boróka received the Premio Autrici Under 40 “Valentina Pedicini” Special Mention for cinematography.
Moderators
Artur ErhanArtur is a Seattle-based screenwriter, film and music-videos director. Artur graduated from the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts of Moldova, with a degree in Cinematic Arts. He is a former "TIFF Transilvania Pitch Stop Screenplay" winner (KAZIMIR - 2025), "Final Draft Big Break" finalist (NIGHT LIGHT - 2025), and "Write A Screenplay For..." (CIULEANDRA - 2023). He is currently working on a number of projects with filmmakers from Romania, Moldova, and the United States. His latest film "HOTARUL / (THE WALL)" that he wrote and produced, is set to be released in February 2026.

Ileana Marin, Ph.D.Ileana Marin teaches interdisciplinary courses at the University of Washington in Seattle and at the Center of Excellence in Image Studies at the University of Bucharest. Her long-standing academic career on both sides of the ocean has given her the opportunity to establish contacts between Romanian and American scholars, artists, and institutions. She, thus, initiated the first UW Exploration Seminar to Romania, and to Eastern Europe, and opened the fund for Romanian Studies, hoping that Romanian language will be taught regularly in Seattle. With a BA in Romanian and a PhD. in Comparative Literature from the University of Bucharest (2000), and one in Textual Studies from the UW (2011), Ileana is a strong believer in the power of education and bilingualism. In ARCS, she advocates the expansion of the Romanian language programs in the US and for disseminating the most recent Romanian cultural achievements. On her agenda as president, Ileana Marin has two major tasks: board development and recruitment to ensure the successful implementation of ARCS mission through meaningful programs.
Otilia Baraboi, Ph.D.Before coming to Seattle in 2000 from Romania, Otilia worked as a literary journalist and published short-fiction, translations and articles. She holds university degrees in French and English literatures from Romania, Switzerland, and the US. She has a Ph.D. on the politics of translation from the University of Washington, where she taught French language and literature for 17 years, and where she is currently co-teaching a course on Romanian literature and film. In 2013, she co-founded ARCS and was President of the Board for five years before becoming ARCS’ first Executive Director. For Otilia, ARCS has been a wonderful opportunity to remain connected with the vibrant culture of her birthplace, while contributing to the artistic and cultural vitality of the Pacific Northwest. As part of her work, Otilia has been managing the Romanian Film Festival in Seattle and ARCS community-based school for Romanian heritage students, as well as more than 300 cultural and educational events over the past 9 years. Her priorities are to create sustainable, community-building programs and partnerships, as well as develop ARCS' brand identity in accordance with its mission and values. Most of all, Otilia hopes that her work will have a direct, long-lasting impact on the ways in which future generations will define, celebrate and pass on their heritage. Otilia is also the President of the Ethnic Heritage Council of the Pacific Northwest and a board member of Romanian United Fund.

SupportersPrivate donors Supporting sponsor · $1,000 and more

Cosmin and Elena Catrinescu

Tracy Sharpe and Roxana Arama

Mihai and Gabriela Aluaș

Alexandrina Măicăneanu and Radu Simionescu

Festival ambassador · $500 and more

Otilia & Tudor Baraboi

Mary Sherhart

Cătălin and Raluca Olteanu

Betty and Jeff Gossett

Vasi Rusu

Nick Voicu

Irina and Ola Mork

Ana and Radu Băcioiu

Adrian Potra

Luana and Marian Stănescu

Gabriela and Teodora Ghizilă

Festival benefactor · $250 and more

Dana Cozmei

Ileana Marin

Anca and Catalin Zaharia

Marius Bunescu

Andrei Zlati

Ramona and Marian Pungan

Roxana Teodorescu

Claudiu and Dana Raileanu

Anonymous

Andrei Marinescu

Gabriel and Raluca Hera

Festival supporter · $100 and more

Michele Anciaux Aoki

Rebecca Carpenter

Ionela Popescu

Carmen Rautu

Helene Kaplan

Smaranda Lieuallen

Elena Boris

Cristian and Ana Maria Ilac

Horatiu Dicher

Zachariah Wolfe

Elena Apreutesei

In honor of Ana Bacioiu

Elizabeta Iliescu

Festival friend · $50 and more

Linda Morris

Lena Stavig

In honor Ana Bacioiu

Cristina Sega

Special Thanks · $25 and more

Florin Teodorescu
