The first regional film fund in Romania, the Transilvania Film Fund (TFF), will be launched this spring in the city of Cluj. Created following the model of similar European funds, the TFF aims to transform Cluj into a major production centre in Eastern Europe, attracting foreign and Romanian producers, and developing local resources and professionals.

The city already hosts the biggest film festival in Romania and one of the most important in Europe, the Transilvania International Film Festival, whose 14^th edition will take place from 29 May-7 June 2015. The idea of the fund was initiated by film director Tudor Giurgiu, president of the Transilvania IFF, and had been debated since 2010, by a dedicated panel. “I am convinced that in ten years the city can become a second important centre for film and media production - the festival is only a platform for that. We will start making films in the region and break the monopoly of Bucharest,” said Giurgiu at the time.

The TFF will be officially launched in April 2015, along with details of funding lines and complete rules. The initiative is greatly supported by the fact that a Regional Centre for Creative Industries, which will include a medium-sized film studio, is to be built in Cluj by the local authorities. Producers who choose to shoot in Cluj County using local facilities and crew will be given financial incentives through funding sessions for film projects. The TFF will also support local filmmakers. Subsequently, the initiators of the Transilvania Film Fund will begin discussions with other cities in the region to extend this programme.

Extremely attractive as a geographical location and boasting areas that can pass as any other historic city in Europe, Cluj is a great alternative to cities that already offer such incentives. The project is implemented by Cristian Hordilă, festival manager of the Transilvania IFF and member of the board of directors of European Film Promotion. The partners of the TFF are Cluj-Napoca City Hall, the Faculty of Theatre and Television of the “Babes-Bolyai” University, the Faculty of Sciences and Arts of the Sapientia University, and Mircea Suciu, managing partner at DSG, a visual effects studio. The TFF plans to join as a full member of Cine-Regio, the organisation that brings together 43 European regional film funds.