Moldova hosted the first edition of the Cinema Hora international forum
by Cineuropa
- The event welcomed film industry representatives from 20 countries, fostering cooperation between the small country and the rest of Europe
The Cinema Hora Forum gathered around 70 film industry representatives from 20 countries, fostering cooperation between Moldova and European nations, including Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Montenegro, Croatia, Armenia, Norway, North Macedonia, Georgia, Israel and the Baltic countries. The event took place on 16 and 17 December and was organised by the National Film Center of Moldova.
President Maia Sandu welcomed the film community at the Parliament building where the Forum was hosted, emphasising the growing importance of the film industry in Moldova.
The Minister of Culture, Sergiu Prodan, and the U.S. Ambassador, Kent D. Logsdonalso, welcomed participants, highlighting the global nature of the film industry and the growing importance of co-productions in Europe.
Valentina Iusuphodjaev, Director of the National Film Centre, stressed the importance of such events in developing and promoting the local film industry and stimulating international co-productions: "This event is very important for our country because making a film means having friends, partners, understanding how this industry is working nowadays and what the expectations of the different audiences are. Moldova is gradually finding its place in the film industry and, of course, it needs support to grow."
On the first day of the event, foreign filmmakers talked about the international film ecosystem, successful collaborations in the film industry, challenges and opportunities. On the second day of the forum, local filmmakers had the opportunity to present their creative ideas and find potential partners among film industry representatives. International participants also had a short programme dedicated to visiting attractive film shooting locations in the country.
With the ratification of the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-productions and the adoption of the “cash-rebate” law, Moldova offers a refund of up to 30% of the costs of film and audiovisual production in the country. Post-production studios specialising in visual effects and sound editing can now join the Moldova Innovation Technology Park and benefit from a single tax rate of 7%.
Organised by the National Film Center of the Republic of Moldova, the Cinema Hora Forum was supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Future Technologies Project, funded by USAID, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. This event marks a significant milestone in Moldova's journey to connecting to the global film industry, fostering international partnerships and cultural exchange.
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