22/09/2025 - The Romanian director has completed principal photography on his seventh feature, a spiritual coming-of-age tale set in the Apuseni Mountains

On the set of Holy Light (© Rova Film/Monica Bumbeș/Ana Crișan)

Romanian filmmaker Marian Crișan, winner of the Palme d’Or for his short Megatron, has wrapped principal photography on his latest feature, Holy Light (Lumina), which is now entering post-production and eyeing a 2026 release.

The film is rooted in the Orthodox Holy Fire tradition, in which the sacred flame is carried from Jerusalem to Romania on Easter Eve. It follows Mircea, a ten-year-old boy who sets out with his father, Liviu, from their remote mountain village to collect the flame from the nearest airport for their church. On the return journey, Mircea becomes separated from his father and must find his way home alone, protecting the fragile light as he navigates dark forests and rugged terrain. Blending elements of road movie and family drama, this coming-of-age tale explores both an external journey and an inner rite of passage.

The Holy Fire ceremony is held each year on Holy Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. During the ritual, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch enters the edicule, and a flame believed by the faithful to appear miraculously is kindled. The light is then carried out to worshippers and placed in lanterns prepared for transport. From there, it is flown to Orthodox countries, including Romania, where it is distributed to churches for the Easter service.

Young newcomer Andrei Voicu plays the lead role, having been selected from over 200 children in open auditions. He already has experience with small roles in television series as well as in theatre. He is joined by seasoned Romanian actors Marius Cordoș (The Capture) and Ofelia Popii (Man and Dog [+see also:
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The script is penned by Crișan, and Holy Light marks his seventh feature. He is known for his debut feature, Morgen [+see also:
trailer
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interview: Marian Crisan
film profile], which premiered at Tallinn Black Nights; The Campaign [+see also:
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film profile]; and the HBO series Silent Valley. Shooting took place in August in the Beiuș area of Bihor County, and in the villages of Ghețari and Ocoale in Alba County, all located in the Apuseni Mountains. Crișan’s previous film, the World War II coming-of-age drama Warboy, was also filmed in and around the Apusenis. The cinematography is by Ion Donică.

Holy Light is a Romanian-Moldovan-Slovak co-production staged by Crișan’s company, Rova Film, in co-production with Alternative Cinema and Nukleon Frame. Support comes from the Romanian National Film Center, the National Cinematography Centre of the Republic of Moldova, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and Cinema City Romania.