Local and European films honoured in Transylvania
The sixth edition of the Transylvanian International Film Festival (TIFF) came to a close on Sunday. Besides its competition dedicated to emerging filmmakers, TIFF also highlights local productions during Romanian Days.
Based in Cluj-Napoca, the festival kicked off just days after Cristian Mungiu came home from the Cannes Film Festival with the Palme d’Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Oleg Mutu
film profile]. The harrowing abortion drama had its Romanian premiere at TIFF and local audiences turned up en masse to welcome Mungiu as a hero who has helped put Romania on the European map.
California Dreamin’ [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the posthumous debut of Cristian Nemescu, returned from Cannes with the top prize of the Un certain regard section and was also warmly welcomed. The Kosovo War-era drama was presented by its cast, including US actor Armand Assante.
Other Romanian films on the programme included the period pieces Der geköpfte Hahn (The Beheaded Rooster), about a Romanian Saxon community on the eve of WWII, and The Rest is Silence [+see also:
trailer
film profile], about the making of the first Romanian feature film in 1912.
The Best Film trophy for a title in competition went to Chilean film La sagrada familia by Sebastian Campos. European winners included Best Director for Ragnar Bragason for his drama Children [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Best Actor for Luca Lionello in Cover Boy.
The FIPRESCI jury awarded its prize to the Austrian documentary Einst süsse Heimat (Beyond the Forest), while the Audience Award went to Spanish treat DarkBlueAlmostBlack [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Daniel Sánchez Arevalo (read the interview), which has since been picked up for local distribution.
The Romanian Days Award went to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, while its protagonist Anamaria Marinca received the New Actor of Romanian Cinema Award. The film also received a special TIFF Award 2007 after deciding not to run in competition.
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