Presented for the first time in Sibiu, Wild Romania (dir. Dan Dinu, Cosmin Dumitrache), and The Father who moves mountains (dir. Daniel Sandu) recorded the largest number of spectators at the 15th edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) in Sibiu, which ended on Sunday, August 8. The film fans had the opportunity to meet the directors of both films at the end of the film, in Q&A sessions that lasted until late into the night.
After the sold-out projection on the first day at TIFF Sibiu, in the presence of the directors, the documentary Wild Romania was re-broadcast in the festival, at the request of the Sibiu audience, in the middle of nature at the Astra Museum. With premiere footage of our country’s biodiversity and an Audience Award at TIFF 2021, the film is preparing to become a phenomenon in itself by the end of the year.
With emotions and suspense, people from Sibiu watched the second feature film signed by Daniel Sandu, The Father Who Moves Mountains. Present at the screening, the director told viewers about complicated filming in delicate physical and weather conditions, working with the actors, but also some aspects of the story that usually reveal itself at the second or third viewing, more subtly planted in the film.
Among the most attractive films in the festival program were the productions projected in the city center, where all the places in the small Square were occupied every evening: Another Round (r. Thomas Vinterberg), winner of the Academy Award for best Foreign language Film in 2021, The People Upstairs (r. Cesc Gay), a foamy Spanish comedy in which couple relationships go through unsuspected trials and The Best Years (dir. Gabrielle Muccino), a conquering Italian film about four idealistic and inseparable teenagers.
Some of the newest Romanian films could be watched for the first time in Sibiu, in the presence of actors and directors, giving cinema lovers novel details from filming, such as Întregalde, a screening attended by director Radu Muntean, film presented last month at the Cannes Film Festival in a world premiere, #dogpoopgirl, the best Romanian debut film at TIFF 2021 for which director Andrei Huțuleac came to the meeting with the audience, Perfect Strangers, with the participation of director Octavian Strunilă, actor Adrian Ștefan and composer Mălin Cristache or The Campaign (dir. Marian Crișan), with guest actor Ovidiu Crișan.
Spanish director David Martin de los Santos, invited to TIFF Sibiu with That Was Life / La Vida era eso, whose cast also includes Florin Piersic Jr., met with the Sibiu audience on the first day of the festival. That Was Life / La Vida era eso tells the touching story of two women from different generations who meet in a Belgian hospital and bond an atypical friendship.
For children and adolescents, the festival program included films from the EducaTIFF selection, suitable for the whole family, such as fantasy animation Nahuel and the magic book (dir. German Acuna), Petite Maman (dir. Céline Sciamma), a conquering story nominated for the Golden bear in Berlinale 2021 and Kids Rock (dir. Claudiu Mitcu), a documentary film about the musical journey of the four boys from the Blană Bombă band.