The National Film Center is a threat to Moldovan cinematography both at home and abroad, and Center Director Valeriu Jereghi persecutes filmmakers who don’t share his visions. These are the accusations put forth by a group of filmmakers.

During a press conference at IPN, ALTFilm founder Dumitru Marian stated that, two weeks ago, Valeriu Jereghi petitioned the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, invoking the fact that international festivals “Anim’est” and TIFF were used for tax evasion and laundering of public finances. “These allegations, besides aiming to intimidate me and the Association that I represent, with no legal base, are also a rude offense towards our international partners”, said Dumitru Marian.

Dumitru Marian accuses the National Film Center Director of abuse of power and conflict of interests. The ALTFilm founder claims that Valeriu Jereghi is promoting his own brand and his own films within the “Cinematic Moldova” project. The festival includes screenings of the movie “Milika”, directed by Valeriu Jereghi. This movie is also actively promoted abroad, sometimes with the help of embassies, stated Dumitru Marian.

Dumitru Grosei, President of the Association of Independent Filmmakers of Moldova, said that while Valeriu Jereghi has been legally hired, through a contest, by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, he didn’t follow suit in selecting competent filmmakers for his staff, but has brought instead people who are loyal to him. Likewise, confidants of the NFC Director have been brought into the Center’s Board of Administration, whose duty is to hold contests for the projects and events that it finances; contests that it doesn’t hold, noted Dumitru Grosei.

Film producer Valentina Iusuphodjaev pointed out that „Cinematic Moldova” is a project undertaken by the National Film Center, yet the selection criteria for movie entries to the project are unclear. Whereas Valeriu Jereghi is promoting utterly incompetent people to represent Moldovan cinematography abroad.

The filmmakers ask for the disciplinary sanctioning of Valeriu Jereghi, and offer the director the option of an honorable resignation. Furthermore, they ask for the assessment of the competency of the National Film Center staff, along with the activities in undertakes.