A selection of films about Romania or made by Romanian directors from this year’s edition of Astra Film Festival of Sibiu will be shown in Chisinau during November 11-13. The films are divided into two groups: “Roads that Bring Us Closer” and “Destinies and Communities”. There will also be screened the film-event “Transalpina – Road of Kings” made by Dumitru Budrala, founding director of Astra Film Festival, IPN reports.
Dumitru Budrala said that Astra Film Festival Sibiu is the most important cultural event in Romania and one of the most important events in Europe. It has four competition sections: International, Eastern Europe, Romanian Film and a section devoted to the student film for the best films made by prestigious universities in Europe and the world. “Besides these competitions that are judged by experts and are awarded, we have a series of special programs for invited famous film directors. Astra Film Festival includes our most beloved project – festival dedicated to the young people – that this year managed to bring together over 27,000 young people from Sibiu and its surroundings. We selected the best films presented in the Romanian section for the program in Moldova,” said the festival’s director.
Adrian Dupu, secretary of state at the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova of the Government of Romania, said that during the three days all those interested will be able to see free the best films that were awarded at the Festival hosted by Sibiu this year. For the purpose, the person needs to visit the festival’s website and to reserve a free place. “We want this edition not to be unique and we want to develop a tradition from today so that Astra Film Festival is present each year in Chisinau too,” he said, noting Astra Film Junior enables lyceum students to see special films intended for them and to interact with directors, producers. Special workshops for them will be organized at the Hașdeu Municipal Library.
Narcis Afrăsinei, vice director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Chisinau, said that Astra Film Junior is a section that corresponds to the Institute’s strategy for the next four years. “We must realize that if we look at the future, the future generation will be the one that will model it and it is very important to interact with this, to try and deal with the faced challenges also by film and by any form of cultural manifestation. Secondly, the Republic of Moldova is a space that generates Romanian culture and we should therefore encourage cultural projects from Romania to come to the Republic of Moldova. But we should also encourage cooperation between corresponding institutions, organizations and cultural projects intended for the same categories of public,” he stated.
Virgiliu Mărgineanu, president of the Filmmakers Union, said Astra Film Festival came to Chisinau too. This festival and the Chronograph Festival were launched in almost similar periods. “Sometimes, we overcame particular stages with difficulty but brought this event that is important for Sibiu and also for Chisinau for the filmgoers and filmmakers in the Republic of Moldova and Romania to enjoy the documentary films. I’m fond of the documentary film as this cinematographic work delivers the most correct message to spectators and makes us think, discuss, meditate and analyze,” he noted.
The screenings will take place in the Big Hall of the Museum of Arts of the Republic of Moldova. Access is free of charge, based on reservations made beforehand through rezervare@astrafilm.ro.
