The sixth edition of the Romanian Film Days in Chisinau for the first time will be held online owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. During October 22-25, a selection of 11 feature films, classical and new, could be seen on the event’s website. The films will be accessible free online only at the hours indicated in the program, IPN reports.
Most of the films will be accompanied by recorded discussions with film directors and actors, which during the event will be available on zfrmd.ro, so as to keep the tradition of offering the public in Moldova the chance of knowing better Romanian filmmakers. In a news conference, ALTERNATIVE Cinema president Dumitru Grosei said the access to the films is limited to Moldova’s territory.
“I would like to congratulate the organizers who, despite the events generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, managed to organize this event this year too. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the cultural events continue on both sides of the Prut and this is important,” said Minister of Education, Culture and Research Igor Sharov.
ROVA FILM president Marian Crișan said that this event became a tradition already and its continuation means a lot. “We didn’t want to interrupt this event even if this year is a difficult one. We hope that next year we could return to screenings in cinema halls,” he stated.
Film critic Ionuț Mareș, of ZFR (Romania), noted they decided to keep the sections this year so as to ensure continuity even if the festival is held online. The main section consists of six new films. It was more difficult this year as they earlier brought films launched in summer or in autumn, before the festival. This year’s edition will include films that were premiered at the end of last year, before the cinemas were closed owing to the pandemic.
The Romanian Film Days start at 7pom on October 22 on www.zfrmd.ro. The event is opened by Cătălin Mitulescu’s film “Heidi” (2019).
