Culture

Romanian Film Days 2025: Oscar contender in Chișinău

New films from Romanian and Moldovan directors, including Romania's Official Oscar Submission, will be screened from October 16 to 19 at the Cineplex-Loteanu Cinema in the Moldovan capital, Chișinău, as part of the 11th Romanian Film Days.

The festival continues its focus on co-productions between Romania and Moldova.

One co-production is „𝐏𝐚̆𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢” (2025) (The Fir Forest), the latest film from director 𝐓𝐮𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐢𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐮.

"A secret buried beneath a forest. A massacre erased from the history books. The story of 2,000 people who wanted to be free. Inspired by the real-life tragedy at Fântâna Albă in 1941, the film reveals the story of a generation condemned to silence and a love broken by deportations and exile. Rare images, memories, and harrowing testimonies, in an emotional thriller about memory, identity, and survival. Actress 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐚 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐬 and the film's Moldovan producer, 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐮 𝐌𝐚̆𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐮, are expected to attend the screening," the organisers announced.

The second co-production in the programme is „𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧” (2025), the latest film by Igor Cobileanski, a Moldovan director who works in both Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

"Trying to get money to cover a debt for her son, who is in danger of going to prison, Alina, a nurse, faces an unexpected ethical dilemma. The film premiered globally at the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) in Cluj-Napoca, and its Republic of Moldova premiere will be held at the event. The screening in Chișinău will be attended by director 𝐈𝐠𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐤𝐢, actresses 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐞 and 𝐀𝐝𝐚 𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐮, actor 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐢 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬, and producers 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐠𝐮 and 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐮 𝐌𝐚̆𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐮," a press release stated.

Other films screened include: „𝐉𝐚𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐢” (2024) (The Heist of the Century), by 𝐓𝐞𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐀𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐢, Romania's Official Submission for the Academy Awards; „𝐍𝐮 𝐦𝐚̆ 𝐥𝐚̆𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐚̆ 𝐦𝐨𝐫” (2025) (Don't Let Me Die), by 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐢 𝐄𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞; „𝐈𝐧𝐤 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡” (2024), by 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐓𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐬; and classics such as „Mere roșii” (1976) (Red Apples) and „Tinerețe fără bătrânețe” (1969) (Youth Without Old Age).

Admission to the screenings is free, with complimentary tickets available for reservation at the Cineplex-Loteanu box office.

The new films will feature English subtitles.

The event is organised by the Independent Filmmakers Association ALTERNATIVE CINEMA and the production company ROVA FILM from Romania. It is financially supported by the Moldovan and Romanian Culture Ministries and national cinematography centres.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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