Romania’s #Astra Film Festival# last week concluded the first part of their #COVID-19 affected 2020 festival. In splitting the Sibiu-based film festival’s 27th year into two sessions, the first, Astra Open Air, ran from 4 – 13 September in and around the historical city of #Sibiu.
Our Communications Manager, Steve Rickinson, was honoured to be part of the Romanian Competition Jury, alongside Cineeuropa’s Romania/Bulgaria correspondent Ştefan Dobroiu and prominent producer/Executive Director of Transilvania International Film Festival Oana Giurgiu. Across the festival’s days, the jury was able to come to a decision after viewing the 10 films in competition. At its Award Gala on Sunday, September 13, Steve Rickinson presented to award for best directing to Adrian Pîrvu & Helena Maksyom who’s film Everything Will Not Be Fine, describing it as:
“Both craft and the effective use of minimal means shine through this daring perspective on life. As we follow the protagonists’ fight for day to day “normality”, we are captivated by how unobtrusively they invite us on a remarkable sensorial journey, teaching the audience how not to take their own for granted.”
Then, Oana Giurgiu presented the jury’s special mention, which went to Pavel Cuzuioc’s Please Hold the Line, describing this film following telecommunications workers across Eastern Europe as:
“This anthropological journey through a region presents a diverse snapshot of current society – one where like-minded habits and interests juxtapose with devaluation of human communication”
The Best Film from the Romanian Competition Award was given to Ellen Fiske and Joanna Karlberg’s International Premiere Josefin & Florin. The film, following the unlikely relationship between a Romanian beggar Florin and a Swedish single mother, was described by the jury as:
“Depicting the parallel journeys of maturity and commitment, Josefin & Florin welcomes viewers into a life equal parts honest and vulnerable. In the protagonist’s commitment to seeking a simple life with each other, the unlikely couple represents both a universal coming of age story, as well as a glimpse into a thoroughly modern relationship.”
Finally, the audience voted award for favourite film went to Andrei Dăscălescu’s Holy Father.
Astra Open Air featured several interesting and picturesque venues where its films, concerts, and events were screened, adapting well to the volatility of the COVID-19 era, as well as the general mish-mash of communication from the authorities. Held between the vast Museul Astra (Open Air Museum) and the historic Sibiu center, venues spanned the gamut of possibility for this most interesting festival year. Of particular note was the early screenings on the Museul Astra Lake, where films like Transalpina – The Road of Kings (dir. Dumitru Budrala).
Across Astra Open Air, many films featured in Modern Times Review enjoyed their Romanian, regional, or International premieres, including the very well received The Self Portrait, Caught in the Net, Wood, Acasa, My Home, The Delta of Bucharest, and iHUMAN. With the lineup and festival occurrence, Astra Film Festioval was able to go into its 27th year uninterupted brinign again the focus on Central and Eastern European non-fiction cinema, as well as quality documentary from around the world.
Next, Astra switches to its online version. Taking place from 16 to 25 October 2020 Astra Film Online will host some of the films in the official program for audiences anywhere in Romania via the festival platform. It will also host a program dedicated to the film industry, which will include a series of activities taking place in the virtual environment.
Featured Image: Rareș Helici
