The 18th edition of the One World Romania International Documentary and Human Rights Film Festival, taking place from 4–13 April in Bucharest, spotlights dialogue—both as a thematic focus and as a guiding principle for this year’s programming.
This year’s central section, titled «Dialogues,» features six documentary films that confront societal divisions and invite audiences to explore non-mainstream perspectives. The selected films aim to cultivate what the festival curators describe as “critical empathy” amid a world increasingly fractured by ideological rifts. Highlights include Mitch McCabe’s 23 Mile, which captures conversations across America’s political divide, and Victoria Verseau’s Trans Memoria, a moving reflection on identity and marginalisation. Steven Eastwood’s The Stimming Pool, created in collaboration with the Neurocultures Collective, furthers this emphasis on self-expression and neurodiversity.
Several films take on an expressive, poetic form. Park by So Yo-Hen portrays the struggles of Indonesian labourers in Taiwan through the eyes of two students, while Farah Kassem’s We Are Inside bridges generations through poetry in contemporary Lebanon. Myrid Carten’s A Want in Her offers an intimate exploration of addiction, care, and boundaries between mother and daughter.
In addition to screenings, the festival launches «Extended Dialogues»—a new platform designed for in-depth discussions on pressing societal issues. Each evening from 7–11 April, screenings will be followed by debates with guest speakers, addressing topics such as student protest movements, historical fascism in Romania, environmental activism, and the Palestinian cause. Notably, Thursday’s screening of Tooth and Nail, a film chronicling efforts to expose Romania’s illegal logging industry, captures the danger faced by environmental whistleblowers. Friday’s program features two 1970s documentaries on Palestine: Resistance, Why? by Christian Ghazi and Arab-Israeli Dialogue by Lionel Rogosin.
The festival also honours British documentarian #Marc Isaacs# as its special guest. Isaacs, known for his evocative, human-centred storytelling and for films that hover between fiction and documentary, will be featured in a retrospective running 9–12 April. Seven of his works will screen, including his BAFTA-nominated debut Lift and the critically acclaimed The Filmmaker’s House. Isaacs’ approach—marked by «planned spontaneity» and deep engagement with his subjects—has earned him accolades from institutions like the Grierson Trust and Royal Television Society. He will also host a masterclass on 13 April, closing out his appearance at the festival.
The full program is expected soon, and for those unable to attend in person, many films will be available for online streaming across Romania from 14–30 April. Find more information – HERE
