Introduction to the Transsilvania International Film Festival
The President and filmmaker Tudor Giurgiu of the Transsilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) thought about the role of the Romanian event as "Hub to discover films and new voices". TIFF is not just about rolling out red carpets for large stars and VIPs, but it’s a platform to discover new and emerging talent in the film industry.
Discovering New Talent
Giurgiu quoted the ability of the festival to introduce the Romanian audience to the work of Spanish director Rodrigo Cortés and Kazakh director Adilkhan Yerzhanov, who were completely under the radar before the festival. The festival also featured Estonian director Rainer Sarnet in its 3 x 3 retrospective shop window. Three films from Cortés’ work were presented, including his 2024 film Escape, while the spotlight on Yerzhanov contained his 2020 film Yellow Cat as well as his latest feature Cadet.
Showcasing Romanian Film Scene
The festival shone a light on aspiring talents in the Romanian film scene through its three programs of shorts in the Romanian film days. This included films like Dance, Queen by Maria Mitulescu and Shopping by Vasile Todinca. These programs provided a platform for emerging Romanian filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with the audience.
Industry Meetings and Dialogue
According to Giurgiu, a festival of this size can also offer the opportunity for dialogue between filmmakers and the audience, as well as informal industry meetings. He felt that the festival had reached the right size to facilitate these encounters this year, without being too big or too formal. Giurgiu’s own film as a director, The Spruce Forest, had its world premiere in the Romanian film days program.
Challenges and Concerns
Giurgiu expressed concerns that the business climate in Romania might affect the festival’s attendance, given the relatively high ticket prices. The regular ticket price for a screening was €28 (approximately $31), and €25 (approximately $28) for a matinee screening between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. However, despite these concerns, the number of visitors was about the same as last year.
Attendance and Expectations
Although the final number of visitors is still being calculated, the organizers of TIFF expect that the 24th edition will have attracted over 100,000 spectators over the 10-day period. This is a testament to the festival’s enduring popularity and its ability to attract a large and dedicated audience. Despite the challenges and concerns, the festival remains a vital platform for discovering new films and talent, and for fostering dialogue and connections within the film industry.
