MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema is one of the most important and long-lasting events which promotes the Romanian film over the ocean; this year the event celebrates its 12th edition.

MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema is the leading comprehensive US festival dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the best in Romanian contemporary cinema, as well as rarely seen classics.

From its start in 2006, the Romanian Film Festival in New York was nourished by the belief that the Romanian cinema deserves to be exposed on a sustainable basis to American audiences. Under the leadership of cultural entrepreneur Corina Șuteu, with Mihai Chirilov as artistic director and Oana Radu as festival manager, the festival has been growing considerably over the years.

In 2012, when political and cultural policy changes in Romania jeopardized the existence of the festival, the team launched the independent Romanian Film Initiative (RFI) and undertook to fundraise and organize the festival in partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Centre, and to preserve its critical and creative spirit, becoming 100% independent.

For the 12th edition of the festival, Romanian Film Initiative together with BAMcinématek and Jacob Burns Film Centre will change the format a bit and will include complementary programs presented in the two partner venues.

The newest film of Nae Caramfil ‘6,9 pe scara Richter’, which tells the story of a young theatre actor which hardly survives between a complicated part in a musical and his personal life, gets to open this year’s edition. The festival’s schedule also includes two international film festival highlights: Fixeur (dir. Adrian Sitaru) and Ana, mon amour (dir. Călin Peter Netzer). The programme also features: Cabbage, Potatoes and Other Demons (dir. Șerban Georgescu), Written/Unwritten (dir. Adrian Silișteanu), Dogs (dir. Bogdan Mirică), etc.

The country invited at this year’s edition is Lithuania, with the film The Gambler (dir. Ignas Jonynas).

The complex schedule of the festival also includes a spotlight on Anca Damian, a tribute to one of the most compelling Romanian directors working today, who has forged a singular path with her animation documentary or her intellectually challenging fiction films.

The guest list of the 12^th edition includes Anca Damian, Adrian Sitaru, Iulia Rugină, Paul Negoescu, Emanuel Pârvu, Adrian Silișteanu, Anghel Damian and Miruna Berescu.

Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema brings the Romanian films in front of the American audience. If you are in New York and you miss the Romanian contemporary films, you can attend the festival between November 30 and December 7. Check the official website for more information.

Romina Banu

Photographer and editor; she co-founded Dissolved Magazine together with Melissa. For Films in Frame she gathers film and TV series recommendations for lazy weekends and she writes about interesting projects from the film industry. Other than that, she likes traveling, chilling with her cats and sleeping.