As usual, all films have English subtitles, and directors Bogdan George Apetri, Stefan Constantinescu and Andrei Hutuleac, together with actors Vlad Ivanov and Andreea Gramosteanu, are among the artists whose cinematic work you can explore and enjoy this year.

Four of the films we are bringing to London this year are spectacular debut films by talented new directors who have already been awarded top prizes in international festivals such as Cannes and San Sebastian.

Visit the shows and take this opportunity to explore the progression of Romania's radical film culture.

Explore full festival programme here:
RFF 2022 in Curzon SOHO: https://www.curzon.com/events/romanian-film-festival/0000000046/

The 17th Romanian Film Festival in London
24 – 28 November 2022, Curzon Soho 
www.rofilmfest.com

Thursday 24 November 2022, 6.00pm
MIRACLE ★★★★★
Followed by Q&A with director Bogdan George Apetri
Tickets: https://www.curzon.com/films/rff-2022-miracle/HO00004217/

Drama / 2021 / 118 min / in Romanian / with English subtitles
Original title: Miracol / Certificate 18+
Director: Bogdan George Apetri
Cast: Ioana Bugarin, Emanuel Parvu, Cezar Antal

“Filmed in Romania, “Miracle” is the second part of a trilogy of films written and directed by Apetri. The first part, “Unidentified,” won the Special Jury Prize at the Warsaw Film Festival in 2020. Both are self-contained stories, but feature many of the same characters and are filmed in and around the same Romanian town. “We literally shot three days on one movie, two days on the other,” says Apetri. “Some days we shot ‘Unidentified’ up to lunch, and then we shot ‘Miracle’ – or vice versa.” (Variety)

Friday 25 November 2022, 6.00pm
MAN AND DOG ★★★★★
Followed by Q&A with director Stefan Constantinescu
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf1YPZvSNXA
Tickets: https://www.curzon.com/films/rff-2022-man-and-dog/HO00004218/

Drama / 2022 / 107 min / in Romanian / with English subtitles
Original title: Om-Câine / Debut feature / Certificate 15+
Director: Stefan Constantinescu
Cast: Bogdan Dumitrache, Ofelia Popii, Ana Ciontea, Oxana Moravec, Cosmina Stratan

In the midst of the Corona outbreak, Doru returns to Romania for a baptism, but in fact he is secretly pursuing his wife’s alleged infidelity. 
 
The film that focuses on a couple’s drama and the themes of betrayal, failure and alienation. It is a love story, shown through the eyes of Doru, a man in his forties who does not feel at home anywhere and whose actions are governed by fear. Over the course of one week, we accompany Doru through baptism preparations and adultery investigations and we witness his outbursts of jealousy and affection, paranoia and compassion. We’re accompanying a man who is facing the painful process of identity dissolution and reconstruction.

A love story. There is a kind of autumnal nostalgia in the atmosphere and the sounds of this film. This could be the end of a chapter, hence a certain sadness. A story much larger than that of a jealous man.

“This is a film with noir influences and with an investigative structure, that focuses on a couple’s drama and the themes of betrayal, failure and alienation. It is a love story, shown through the eyes of Doru, a man in his forties who does not feel at home anywhere and whose actions are governed by fear. Over the course of one week, we accompany Doru through baptism preparations and adultery investigations and we witness his outbursts of jealousy and affection, paranoia and compassion. We’re accompanying a man who is facing the painful process of identity dissolution and reconstruction.”

Saturday 26 November 2022, 5.40pm
UNIDENTIFIED ★★★★★
Followed by Q&A with director Bogdan George Apetri
Tickets: https://www.curzon.com/films/rff-2022-unidentified/HO00004219/

Drama / 2020 / 123 min / in Romanian / with English subtitles
Original title: Neidentificat / Certificate 15+
Director: Bogdan George Apetri
Cast: Bogdan Farcas, Dragos Dumitru, Vasile Muraru

A small city in Northern Romania. Despite growing debts and an entangled personal life, Florin Iespas - a police detective - is determined to solve a hard case no one seems to care about.

An unsolved case. An unknown criminal. An obsessed cop. His investigation plunges him into a world of darkness and violence, pulling everyone around him into a web of destructive passion and revenge.

Under the cover of a sharp, tightly woven detective movie, the film is a story which addresses issues in the police system, power abuse, sexism, masculinity and prejudice.

Sunday 27 November 2022
2.45pm
#dogpoopgirl ★★★★★
Followed by Q&A with director Andrei Hutuleac
Tickets: https://www.curzon.com/films/rff-2022-dogpoopgirl/HO00004220/

Drama, Comedy / 2021 / 78 min / in Romanian / with English subtitles
Debut feature / Certificate 15+
Director: Andrei Hutuleac
Cast: Andreea Gramosteanu, Paul Chiributa, Tudor Aaron Istodor, Coca Bloos, Cezar Antal

A necessary cautionary tale about the dangers of Internet vigilantism in an ever-connected world. Inspired by true events, Andrei Hutuleac’s debut feature explores the perils of public shaming.

A single woman and trusted bank employee, Alina is the average corporate worker, with a chaotic personal life but with just enough money to buy herself some sort of happiness.
The apparent calm of her existence, however, is shaken by an unexpected turn of events. Chaos ensues.

5.20pm
BLUE MOON ★★★★★
Followed by Q&A with lead Vlad Ivanov
Tickets: https://www.curzon.com/films/rff-2022-blue-moon/HO00004221/

Drama / 2021 / 85 min / in Romanian / with English subtitles
Original title: Crai Nou / Debut feature / Certificate 15+
Top prize at San Sebastian Film Festival, 2021
Director: Alina Grigore
Cast: Ioana Chitu, Mircea Postelnicu, Mircea Silaghi, Vlad Ivanov, Ioana Flora, Robi Urs

The film follows the psychological journey of a young woman through a dehumanizing process. Irina struggles to achieve higher education and escape the violence of her dysfunctional family. An ambiguous sexual experience with an artist will spur her intention to fight the violence in her family. Blue Moon is a psychological drama which involves family, sex and a little bit of blood.

Monday 28 November 2022, 6.20pm
METRONOM★★★★★
Followed by Q&A with lead Vlad Ivanov
Tickets: https://www.curzon.com/films/rff-2022-metronom/HO00004222/

Drama / 2022 / 93 min / in Romanian / with English subtitles
Debut feature / Certificate 15+
Best director award in the 2022 Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard
Director: Alexandru Belc
Cast: Mara Bugarin, Mara Vicol, Serban Lazarovici, Vlad Ivanov, Mihai Calin

Bucharest, 1972. Ana, 17, dreams of love and freedom. One night, while partying with her friends, they decide to send a letter to Metronom, the musical program which Radio Free Europe broadcasts clandestinely in Romania. It is then that the Securitate, Ceausescu’s secret police, arrives.

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RFF is a not-for-profit enterprise, functioning with the help of grants and sponsorship from friends and supporters.

Organised by Profusion International (www.profusion.org.uk)
In partnership with Curzon Cinemas (www.curzoncinemas.com)

Supported by
Departamentul pentru Românii de Pretutindeni https://dprp.gov.ro/web/
Remus Robu Solicitors (https://remusrobusolicitors.co.uk/)
Gateville Group (http://gatevillegroup.co.uk/)
Prodan Romanian Cultural Foundation (https://romanianculture.org/)
Mihai Eminescu Trust (https://www.mihaieminescutrust.org/)  
Unpaired Foundation (https://www.unpaired.com/foundation/)
Augustin Buzura Cultural Foundation (http://www.augustinbuzura.org/)
Authorised Translations - Translationromanian.co.uk (www.translationromanian.co.uk)
Embassy of Romania in London (http://londra.mae.ro/)
Convorbiri Românești magazine (https://convorbiriromanesti.co.uk/) 
Embassy of Romania in London (http://londra.mae.ro/)
Convorbiri Românești magazine (https://convorbiriromanesti.co.uk/) 

 

This project is supported by the Department for the Romanians Abroad.
(Acest proiect este realizat cu sprijinul Departamentului pentru Românii de Pretutindeni.)
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All films have English subtitles.
Screenings take place at Curzon Soho, 99 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 5DY.
Nearest tube: Leicester Square; Piccadilly Circus.

Curzon Membership: Join our growing community of film lovers for access to cinema without limits. Choose between watching brand new films in our cinemas or streamed on Curzon Home Cinema alongside generous discounts, priority booking and exclusive member previews with our flexible memberships. https://www.curzon.com/membership/membership-sales-page/
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RFF features, every year, a glittering and stimulating array of titles at a leading London cinema. We organise screenings of feature films, documentaries, short films, as well as connected events: masterclasses, Q&A sessions with the audience, receptions and networking events. For the meetings with the British public and film specialists, we invite Romanian talent over.

RFF was born in 2003. The New Wave of Romanian cinema appeared roughly at the same time, bringing to light remarkable directors, actors, and producers. Supported and inspired by these talents, the festival grew increasingly stronger.

RFF (www.rofilmfest.com) is an independent, not-for-profit enterprise, organised by Profusion International. RFF is run on grants, donations, and sponsorships. We enjoy the support of the Romanian community and businesses in London. Nowadays, the Romanian community in the UK is very numerous, around a million and a half people. RFF is open for all the audiences, and we are thrilled to support the promotion of Romanian cinema.