As ADFR is intensively preparing for the second edition of Fiesta del Cine, the team moved on the beach for a while and took a break from writing the classical news about the film industry, interviews and film recommendations. But because we would not like to leave you in the lurch, we have prepared 5 recommendations of film festivals which happen in August. One for every taste!

Without further ado, here are the film festivals which take place in August (in chronological order):

ANONIMUL International Independent Film Festival (August 6-12, Sfântu Gheorghe)

Does Anonimul IFF need any other introduction? It is already one of the classics, long-awaited by the cinephiles, which invites us every year in a beautiful place: Sfântu Gheorghe, Danube Delta, a magic place where the Danube meets the Black Sea, a new land with old customs.

The 15th edition features a complex programme, which won’t give you a chance to get bored. This year, the festival will feature three competitions: feature films, Romanian short films and international short films. Among the short film recommendations we have to mention: Michelangelo (dir. Anghel Damian), Date Night (dir. Stela Pelin) and The mystery of a simple case (dir. Vera Surățel).

As per usual, all the prizes for the feature and short film competitions are awarded based on the vote of the audience.

The anniversary edition Anonimul 15 has a special guest: Emir Baigazin, winner of the Silver Bear at Berlinale 2013 and nominated at the 2018 Orizzonti Venice.

I do not care if we go down in history as Barbarians, directed by Radu June, will have the national premiere at Anonimul 15. Other Romanian feature films included in this year’s programme are:

• Povestea unul pierde-vară (dir. Paul Negoescu) – Paul Negoescu will attend the event together with a part of the team
• The secret of happiness – Vlad Zamfirescu’s debut as a film director
• Meda or the not so bright side of things (dir. Emanuel Pârvu) – in the presence of Emanel Pârvu (director), Miruna Berescu (producer), Dan Chișu (co-producer), Șerban Pavlu (actor) and Silviu Stavilă (DOP)
• One step behind the seraphim (dir. Daniel Sandu) – the team will be represented by Vlad Ivanov
• Pororoca (dir. Constantin Popescu)
• Story from Ferentari (dir. Ivana Mladenovic)
• Dacii Liberi – co-director Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan will attend the screening
• The Christmas gift – in attendance of the director Bogdan Mureșanu

Here you can find more details about the festival, schedule and location.

Full Moon – Horror & Fantasy Film Festival (August 9-12, Biertan, Sibiu)

For those passionate of horror and fantasy films, Full Moon Festival awaits you at Biertan, Sibiu, as per usual. The festival celebrates the 7^thedition with a programme as exciting as in the past years.

The 7^thedition of the festival features films from seven different countries, under a main theme: travel. Directors from Bulgaria, Ireland, Chile, Argentina, Spain and Finland re-create local nightmares which can be seen in an absolute premiere in Romania. Find out more details about these films by clicking on this link.

Fool Moon’s schedule will also include parties, ghost hunts, fantasy workshops, bike rides and a fair with tradition and hand-made products.

As you already know, the festival’s main objective is to offer to the public the best horror and fantasy production, both classical and modern, reference films and productions which might become a point of reference.

Keep an eye on the Full Moon website, as they will soon announce the full programme.

Arkadia Shortfest (August 15-18, Corbu beach, Constanța)

Even though we were used to the unconventional location of the Camexip factories from Băicoi, this year, Arkadia Shortfest will take place for the first time on Corbu beach in Constanța.

Under the noble patronage of the Sea, the festival promises four days of contemporary art: films from all over the world, a visual art exhibition, workshops, exceptional DJ sets, alternative experiences and parties until the sunrise.

You can come as you are, alone or with your partner, family, pet or all your group of friends. If at some point you want to sleep, do it at the four-star guest houses nearby, at the beachfront cottages or at the tents. Those who know the real deal will sleep directly on the beach.

In order to convince you to attend the festival, we will tell you more about the first edition of Arkadia Festival at Corbu beach. The event will start with a retrospective of the last four editions which took place in Băicoi. Several conversations about a very tall girl is the feature film of this edition; other than that, the programme includes several student films, international short films and a special screening of Loving Vincent, in the presence of the distributor. If you want more than films, you can attend the workshops or the exhibition signed by Mihai Zgondoiu called Fighting with Mozart!, which will take you directly in the far past of The Abduction from the Seraglio.

Further details about the festival, programme and location can be found here.

Fiesta del Cine (August 18^th, Shut Up, Beach, Mamaia)

We already told you about the second edition of Fiesta del Cine, the beach party with Romanian short films and VR experiences which we are intensely preparing on the biggest beach in Romania (Shut Up, Beach in Mamaia).

Briefly, we invite you to enjoy a vacation night with open-air screenings, delicious popcorn, in a relaxing atmosphere, accompanied by the sea waves. We have two live concerts (Mihail and GOLAN) and delicious food. The night will end with an after-party on the beach, under the moonlight.

Some important information:

• The ticket price is 25 RON and grants access to the entire event + free perks: a popcorn bag and a bottle of Merlin’s CHAI
• The reservations for the short film screenings can be done in advance, using this link.
• The ticket price for those booking their seats in advance is 15 RON.
• All tickets will be purchased at the event’s entrance.

As our event is more than a party, we have for you a great film programme developed by ADFR and ShortsUP, divided in two sections, followed by a Q&A session with our guests. Among the short films which can be seen this year at Fiesta del Cine we can mention: Offstage (dir. Andrei Huțuleac), Michelangelo (dir. Anghel Damian), E.T. was here (dir. Ana Agopian) and The mystery of a simple case (dir. Vera Surățel). More information can be found here.

If you are curious to find out more about the team behind Fiesta del Cine, you can read our #intothespotlight article, where we asked each other some interesting questions. Further details on the screening, programme and location can be found right here.

Divan Film Festival (August 24-26 in Craiova, August 27 – September 2, Craiova & Port Cultural Cetate)

The summer ends with Divan Film Festival, the place where the cinema and culinary art meet. The 9th edition of the festival will take place in the same magical location: Port Cultural Cetate, after two days spent in Craiova.

Well-known for its relaxed atmosphere and unconventional spaces where it takes place, Divan Fest brings to the public films, concerts, theatre and culinary demonstrations, all gathered under the same umbrella: Balkan Dreams.

This edition’s programme will feature approximately 50 films: feature films and documentaries selected by Cătălin Olaru (artistic director), and short films selected by Massimiliano Nardulli (programmer).

Besides the film schedule, Divan Film Festival is remarkable also because of the culinary demonstrations made by Mircea Dinescu and his guests. Every year, the festival is attended by chefs from the Balkan countries, who create special menus, inspired by the selected films. Chefs from Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia and Turkey attended the festival in the past years, but also chefs representing the small ethnical communities from Romania.

Information about the 2018 Divan Film Festival will come soon, so keep an eye on their official website.

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.