Romanian films received several awards at the 22nd Sarajevo Film Festival, including special jury mentions, best actor, and best documentary film.

In the feature film competition section, Romanian thriller Dogs/Caini directed by Bogdan Mirica got the Special Jury Mention, while actor Gheorghe Visu received the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actor award for his role in Mirica’s movie.

Dogs was also the big winner of this year’s Transylvania Film Festival (TIFF) (May 27-June 5), after in May it won the FIPRESCI award of the international film critics in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section. The movie will be screened in Romanian cinemas starting September 23.

Moreover, Album – a Romanian co-production with Turkey and France, was the winner of the Sarajevo Film Festival’s top award (Heart of Sarajevo). The Romanian co-producers were Calin Peter Netzer (Golden Bear winner with The Child's Pose at the 2013 Berlinale) and Oana Kelemen.

In the short film competition section, 4:15 P.M. The End of the World/4:15 P.M. Sfarsitul Lumii, directed by Gabi Virginia Sarga and Catalin Rotaru, got the Special Jury Mention. Meanwhile, Monica Lazurean-Gorgan’s A Mere Breath/Doar o Rasuflare won the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary.

The Macedonian Film Agency Cinelink Award (EUR 10,000) also went to a Romanian film – Otto The Barbarian, directed by Ruxandra Maria Ghitescu, while Touch Me Not, directed by Adina Pintilie, got the Post Republic Award (EUR 25,000 – in kind support).

The 22nd edition of Sarajevo Film Festival took place between August 12 and August 20.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Sarajevo Film Festival on Facebook)