The European Film Festival kicks off this week-end in Bucharest and ends on May 13 in the capital city, only to continue in other cities in Romania. At its 16th edition and organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute, the festival will bring movies from various European countries at Cinema Studio, Cinema Pro, and Cinemateca Eforie in the capital city.

In total, 50 feature-lenght movies from 26 countries will hit the screens of the festival. The sixteenth edition of the European Film Festival (EFF) will then move to the cities of Brasov( May 10 to 13), Timisoara(May 17 to 20), Targu Mures(May 17 to 20) and Iasi(May 24 to 27).

The highlight of the European Film Festival will be the film 'Le Harve', which opened the festival and which is being screened at Cinema Pro this week-end. The Finnish-French-German co-production got the FIPRESCI prize and the special jury mention at the Cannes Festival in 2011.

The festival program includes three Romania documentaries: “Turn off the Lights”, directed by Ivana Mladenovic (selected in the competition at Tribeca Film Festival New York)- first time ever in Romania, ”Dupa Revolutie” (After the Revolution), directed by Lawrence Calcium and “Pacatoasa Teodora” (Sinful Teodora) directed by Anca Hirte.

The film event will also include a session dedicated to Denmark, 'Close-up Denmark', with several recent Danish movies on May 5 and May 12. A vintage Balkan animation collection will also be screened on May 12, at 17,30, when the entry will be free. A Tarkovsky evening will be organized on May 12 at ArCuB, a fusion of music and Takovski movies by Lucian Ban, Mat Maneri, Silent Strike and Dan Basu.

A photography exhibition will be organized under the name 'Mandrie si beton”( Pride and concrete), made by Petre Calinescu. His pictures will be on display at the International Cultural Institute, the festival organizers.

The festival gala will take place on May 13 at Cinema Studio, from 19,00, with the screening of the Turkish movie 'Once upon a time in Anatolia'.

In the capital city, a ticket costs RON 10 for a movie and a subscription for 6 entries cost RON 48. In the country the projections are free.

Ioana Toader, Corina Saceanu

editor@romania-insider.com