The official selection of the new edition of the Astra Film Festival (Sibiu, October 9th -16th) confirms that this is the place where most Romanian documentary filmmakers choose to present their productions for the first time, in front of an informed audience. No less than three-quarters of the 73 documentary films in the official AFF2022 selection are premieres - a further sign of the fact that the festival in Sibiu is a true launching pad for non-fiction cinema productions. The organizers have prepared a varied program with films from all over the world, which includes different formats of documentary cinema, aimed at a diverse audience, like the Astra Film DokTank industry program, exciting debates, concerts, and special Astra Film Festival events. The screenings in cinemas, the Astra Film Junior, and the Full-Dome programs, so popular among young audiences, are back. In total, AFF2022 audiences will enjoy more than 100 cinematic productions.
From New Zealand and Australia to Norway and Finland, from Chile, the United States and Canada to the UK, France, Spain, or Germany, from Vietnam, Israel, Iran, Kyrgyzstan or Armenia to Ukraine or Russia, this year's selection of films from the Astra Film Festival is a true marathon aimed at bringing to the audience the best documentary films made by filmmakers from all over the world in the last two years. Three quarters of the films screened at the Astra Film Festival are premieres: 12 world premieres, 6 international premieres, plus 39 national premieres
"We invite documentary film lovers from all over the country to come to Sibiu to watch deep stories that will make them think, learn new perspectives on reality, and, through a better understanding of the world we live in, become expert witnesses in the show of life. Present and future. We have been doing this continuously since 1993", said Dumitru Budrala, founding director of the Astra Film Festival.
Four competition sections
There will be, as usual, four competition sections (Emerging Voices of the Documentary, Central and Eastern Europe, Romania and DocSchool) in which 42 non-fiction films from 37 countries will compete. The full list of films from the official selection can be accessed here: https://www.astrafilm.ro/ro/selecie-filme-aff-2022.
ROMANIA. In the Romania competition section, which presents a selection of the newest and most valuable Romanian documentary films, 11 non-fiction films will compete, all premieres (3 world premieres, one international premiere and 7 national premieres).
EMERGING VOICES OF THE DOCUMENTARY. Eight documentary films by authors at their first production will compete this year for the prizes of this section. More than half of the films are premieres (one world premiere and four national premieres).
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. The section dedicated to non-fiction films with themes anchored in the space of the so-called Eastern Bloc, brings to the final selection 10 films (one world premiere, one international premiere and four national premieres).
Special AFF programs
Another 27 films will be presented in programs loved by young and very young audiences, such as the Astra Film Junior and the Full Dome, which are returning after two years of restrictions due to the Covid19 pandemic.
ASTRA FILM JUNIOR is the largest audio-visual education program offering children and teenagers documentary films from several corners of the world, which capture different aspects of life. "Children and teenagers will learn new things, put themselves in the shoes of the characters, understand that life is complex and precious and will be encouraged to develop their critical spirit", says Dumitru Budrala, founding director of the Astra Film Festival.
FULL-DOME. The organizers propose a complete show for the screenings in the Dome installed in Piața Mare thanks to the new documentary film formats using 360 degree screenings - a mix between art and technology.
DOKTANK. The Astra Film DokTank industry program (October 10-16, 2022) focuses on Romanian documentary film projects, made by teams from Romania (or the Republic of Moldova) or dealing with topics related to Romania (or the Republic of Moldova). The stated goal is to offer young filmmakers a platform to open up to the international documentary film market.
WARM-UP AFF. The 29th edition of the Astra Film Festival will be preceded by a teasing event, Warm-Up AFF (September 2nd and 3rd, 2022), in which the organizers invite the audience to film screenings seen from boats floating on the lake and to an open discussion between teenagers and professionals about understanding non-fiction cinema and the process through which documentary films are made.
The #AFF2022 program also invites the audience to ponder deep themes that provoke and lead to debates that will surely extend beyond the film screenings and the Q&A sessions. We are talking, for example, about the films grouped under the theme of Decisive Death ("Closing Words", by Gaëlle Hardy) and The Faces of War ("Chris the Swiss"), both premiered in Romania, and the Nick Broomfield portrait films.
The films will be screened in the historic center of Sibiu (Thalia Hall, Astra Film Cinema in Piața Mică, the specially installed Dome in Piața Mare), at the ULBS University Library and in the Cine Gold halls in Promenada Mall in Sibiu.
About Astra Film Festival
Astra Film Festival Sibiu, launched in 1993 as an innovative project, is one of the most important non-fiction film festivals in Europe, included by the European Film Academy on the list of festivals that have the right to make direct nominations for the European Film Awards.
Astra Film Festival is placed under the High Patronage of the President of Romania and is organized by Astra Film, CNM Astra and the Astra Film Foundation, with the support of the Sibiu County Council, The Ministry of Culture, The National Center of Cinematography, The Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sibiu and The Filmmakers Union. The event is co-financed by the Sibiu Local Council through the Sibiu City Hall and by the European Union through the Creative Europe Program.
