The most unusual entrance on the red carpet in the history of TIFF, a high dance performance and a mini-concert by NIcu Alifantis – these are the surprises that started TIFF 2024, the most important film festival in Romania. There are 11 days of unmissable films and events in Cluj.
Theater Tol opening at TIFF 2024. PHOTO: TIFF/Nicu Cherciu
The Transilvania International Film Festival, the most important film event in Romania, debuted on Friday in the Unirii square in Cluj-Napoca in front of an audience of over 3,5000 spectators.
The organizers kicked off the next 11 days in a spectacular way with hundreds of screenings, dinner-concerts, exhibitions, concerts, discussions and special events. More than 1,000 guests – actors, directors, producers and other industry professionals – are expected for an edition that will exceed 100,000 spectators.
In tune with the opening film of the festival – Dogman – Luc Besson's thriller in which dogs play an essential role, the organizers set up a new parade on the red carpet: several purebred dogs, awarded at national and international competitions or used by different institutions of force.
The 14 quadrupeds benefited from a presentation by the director of the festival, Tudor Giurgiu:
“We thought that this year you should know a different kind of stars, the star dogs, dogs that have stood out on many occasions, poses, they are our friends, to see them, to applaud them. So, on the red carpet we have 14 heroes, 14 stars: I'll start with Sassy, a female Yorkshire Terrier, the first specimen born and raised in our country; Ryan, a 4-year-old male American Akita, junior and adult champion in more than 5 countries; Argo is Miruna's best friend, a Spanish-English cocker, constantly present in international competitions; Bruno is a German shepherd dog, winner of numerous competitions, “best in show” at national and international competitions, as well as 1st place at the World Dog Show Zagreb.”
They followed Olaf, awarded several times in beauty contests; the rottweiler «The Bodyguard», the dog Igor European vice-champion, winner of several “best in show” contests in the country and abroad; Miro, a 5-year-old Belgian shepherd, specialized in detecting pyrotechnic materials; Ella, a 3-year-old rottweiler specializing in patrol intervention; Lida, a 5-year-old German shepherd, used by the police in patrol missions and raids organized by the public order service; Tazz, the youngest of the IPJ Cluj family, which specializes in drug detection; Gao, part of the Cluj Border Police team; Sky – Malinois German Shepherd specialized in detecting narcotics.
At the end, the director of TIFF presented two dogs in the care of Noah's Ark shelter who are looking for adoptive owners:
“We also want to raise a small alarm signal, every dog needs to be loved, adoptions are the best solution for homeless animals. Our friends at Noah's Ark do everything they can for them, but I believe that all their work must have a result, and the result is that these dogs find a home. You can support them by donating and volunteering, but the best thing would be to find a family not just for them, but for all the dogs at Noah's Ark“.
Dance above Union Square
The opening gala was continued with a mini-concert by Nicu Alifantis, one of the unmistakable voices of Romanian music.
A spectacular dance show followed above Unirii Square – Theater Tol. Several dancers suspended above the spectators had an interesting choreography to a fusion of electronic music and well-known parts of the immortal songs of Maria Tănase.
Theater Tol is a Belgian dance company known for its multidisciplinary performances. The company also uses visuals, acting and music to create a world full of magic and beauty, where reality and fantasy merge.
A full weekend
The festival is off to a strong start with an eventful weekend. On Saturday, June 15, from 19:00, at the House of Culture of the Students, there will be a screening of the film Confidence (Confidenza), the latest film by the Italian filmmaker Daniele Luchetti, special guest at TIFF.23 and honored in the 3×3 section . On this occasion, he will receive the Special Award for his contribution to world cinema.
On Sunday, June 16, from 5:00 p.m., fans will be able to meet actress Jojo T. Gibbs from Dogman, Luc Besson's revenge and redemption thriller presented at the official opening of the festival, in the TIFF Lounge in Piata Unirii. It's just the first free event hosted by TIFF Lounge in a very generous series scheduled over the 10 days.
“Weekend at the castle” means two unique evenings this year. On Saturday, at the Bánffy Castle in Bonțida, the special screening of the film Metropolis (dir. Fritz Lang), a masterpiece of expressionist cinema, opens the TIFF.23 cinema-concert series. The original music was composed by the Italians at Edison Studio, and they are also in charge of the musical accompaniment. The following evening, the same venue will be the setting for a screening not recommended for the faint of heart: Empire of the Senses (dir. Nagisa Oshima), an erotic film from 1976 censored at the time of its release, which remains controversial to this day.
High dance in Piata Unirii. PHOTO: TIFF/Nicu Cherciu
Japanese exhibitions and films
Friday, June 14, the opening of the first exhibitions that can be discovered at the Art Museum: Frânturi, which, through the photographs and interviews made by the artist and activist Ruth Borgfjord, brings to the fore the intimate universe of LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people , Looking for sincerity, portrait exhibition in which the photographer Vlad Braga tries to capture a moment of vulnerability of the subjects, but also Changing environments. Together, part of the Neo Art Connect Science Annula. In addition to the exhibition, the public will also be able to see the Heart of the Festival, an installation created from recycled elements, located in the University Square.
The Art Museum is also the place where, almost every night of the festival, there will be concerts by artists from the most diverse areas. Those who will take the stage on Saturday and Sunday are Dimitri's Bats and Kadjavsi.
Theater Tol at the opening Gala of TIFF 2024. PHOTO: TIFF/Nicu Cherciu
Cinema and Japanese culture are in the focus of the TIFF edition.23 During the weekend, origami, ikebana, manga workshops are scheduled in Unirii Square, with free access based on registration. Not to be missed in cinemas: classic masterpieces such as The Governor of Sansho (dir. Kenji Mizoguchi), The Ballad of Narayama (dir. Shohei Imamura) and Tokyo Story (dir. Yasujiro Ozu), three films by contemporary master Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, as well as some of the most exciting recent Japanese productions.
Also, TIFF.23 organizes screenings every night of the festival in Florești, where top films and dinner-concerts are scheduled outdoors, in Poligon Park. You can find the program here.
The entire program of the festival can be found on tiff.ro or in the official TIFF Official App, available on Google Play and the Apple Store.
