In a global context marked by wars, fake news and the ascension of extremism, the Astra Film Festival proposes a consistent documentation selection, meant to offer the viewers the necessary dose of lucidity.
Sibiu, the capital of the documentary film. Photo: Astra Film
Over 70 documentaries from all over the world, many in the world premiere or European, will be presented between October 17 and 26 at Astra Film Festival 2025. The event turns Sibiu to the center of the non-fiction film and brings to the public essential stories about the world in which we live. The longest film festival in Romania, founded in 1993, has a record edition this year: nine days, two weekends and, in addition, two thirds of the films will be viewed online throughout Romania, for two weeks, immediately after the award gala.
“The documentary film remains a source of lucidity and truth, and the festival offers an opportunity to gather and see the stories that matter, and we can reflect together, to arm ourselves with the deep understanding of the world that surrounds us“Says Dumitru Budrala, director-founding of Astra Film Festival.
The films in the official selection AFF2025 compete in five competitive sections: Romania, Eastern Europe, emerging voices, Docschool and, novelty to this edition, Docshorts. You can find the whole selection on the festival website, astrafilm.ro. This year, the documentaries were grouped into nine thematic sections:
• Woman/mother – what price?
• #occident – a critical look
• dictatorship faces
• On both sides of the bloody barricade
• masculinity crisis
• Art – as a self -exploration and healing tool
• the new wave of the extreme right
• How do you become an adult, how do you become a parent?
• When the press becomes fake news factory.
As always, the festival also has a part dedicated to children and adolescents. Launched in 2009, Astra Film Junior is the largest program in Romania dedicated to education through documentary film, created especially for three age groups – 6+, 11+ and 15+. The program brings to the cinema and 360 ° films that cause the little ones to think, feel and ask more. After the projections, the experience continues with moderate discussions by specialists, comics, creative creative workshops, film and writing-all designed to turn a viewing into a complete journey.
