Cultural events this May

FESTIVALS
Transylvania International Film
Festival (TIFF)
June 1-10, Cluj-Napoca
June 14-17, Sibiu

The 11th run of this well established film festival will include in the competition selection 12 films from countries such as Island, Norway, US, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Israel, Austria, Canada, Russia and Chile. The winner will be decided by a jury made up of director Samuel Maoz; Kjartan Sveinsson, member of Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Ros; Screen International film critic Mark Adams; and Romanian actress Ana Ularu. Danish cinematography will be celebrated at this year’s festival, with a record 12 Danish films being screened during the event, coinciding with Denmark’s period holding the presidency of the European Union.
Australian film will come under the lens in the Focus Australia part of the festival, where the best productions since 2012 will be screened.
TIFF is organized by the Association for the Promotion of Romanian Film (APFR).

Sergiu Celibidache Festival

May 3-June 7, Bucharest
The event, which is organized under the patronage of the Romanian presidency and in partnership with the Bucharest city hall, celebrates 100 years since the birth of Sergiu Celibidache. This year is the UNESCO anniversary of the Romanian conductor.
The festival will include master classes delivered by Ida Haendel, Helmut Nicolai, Dorin Marc, Michael Martin Kofler, Wolfgang Gaag, Rony Rogoff and Enrique Garcia Asensio; a photo exhibition showcasing moments from the conductor’s life; several documentaries on Celibidache; book launches; and concerts delivered by his former students.
The concerts will be held at the Romanian Athenaeum.

European Film Festival
May 4-13, Bucharest
May 10-13, Brasov
May 17-20, Timisoara
May 17-20, Targu Mures
May 24-27, Iasi

Fifty-two films from 26 countries are part of the program of the 16th European Film Festival, organized this month by the Romanian Cultural Institute, with the support of the embassies and cultural centers representing European countries. The festival will move throughout the country from Bucharest to Brasov, Timisoara, Targu Mures and Iasi.
The festival program includes three Romanian documentaries: Turn off the Lights, directed by Ivana Mladenovici (which was selected for the Tribeca festival); After Revolution, directed by Laurentiu Calci; and Teodora the Sinner, by Anca Hirte.

EUROPAfest
May 4-19, Bucharest
Europe’s only festival that encompasses four music genres – jazz, blues, pop and classical – will include one whole week dedicated to jazz.

Between 12 and 19 May, the Odeon Theater will host a nightly series of concerts under the banner EUROPAfest – 100% jazz and more. This international jazz competition will be contested by troupes from over 20 countries – the USA, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Colombia, Russia, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Hungary.
The musicians due to perform in the competition have previously graced international events such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Red Sea International Jazz Festival and Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival USA. Music fans can also expect to enjoy fado, blues, Balkan rhythms, African-American and Japanese sounds.