In a socio-economic context marked by the rising cost of living and the weakening of essential public sectors, which are more and more affected by recent austerity measures, One World Romania continues its mission to bring to the public documentary films as starting points for necessary conversations about the times we live in, thus creating a space for reflection and debate on issues that directly influence the future of Romanian society.

Whether addressing access to education or freedom of the press, the right to decent housing or to work, the films presented in the “No Future Without – Extended Dialogues” section encourage communication and understanding in a period increasingly dominated by uncertainty and social tensions. The screenings will be followed by extended discussions with special guests. Moreover, six of these titles have been symbolically “adopted” by several organizations, media platforms and ambassadors whose missions align with the films’ messages, as part of the already known “Adopt a Documentary” program.

In “The Thing to Be Done” (dir. Srđan Kovačević), adopted by journalist and trade union activist Radu Stochița, an NGO in Slovenia provides counseling and legal assistance to foreign and local workers exploited and deceived by companies. The screening will be followed by a discussion on workers’ rights, labor precarity, and the role of trade unions in the current context, featuring Vasile Gogescu, president of the Federation of Trade Unions, Ștefan Guga, director of Syndex Romania, and freelance journalist Andrei Gudu.

In the context of the lack of progress regarding the legal recognition of same-sex couples in Romania, the double screening of “I Want My Inner Dog to Wear Pearls” (dir. Valeriu Andrișcă) and “Country Queer” (dir. Antoine Vazquez) will be followed by a dialogue dedicated to LGBTQIA+ rights, with Valeriu Andrișcă and Ian Teodorescu, a trans activist from the ACCEPT Association, which also adopted the two films.

The documentary “Our School,” co-directed by Mona Nicoară and Miruna Coca-Cozma, returns to OWR while discussing themes that remain just as relevant some thirteen years later: institutionalized prejudice, the vicious cycle of poverty, and inequalities within the education system. The screening of the film, which was adopted by Școala9, will be followed by an extended debate on the state of education, focusing on the conditions of teachers, researchers, and students, as well as their impact on the quality of education. Participants will include Andreea Archip from Școala9, Costi Rogozanu, journalist at Libertatea and Romanian language teacher, Veronica Lazăr, researcher, and Cristina Grigore, PhD student.

Bringing to the forefront the challenges of a single parent raising a teenager with a severe form of autism, “What About Petey?” (dir. Martin Trabalík) provides a starting point for a discussion on the limitations of the social assistance system and the support offered to people with disabilities, yet another sector that has not been spared by harsh spending cuts. Adopted by Asociația Femeilor pentru Comunitate, the film will be followed by an extended dialogue on the rights of people with disabilities, featuring Crina Marina Mureșanu from Asociația Femeilor pentru Comunitate, Raluca-Alexandra Trifan, senior social worker, Ruxandra Mateescu, founder of Supereroi printre noi, and Mariana Chytilová, inclusion designer at One World Prague.

In a time marked by information overload and confusion between reality and disinformation, the documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” (dir. Carl Deal, Tia Lessin) highlights just how vital independent journalism truly is. A portrait of journalist Amy Goodman, the film will serve as the basis for a debate on the current challenges of investigative journalism and press freedom, with Răzvan Luțac and Iulia Roșu, co-founders of Snoop and adopters of the film, along with Mihai Radu from Recorder.

In addition to the five screenings taking place between April 25–28 at the Peasant Museum Cinema, a sixth screening, reserved for directors selected in the “Emerging Voices” program, will take place on April 26 at the Eforie Cinematheque, followed by an open talk on how to grow as a filmmaker interested in human rights in an increasingly precarious industry

The full schedule and tickets for One World Romania 19 are now available on the festival’s website, oneworld.ro, and on Eventbook. After the festival concludes in Bucharest, a selection of the films will also be available to stream online, from anywhere in Romania, between April 30 - May 31.

ORGANIZER: One World Romania Association

CULTURAL PROJECT CO-FUNDED BY: Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN)

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS: The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant – Peasant Museum Cinema, Embassy of France in Romania, French Institute in Bucharest – Elvire Popesco Cinema, National Film Archive – Eforie Cinematheque, Romanian Cultural Institute, DACIN-SARA, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Romania, Goethe-Institut Bucharest, UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency Romania, Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Romania, Czech Centre Bucharest, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bucharest, Italian Cultural Institute Bucharest, Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre Bucharest

CORPORATE PARTNERS: Groupama, Valvis Group, MINI, Maestro

PARTNER VENUES: Apollo111 Cinema, Echoes Haus, Lokal, Seneca Anticafe

YOUTH DAYS PARTNERS: The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant – Peasant Museum Cinema, Peasant Museum Image Archive, Polish Institute Bucharest , “I.L. Caragiale” National University of Theatre and Film, ARAS – Romanian Association Against AIDS, Pe Stop Association, Techsoup Association, Incubatorul Civic Digital, Tineri pentru Tineri, VIS – Victimele Infracțiunilor Sexuale Association, Save the Children Romania, Romanian Angel Appeal, eLiberare Association

FRIENDS OF OWR: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. – Rule of Law Programme Southeast Europe, The National Center for Dance Bucharest (CNDB), Expert Forum (EFOR), F-Sides, Copii pentru Viitor Association, Greenpeace Romania, Snoop, Țeapă Țeapă Țeapă, Faculty of Theatre and Film, Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Political Science, University of Bucharest, Anthropology and Visual Studies & Society MA, Faculty of Political Science, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration Bucharest (SNSPA), co/laborator film, microFILM, PRISMA FILM, Mediawise Society, Sahia Vintage, KineDok

TICKETS THROUGH: Eventbook.ro

MONITORING PARTNER: mediaTRUST Romania

MEDIA PARTNERS: RFI România, Radio România Cultural, Scena9, IQads, Revista FILM, Zile și Nopți, Școala9, Cărturești, Films in Frame, Film Menu, LiterNet, Modern Times Review, Like5.ro, Cinepub, Cinefilia, Happ.ro

THE FESTIVAL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2008 BY: Czech Center Bucharest

Other event partners, both new and traditional, are currently in the process of confirmation. 

The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project's results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding recipient.