This year, more than ever, One World Romania considers it of the utmost urgency to continue presenting documentaries as a starting point for extended discussions about the times we live in, when rising costs of daily living affect a vast majority of the population and essential public sectors, traditionally underfunded, have been further weakened by recent austerity measures.

The list of affected domains is vast, ranging from culture, education, and rights to decent housing, social protection, labor, and more.

We aim to address at least a few of the realities that hurt the Romanian society as a whole and put its future at risk. We are thankful to the invited guests, professionals and representatives of civil societies, who will join us in these discussions.

In THE THING TO BE DONE a Slovenian NGO advises and provides legal aid to both foreign and local workers who are exploited and cheated by companies. The film will be a starting point to tackle the precarization deepened by the latest measures of both Romanian and foreign labor force, the socio-economic dynamics of exploitation, and the role of trade unions.

We revisit the documentary OUR SCHOOL, as it touches upon still-current topics such as institutionalized prejudice, the vicious circle of poverty, and difficulties within the education system. The screening will be continued with an expanded discussion on the current state of pre-university and university education in the aftermath of recent measures, focusing on the increasing precariousness of professors, researchers, and students, as well as the resulting impact on the quality of education and equitable access to it.

WHAT ABOUT PETEY? explores daily challenges of a widowed father caring for his teenage son who has severe autism, and the limitations of social support systems. The film is a good starting point for discussions about social services and support for people with disabilities, another sector left unspared by harsh cutting-cost policies. It is more than necessary to address these measures, which affect the support and benefits available to some of the most vulnerable, since such support is a legal and moral obligation in any society, not a privilege.

Overwhelmed by information, confusion between reality and distortion, and uniformized narratives of the mainstream media, there has never been a more important moment to emphasize the value of independent journalism. In this regard, STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! – an inspiring portrait of the world-renowned journalist Amy Goodman, who pushed for the “stealing” of her work across media to ensure independent journalism reaches the broadest audience – will serve as a point of departure from which to discuss current challenges affecting independent investigative journalism.

Nearly three years since the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favour of 21 plaintiff-couples for being granted legal recognition of their union, Romania has yet to do so – continuing its legal and moral stigmatization of the LGBTQIA+ community. The screening of I WANT MY INNER DOG TO WEAR PEARLS and COUNTRY QUEER will be further expanded upon by the attending filmmakers and special guests. 

Between a sense of outrage and an increasing feeling of powerlessness, it is essential not to succumb to resignation, but to come together, discuss these ardent issues and plant, maybe, a seed for future strategies and changes.