FOCUS ON ROMANIA debut’s Friday, October 10 at Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale with ‘Puzzle For A Blind Man’Fort Lauderdale, FL (October 07, 2014) FOCUS ON ROMANIA: Fort Lauderdale/Miami Waves 2014, announces the inaugural festival of Romanian films this coming October 10-16 in various venues throughout Dade and Broward Counties in South Florida. Romania’s culture, humor, music and lifestyle will be showcased for the first time for the pleasure and edification of American audiences while reminding Romanian expats of their homeland.The historic Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale Theater takes the lead with screenings of eight (8) films each with pre-film receptions and/or post screening parties every night from October 10 – 16. Most films will be attended by the filmmakers and featured stars. Two (2) films will also be presented at Coral Gables Art Cinema in Miami on October 11 & 12.
FOCUS ON ROMANIA debut’s Friday, October 10 at Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale with ‘Puzzle For A Blind Man’, Andrei Zinca’scritically acclaimed feature film and recent recipient of a number of lauded awards. ‘ Puzzle For a Blind Man’ was inspired by Argentinian playwright Mario Diament’s award-winning play, Blind Date (Cita a Ciegas). Andrei describes ‘Puzzle’ as a “universal love story set against a web of coincidence, chance meetings and bittersweet encounters.” Both Andrei and Mario, along with the composer, Daniel Manoiu, all South Florida residents, will be in attendance at the 6:15pm reception, 7:30pm film followed by the opening night party.
Talent will also attend a screening of PUZZLE FOR A BLIND MAN at Coral Gables Art Cinema on Saturday, October 11, 1:00pm.
Closing Night, Thursday, October 16 at Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale – features the film SILENT WEDDING, a comedy-drama about a young couple whose wedding is interrupted by the news of Joseph Stalin’s death. Because any public celebration is forbidden, they decide to turn the happy event into a silent wedding. Attending the 7:00pm film and 8:30pm Wrap Party is director and popular Romanian comedian, Horatiu Malaele.
Malaele will also attend the screening of SILENT WEDDING at Coral Gables Art Cinema on Sunday, October 12, 1:00pm.
Lead Actress Maria Dinulescu will attend two films in which she stars; HOOKED, director Adrian Sitaru’s “deceptively creepy psycho thriller reminiscent of early Roman Polanski and Michael Haneke” -Daily Film Dose and director Cristian Nemescu’s CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ ( unfinished), an outrageously funny take about a railway chief who delays a NATO train transporting military equipment during the war in Kosovo in 1999. The film, inspired by a true event, also stars Armand Asante.
Join Maria Dinulescu at Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale Saturday, October 11 for HOOKED beginning with a 6:00pm reception, followed by the 7:15pm Film and 9:15pm Party and for CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ ( unfinished) Sunday, October 12, at the 4:00pm reception, 5:00pm film and post-screening party.
Lead actress Monica Barladeanu will attend her comedy OF SNAILS AND MEN, on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00pm, which kicks-off with a 5:45pm reception. Director Tudor Giurgiu’s engaging film shifts back to 1992 when workers are threatened with the closure of their small-town factory and decide to sell their sperm at $50 a pop so they can buy the plant and keep their jobs.
ROMANYE, ROMANYE and GOLDFARB’S LEGACY, both directed by Radu Gabrea, will play back to back on Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00pm, with the director and producer Victoria Cocias attending. ROMANYE ROMANYE explores the Central and Eastern Europe roots of Klezmer music and what it symbolizes today. GOLDFARB’S LEGACY is a musical romp celebrating the songs, stars and stories of Yiddish Theatre which began 126 years ago by Avrim Goldfarb. There will be a reception at 5:45pm and a party directly following the screenings at 9pm.
Director Cristian Mungiu’s drama, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS, screens October 13 at 7:00pm just after a 5:45pm reception. The drama unfolds in Romania in the late ’80s, during the last waning days of Communist rule and follows two women, college friends, on their mission to carry out an illegal abortion.
FOCUS on ROMANIA: Fort Lauderdale/Miami Waves 2014 was produced by Prospero Film of Romania and Miami-based production company Double 4 Studios in collaboration with Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The event received the support of Romanian Cultural Institute New York (ICR-NY) and Center for National Cinema (CNC). Partners include: The National University for Arts Theater & Cinema (UNATC) and The Romanian Association of Independent Film Producers (UPFAR).
All features will be preceded by short student films from the National University for Arts, Theater and Cinema, in Bucharest.
Theater Venues & Admission:
Fort Lauderdale: Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale, 503 SE 6 Street, Fort Lauderdale 33301
Admission: $15 for film and party. $10 for film only.
For more details and advance tickets: www.FLiFF.com
Miami: Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Admission: $11.50 and Under
For more details and advance tickets: www.gablescinema.org
FILM / EVENT SCHEDULE
CINEMA PARADISO-FORT LAUDERDALE
PUZZLE, Andrei Zinca
Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale: Friday, October 10, 6:15pm Cocktail Hour;
7:30pm Film; 9:30pm Opening Party
Coral Gables Art Cinema: Saturday, October 11, 1:00pm
Special Guests at both venues: writer/director Andrei Zinca, writer, Mario Diament and composer Daniel Manoiu.
A repressed middle aged man realizes that his life had become one of misery and loneliness. After becoming friends with a blind writer he had to evict from his house, he finds the inspiration and courage he needs to break all the rules he had been forced to abide by and to reconnect with life’s joy and excitement.
2013 / 89 min / Romanian w/English sub-titles
Director: Andrei Zinca
Cast:Dan Nutu, Ioana Pavelescu, Adrian Titieni, Skovrán Tünde, Rodica Mandache, Catalina Mustata,
Awards: Best Feature, Best Director, Best Actress in a Lead Role and Best Actor in a Lead Role at 2014 Buffalo and Niagara International Film Festival; Best Actress, Audience Choice Awards for Best Actor, Best Script at 2013 NYC Indie Film Fest.; Best Cinematography at 2014 South East European Cinema Fest in LA
HOOKED
Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale: Saturday, October 11, 6:00pm Cocktails; 7:15pm Film; 9:15pm Party
Special Guest: Lead actress, Maria Dinulescu
Director Adrian Sitaru’s debut feature HOOKED, is “a deceptively creepy psycho thriller reminiscent of early Roman Polanski and Michael Haneke.” (Daily Film Dose) Having set out for a trip in the countryside to spend a weekend together, secret lovers Mihai and Miha hit prostitute Ana in a roadside accident. Miraculously Ana awakes unscathed, and decides to accompany Mihai and Miha to their picnic. What was supposed to be an idyllic vacation turns into a probing test for morality and loyalty – with Ana switching between angelic creature and wicked witch in a matter of seconds. HOOKED explores the dynamics between a triangle of people. The combination of probing drama and mysterious thriller makes for a delicious, if somewhat bitter tasting experience.
2008 / 87 min / Romanian w/English sub-titles
Director: Adrian Sitaru
Awards: Best Actress at 2009 Thessaloniki International Film Fest.and 2009 Bratislava International Film Fest.; Jury’s Grand Prix for New Voices at 2014 Palm Springs International. Film Fest., Grand Prix at 2014 Ourense Independent Film Fest.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ ( unfinished)
Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale : Sunday, October 12, 4pm Cocktails; 5:10pm Film; 7:45pm Party
Special Guest: Lead actress, Maria Dinulescu
Inspired by a true story, Romanian director Cristian Nemescu’s comedy California Dreamin’ unfolds against the backdrop of the Kosovo War, circa 1999. A NATO train rolls through a Romanian hamlet, transporting a plethora of weapons across the country — without official documents, and equipped only with the verbal consent of the Romanian authorities. The transport thus grows intensely vulnerable to the locals, particularly the corrupt head of the railway station who moonlights as a mobster and promptly decides to interfere with the shipment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
2007 / 155 min / Romanian w/English sub-titles
Director: Cristian Nemescu
Cast: Armand Assante, Jamie Elman, Razvan Vasilescu, Maria Dinulescu
California Dreamin’ is the first and only feature directed by Nemescu, a talented young filmmaker who died in a car accident shortly before completing it.
Awards: Winner of Cannes 2007 “Un certain regard” Best Film, Satyajit Ray Award London Film Fest., Best Film Brussels European Film Fest.
4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS
Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale: Monday, October 13, 5:45pm Cocktails; 7:00pm Film
Special guests: Florin Paraschiv, Vice President of the Romanian Association of Independent Producers and prof. dr. Copel Moscu from National University for Arts, Theater and Cinema.
Director Cristian Mungiu’s drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days unfolds in Romania in the late ’80s, during the last waning days of Communist rule. “The film follows two college friends on their mission to carry out an illegal abortion. While the plot is fairly simple and straightforward, the movie is filmed in a way that you feel every emotion along with the two main characters. While Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) is the one receiving the actual abortion, her best friend Otilla (Anamaria Marinca) is the one we follow for most of the movie. Where Gabita can be described as naïve, Otilla is headstrong and willing to go through thick and thin for her friend.” – Red Georges. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.
2007 / 113 min / Romanian w/English sub-titles
Director: Cristian Mungiu
Cast: Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu, Vlad Ivanov, Alexandru Potocean, Luminita Gheorghiu
Awards: Palme d’or, FIPRESCI Cannes 2007, Best Feature Chicago Intl. Film Fest. , Best Film European Film Awards
OF SNAILS AND MEN, Tudor Giurgiu
Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale: Tuesday, October 14, 5:45pm Cocktails, 7:00pm Film
Special Guest: Lead actress, Monica Barladeanu
Loosely based on an actual event that transpired in Romania, Tudor Giurgiu’s engaging film Of Snails and Men shifts the action back to 1992, when the country was still naively unsure of what would follow the fall of communism. Threatened with the closure of their small-town factory, workers decide to sell their sperm at $50 a pop so they can buy the plant and keep their jobs.
2012/93 min/ Romanian | French | Spanish w/English Subtitles
Director: Tudor Giurgiu
Cast:Andi Vasluianu, Monica Barladeanu, Dorel Visan, Jean-Francois Stevenin, Robinson Stevenin, Andreea Bibiri
Awards: Varsovia 2012 – Best Director, S.E. Eurpean Film FEST LA, 2013- Best Film
Double Documentary Screening
ROMANYE, ROMANYE & GOLDFADDEN’S LEGACY
Play together at Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale: Wednesday, October 15, 5:45 Cocktails,
7:00pm Film, 9:00pm Party
Special guests: Radu Gabrea, director and Victoria Cocias, producer
ROMANYE, ROMANYE
Romanian director Radu Gabrea travels to New York to delve into a specific aspect of Klezmer music: the Romanian Doina. Gabrea interviews musicians and experts, including: Yale Strom, Elisabeth Schwartz, Ze’ev Feldman, Andy Statman, Michael Alpert a.o. Together they explore the mutual influences between Romanian, gypsy and Jewish music in the old country, the similarities between the Romanian Doina and the Klezmer Doina influenced by the musical modes of the synagogue and cantorial music. Kletzmer music originated in Central and Eastern Europe and used to be a functional music, always played at weddings and other Jewish ceremonies. Today, this music links European and Jewish culture and stands for the post-Holocaust revival of the latter. Klezmer music is like a bridge connecting the sufferings of the past with the hope for conciliation and understanding in the future.
2006 /53 min / Romanian w/English sub-titles
Director: Director Radu Gabrea
Features interviews with: Yale Strom, Elisabeth Schwartz, Ze’ev Feldman, Andy Statman, Michael Alpert
GOLDFADDEN’S LEGACY
Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale: Wednesday, October 15, 5:45 Cocktails, 7:00pm Film
126 years ago, Avram Goldfaden founded the first professional Jewish theatre in the north of Romania, at Iasi, the capital of Moldavia, whose population was over 50% Jewish.Goldfaden’s Legacy is a musical romp celebrating the songs, stars and stories of Yiddish Theatre. From the wine cellars of Romania to Tin Pan Alley and the Broadway stage, Goldfaden’s Legacy is a celebration of the music of Yiddish Theatre, its role in the Jewish-American experience and its amazing influence on American popular culture. Our guide on this musical journey is Zalmen Mlotek, the Artistic Director of The Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre, the oldest venue for Yiddish theatre in the world, founded in 1915. Mlotek, a dynamic performer and world renowned expert on Yiddish folk and theatre music, weaves segments of his one-man show with archival photos, film clips, recordings and interviews.
At Goldfaden’s death in 1980 in New York, some 70 000 New Yorkers participated at the funeral procession, blocking all traffic in Manhattan in order to pay their last respect to the “Shakespeare of the Jewish people”.
2004 / Romanian w/English sub-titles
Director: Director Radu Gabrea
SILENT WEDDING
Cinema Paradiso-Lauderdale: Thursday, October 16, 7:00pm Film; 8:30pm Wrap Party
Coral Gables Art Cinema: Sunday, October 12, 1pm
Special Guest: writer/director Horatiu Malaele
Based on a true story spanning several days in 1953 in a small rural village in Romania, two young lovers decide to get married. The joyous occasion is interrupted by the news about Joseph Stalin’s death and a mandatory period of commemoration where any public celebration is forbidden. Although the town’s people regard the distant authorities as self-centered power mongers, they have no choice but to comply. Unwilling to completely bow, they adapt by having a silent wedding that is played out with all the farcical pratfalls of a fine mime production.
2008 / 87 min / Romanian w/English sub-titles
Director: Horatiu Malaele
Cast:Meda Andreea Victor, Alexandru Potocean, Valentin Teodosiu, Victor Rebengiuc, Luminita Gheorghiu, Tamara Buciuceanu.
Awards: Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Script 2009 Gopo Awards Romania
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