At the height of August, Cinemascop Garden once again enters the most vibrant week of the summer. From August 14 to 20, the ninth edition of the Cinemascop Festival returns, bringing European films, creative workshops and play activities, community dinners, and one of the festival’s most anticipated traditions—the silent disco party. The garden gates open every day at 6:00 PM, and admission to all activities is free.

Connections, this summer’s theme, first introduced at Eforie Colorat, continues throughout the festival. Cinemascop remains a place where people come together not only to watch films, but also to spend quality time with one another, create lasting memories through creative workshops and play, enjoy community dinners, socialize, and relax.

Cinemascop continues to be a festival dedicated to European culture, developed together with the cultural institutes that are members of EUNIC Romania. The films featured in the program are provided by the festival’s international partners, and each screening is accompanied by activities that enrich the evening’s experience. To close this year’s edition, audiences will have the opportunity to watch this year’s Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature in a screening organized together with KineDok Romania.

This year’s edition also brings prizes for visitors. Together with the festival’s partner Azuga, Cinemascop is offering gifts to participants who enter the online raffle. Entries can be submitted here: https://tally.so/r/Mel28k. The winners will be drawn on the festival’s closing night, August 20.

This Year’s Film Selection

The festival opens on August 14 with the Hungarian film Orphan, directed by László Nemes, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind Son of Saul. Set in Budapest after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the film follows a 12-year-old boy as he tries to uncover the truth about his family’s past in a society still marked by war and violence. The film is presented by the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre Bucharest.

On August 16, audiences can watch the Polish documentary The Godmothers, directed by Emilia Śniegoska, which follows the friendship between Hanka and Bronka, two women from the village of Pleșa in Bukovina. As the world around them changes, they preserve their independence, humor, and the bond they have built over a lifetime. The film is presented by the Polish Institute Bucharest.

On August 17, the Italian crime comedy Agata Christian: Murder in the Snow, directed by Eros Puglielli, turns the relaunch of a board game into a real-life investigation after a murder and an avalanche leave guests trapped inside a mansion in Italy’s Aosta Valley. Inspired by Agatha Christie’s novels and the success of the Knives Out series, the film is presented by the Italian Cultural Institute Bucharest.

On August 18, the French film Jim’s Story, directed by Jean-Marie and Arnaud Larrieu, follows nearly two decades in the life of Aymeric, who becomes a father to the child of a former classmate despite not being the boy’s biological parent. Presented in the Cannes Première section in 2024 and awarded the César Award for Karim Leklou’s performance, the film is presented by the French Institute in Romania.

On August 19, the Romanian film Catane, the feature debut of Ioana Mischie, tells the story of a community that devised an ingenious way to avoid paying taxes by officially declaring people with disabilities in almost every household. When authorities launch an investigation, the entire community is forced to confront a truth they have long tried to conceal. The film is presented by the Romanian Cultural Institute.

On August 20, the festival concludes with the Czech-Danish documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin, winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Secretly filmed over the course of two years, the documentary follows teacher Pavel Talankin, who captures from within the transformation of the school where he works into a tool of wartime propaganda. The film is presented by the Czech Centre Bucharest, and the screening is organized in partnership with KineDok Romania as part of this season’s selection.

All film screenings begin at 9:00 PM.

Workshops, Silent Disco, and Community Dinners

Every day between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, visitors are invited to take part in creative workshops and play activities. Those who have been attending the festival since its early years know that the children’s workshops have always been a favorite among the youngest visitors. This year, parents are invited to join as well through a special inclusive daily program that combines imagination, fun, and the opportunity to develop new artistic skills. In another corner of the garden, traditional childhood games will be played—bringing back nostalgic memories for adults while offering children the chance to discover them for the first time through a special workshop organized by the festival’s young volunteers.

On the festival’s second day, August 15, the screen gives way to a night of celebration. The Silent Disco Party begins at 9:00 PM, when participants will choose their music directly through wireless headphones and dance to their favorite tunes. Three separate music channels featuring different styles and genres will be available, allowing everyone to switch between playlists whenever they wish.

Community dinners will take place during the festival’s final three evenings. On August 18, visitors will be treated to French cheeses and a selection of appetizers. On August 19, the festival volunteers will host a dinner featuring Romanian specialties, with the menu remaining a surprise. On August 20, curious participants will have the opportunity to prepare chlebíčky, traditional Czech open-faced sandwiches decorated with a variety of ingredients. The most creative creations will be entered into a mini competition with special prizes offered by the Czech Centre Bucharest. The community dinners begin at 8:00 PM and are designed as opportunities for people to meet, connect, and discover the European cultures represented throughout the festival.

Exhibitions and Mini Cinema

At 1M² Gallery, the former cinema ticket booth transformed into an art gallery, visitors will be able to see a video artwork by artist Loredana Bardaș. As every year, the ETAJ on Wheels space at the entrance to the garden will host Sergiu Chihaia’s exhibition dedicated to the resilience of nature. The collective installation created by Alexandra Dumitrescu and Emil Cristian Ghiță at the beginning of the summer continues to collect messages from visitors who wish to share a thought or a memory. Along the promenade, the exhibitions Eforie Unframed and The City with Four Names remain open to the public. Visitors can also enjoy table tennis and LEGO activity areas within the garden.

Mini Cinema presents a selection of British short films curated by the British Council, featuring BAFTA award-winning animations as well as thematic programs dedicated to climate change, communities, and identity.

The Cinemascop Festival was launched in 2018, alongside the reopening of the Eforie Sud summer garden cinema after 14 years during which the venue had been closed to the public. Since then, the festival has returned every year, continuing to strengthen the role of Cinemascop Garden as a cultural hub for both locals and visitors.

Cinemascop Garden is equipped with an accessibility ramp for visitors with reduced mobility, built with the support of Kaufland Romania. Admission to all activities and screenings is free of charge.

For program updates and detailed information about each event, follow Cinemascop Festival on Facebook and Instagram.

Organizer: Visual Arts Forum

Co-organizers: Czech Centre Bucharest, RADEF RomâniaFilm, EUNIC Romania, Nova, Eforie City Hall

Strategic Partner: Kaufland Romania

Sponsors: Škoda Romania, Azuga, Chio, Diesel Mecanica, Iulius Group, Maze Accountant

Institutional Partners: Italian Cultural Institute Bucharest, French Institute in Romania, Polish Institute Bucharest, Romanian Cultural Institute, British Council, Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Centre Bucharest, Goethe-Institut Bucharest, KineDok Romania, ETAJ on Wheels, Short Film Breaks

Media Partners: Radio Romania Cultural, Radio Romania International, Radio Vacanța, Radio Constanța, Gen Știri, Revista Matca, ICON by BIZ, IQads, SMARK, Revista Zeppelin, GenRevista, Zile și Nopți, The Institute, Revista Arta, Munteanu, Delta TV, Go Next, CT News, Daily Magazine, CineGhid, Movie News, Filme-cărți, Arte Vezi, curatorial.ro, Agenția de Carte, Moderrnism.ro, Revista Tomis, Subversiv, Cinemap, Empower Artists Mag, Propagarta, The Woman, Cinepub, Ziarul Metropolis, Happ, Cine Fan, Revista Atelierul, Ziua Constanța, Careers & Business

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