Bucharest, Romania – The fifth edition of the Film O’Clock International Festival brought limelight to notable international films, resonating with audiences through a variety of themes and narratives. Simona Borcea’s ‘Truth or Dare’ from Romania and Piotr Kaminski’s ‘Hushes and Phonics’ from Poland were both crowned joint winners of the Ex Aequo Jury Award, showcasing their artistic prowess in filmmaking.
The festival’s jury praised ‘Truth or Dare’ for its sharp depiction of adolescence and brilliant performances. Meanwhile, ‘Hushes and Phonics’ garnered accolades for its exquisite cinematography and the depth of its performances. An additional nod was given to the Polish entry ‘From You,’ directed by Jedrzej Gorski which received a Special Honourable Mention for its poignant exploration of a father-son relationship.
Engagement extended beyond the jury, with the Audience Award going to ‘A Promise to the Sea’ by Egyptian filmmaker Hend Sohail. The film captured the hearts of the festival’s audiences, hailed for its heartfelt narrative and exploration of intricate human connections across cultural divides.
The competitive sections of the festival were judged by an eminent panel comprising Romanian director Bogdan Muresanu, Hungarian cinematographer Eszter Csepeli, and Egyptian producer Muhammad Taymour. This year’s festival featured 94 screenings of 38 films from 11 countries including Romania, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, South Africa, Serbia, Hungary, and Poland, celebrating a rich diversity of cinematic expressions.
The festival was enriched with educational initiatives like a film education masterclass aimed at children, conducted by Greek experts from Schedia Art. The interactive sessions with filmmakers and creative cultural evenings further emphasized the festival’s commitment to fostering dialogue and understanding through cinema.
Poland’s cinematic tradition was highlighted prominently this year, particularly through the initiative ‘Solidarity on Screen’ organized in partnership with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. This collaboration was part of Poland’s global cultural outreach during its presidency of the Council of the European Union.
A notable addition to this year’s festival was the launch of ‘Celluloid Solidarity,’ a Romanian-language podcast exploring the global influence and narratives of Polish cinema. The podcast aims to educate and connect audiences by delving into the themes of cinematic solidarity.
The documentary ‘Solaris Mon Amour,’ directed by Kuba Mikurda, offered a poetic journey into Stanislaw Lem’s legendary work, while a conference featuring Mikurda discussed the vital roles that cinema and archives play in collective memory and healing.
The festival also spotlighted film education through an online discussion titled ‘Poets or Engineers on Filmmaking.’ It was a riveting session that featured Rafael Kapelinski, a distinguished Polish director and author, alongside representatives from top Polish film schools. Additionally, the classic Polish film ‘Camera Buff’ by Krzysztof Kieslowski was screened, reaffirming the festival’s dedication to celebrating historic cinematic milestones.
The blend of contemporary and classic cinema, along with educational and interactive activities at the Film O’Clock International Festival, underscored the power of film as a universal language for cultural dialogue and exchange.
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