The Transilvania Intl. Film Festival (TIFF), now celebrating its 25th anniversary, is expanding its industry program for 2026 to include new initiatives and international collaborations, as announced by festival founder Tudor Giurgiu and industry head Ami Geger.
Festival Origins and Growth
Giurgiu, who started TIFF as a showcase for Romanian cinema, aimed to create a platform that not only screened films but also introduced new projects to industry decision-makers. He envisioned the festival as a launchpad for emerging Romanian talent, a vision that materialized with the introduction of the Romanian Days industry section just two years after the festival's inception.
Romanian cinema gained international attention in the mid-2000s with successes like Cristi Puiu's "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu" and Cristian Mungiu's "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," both of which won prestigious awards at Cannes. This synchronicity with Cannes' recognition helped TIFF grow into a year-round platform promoting local cinema.
2026 Program Highlights
The 2026 industry program, running from June 18-20, features the Transilvania Pitch Stop, a co-production forum for filmmakers from Romania, Moldova, Hungary, and other countries, including newcomers Cyprus and Albania. Successful alumni include Christos Nikou's "Apples" and Teodora Ana Mihai's "La Civil."
New projects this year include works by Ukrainian director Philip Sotnychenko and Turkish filmmaker Belkıs Bayrak, along with Romanian cinematographer Adrian Silișteanu's feature debut and Octavian Şaramet's folk-horror project.
New Additions and Focus Areas
This year's program introduces a Book to Screen initiative for Romanian authors and directors, addressing the increasing demand for adaptable intellectual property. Expanded Works in Progress screenings will showcase seven Romanian films in post-production, supported by a €30,000 prize from HBO.
Key events include a keynote by European Film Academy chair Ada Solomon on European film financing and discussions on new funding models for series. AI's role in the industry will be closely examined, alongside masterclasses by filmmakers like Corneliu Porumboiu and Ben Wheatley.
Creating Connections
Geger emphasizes the importance of the festival as a space for meaningful exchanges between local and international professionals, fostering collaborations across different industry sectors. "We see TIFF as a place where ideas can be shared openly, and where new collaborations can take shape," she says. "If participants leave with fresh ideas and new connections, we'll have achieved our goals."
The Transilvania Intl. Film Festival runs from June 12-21, continuing its tradition of supporting emerging voices and expanding its global footprint.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/global/transilvania-film-festival-industry-program-1236771084/
