4 competition sections and 12 theme programs at AFF 2019

     Having reached its 26th edition, this year the International Astra Film Festival in Sibiu will bring from October 14 to 20, a selection of the latest 126 productions from 45 countries. 47 titles divided into 4 sections will compete for the Astra Film Festival 2019 awards. The programme is completed by many other exceptional films, grouped according to their topics in 12 special thematic programmes which bring on the big screen topics that weigh on us these days, no matter the sex, nationality or age.
The 12 films selected in the Romania competition represent 12 ways of deeply exploring the turbulent history of the country and the more or less visible effects on the present, boldly searching for the faces of truth. The Central and Eastern Europe competition includes 11 documentaries which- despite the topic diversity - have in common the force with which they are able to enter the intimate universe of people or nations of the former Soviet area. 10 strong films made by the most promising voices of the documentary film world are part of the International competition. It`s been 20 years since AFF has been including films produced by film schools and universities from

 all over the world and this year the best 14 of them are in the DocSchool competition, bringing together students from Romania, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, England, Belgium, Israel, India or Lebanon.   
     The AFF 2019 Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 19 and the winning films can be seen again in the last festival day – on Sunday, October 20.
The programme of this year`s edition is a rich and diverse one and besides the 12 special programmes dominated by films which train and sharpen the mind of the viewers and which offer them a different perspective on the world.. An extremely captivating film experience awaits the children and the teenagers in the Astra Film Junior section, which brings over 20 documentaries this year, which tackle on topics such as climate changes, the wish for a better future, social movements, justice or national identities.
     The films in the theme programs recall moments in the recent history of Europe, between two walls – one which was demolished in 1989 and the second one which – almost 30 years later - was built  out of the fear of strangers (Videograms - Romania 1989 and Europa 30), they reach deep into the secrets that marriage, love and sex hide (Sex Work Stories and Marriage, Sex and Beyond), bring the stories of some women who are ready to challenges life for one ideal, for surviving or for the sake of others (Power is Feminine), they capture the private microcosmos of their authors or nations
in great detail (The Family Camera and China Unknown) or they bring the justice system closer to the citizens (The Legal System Under Scrutiny).

     Since Asen Balikci, one of the prominent figures in modern visual anthropology, passed away, this year AFF dedicates a portrait-programme to him including film screenings and panel discussions. DokStation will present three musical documentaries in Sibiu from this year`s programme of the festival bearing the same name. the section called Great Masters of the Documentary includes the latest creations of some important names in the film world: Viktor Kossakovsky, Kim Longinotto and Werner Herzog, who brings a memorable conversation with none other than Gorbaciov on the big screen. The festival will also include event-screenings: Colectiv, Touch Me Not, Siberia în oase and Între chin și amin.
     Details: www.astrafilm.ro