Astra Film Festival. Gala Screening with the Film About Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Astra Film Festival. Gala Screening with the Film About Volodymyr Zelenskyy

André Singer expressed a strong desire for the people in Romania to be the first to see this film

“At the first edition, films were screened on a television. At the second, on four interconnected televisions. Now, we see full-dome and VR films that immerse the viewer in the action. Back then, the audience left the room during a Michael Stewart film that dealt with ethnic tensions in Transylvania. Today, people watch the film and then engage in discussions, sometimes in contradiction with the creators. Things have evolved significantly in Romanian society, and documentary films have played a considerable role in that. Documentary films truly contribute to building a better, more democratic society with increased tolerance and understanding among people,” said Dumitru Budrala, the founding director of Astra Film Festival.

Dumitru Budrala, the founding director of Astra Film Festival.

The 30th-anniversary edition of the Astra Film Festival started on Sunday evening with the screening of the film “Meeting Zelenskyy” (work-in-progress), co-directed by the American actor, director, and producer Liev Schreiber and the British director and producer André Singer. The audience in Sibiu and from other parts of Romania, who filled the Thalia Hall in Sibiu, had the opportunity to see this film for the first time and gave it a hearty round of applause. Following the screening, as is the tradition for the past 30 years at the Astra Film Festival, the filmmakers engaged in a dialogue with the audience. The Q&A session included André Singer on stage, Liev Schreiber live from the United States via video conference, the writer, journalist, and diplomat Emil Hurezeanu, and the journalist Amalia Enache. The recording of the discussion can be viewed here: https://fb.watch/nIH6gepibd/.

The Opening Gala of the 30th-anniversary edition of Astra Film Festival was a highly anticipated event for the festival community, reliving in a few minutes the most important and significant moments in the history of Romania’s first and longest-running film festival.

The highlight of the Gala was the screening of the event film, “Meeting Zelenskyy” (work-in-progress), allowing the audience at the Thalia hall in Sibiu to be the first in the world to witness this production.

Created through multiple meetings between the filmmakers and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the documentary not only presents his political rise but also his artistic career, from his debut on stage and in television to his role in the series “Servant of the People,” and even during the war that followed Russia’s aggression. In this way, Sibiu became the stage for a world-class cinematic event, and the audience had the opportunity to see unique footage from the childhood and adolescence of the Ukrainian president, gaining a better understanding of how Volodymyr Zelensky rapidly became one of the most significant global leaders.

“The world will remember Zelenskyy as an extraordinary president who was a very good actor. His message, his declaration the day after the conflict began that he would stay and fight, was very powerful… I don’t like to say it, but he has aged a lot in a year. If you look at the photographs, you’ll see the change. However, what impressed me is his determination to continue answering questions as best as possible, to address the most important issue from his perspective: to continue benefiting from Western support,” said Liev Schreiber in his remarks.

“I really wanted the people whose daily lives are affected by what’s happening in Ukraine to be the first to see this film. And I think this place in Romania, the country where my mother was born, is the perfect place. It is a pleasure and an honor to bring the film here,” André Singer confessed.

Emil Hurezeanu, in turn, mentioned that he watched the film with a lot of emotion and, unlike the film about Gorbachev (“Meeting Gorbachev,” co-directed by Werner Herzog and André Singer, presented at Astra Film Festival 2019), where the story is known and consumed, “Meeting Zelenskyy” talks about a history that is happening now, in front of our eyes. And we don’t know how it will end,” said Hurezeanu.

Astra Film Festival continues today with a rich program, establishing this prestigious cultural event as a true celebration of documentary filmmaking.

Full program: https://www.astrafilm.ro/ro/2023/program-orar

About Astra Film Festival

Astra Film Festival Sibiu, launched in 1993 as an innovative project, is one of the most important non-fiction film festivals in Europe. Under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, the festival is organized by Astra Film, CNM Astra, and the Astra Film Foundation, with the strategic partnership of the Ministry of Culture and with the support of the Sibiu County Council, the National Center for Cinematography, the Romanian Cultural Institute, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sibiu, and the Filmmakers’ Union. The event is co-financed by the Sibiu City Council through the Municipality of Sibiu.

Strategic Partner: Ministry of Culture

Sponsors: HBO Go, Martini, Cinelab, Materom Autohaus, Luthelo, CineGOLD, Promenada Mall, DPD Romania, Kulinarium, Sonne, OAR (Sibiu-Vâlcea)

Monitoring Partner: MediaTrust

Media Partners: Nine O’Clock Europa FM, TV5 Monde, Radio Romania Cultural, News.ro, G4media, Hotnews, Spotmedia, PressHub, Turnul Sfatului, Sibiu 100%, Tribuna, Mesagerul de Sibiu, Ora de Sibiu, Sibiu independent, Sibiul azi, Hermannstädter Zeitung, , Scena9, Cinemagia, Cineuropa, Film New Europe, Observator cultural, Timpul, AaRC, MovieNews, Cinefan, Cinefilia, Liternet, Capital Cultural, Revista Transilvania, Filmtett, Modern Times Review

Communication Partner: PiArt Vision