After 15 years, hundreds of films, workshops, programs, and thousands of spectators, EducaTIFF, the special section of the Transilvania International Film Festival (June 14-24, Cluj-Napoca) dedicated to film education, becomes MiniTIFF, a film festival set to take place in October in Cluj-Napoca.
At a time when media literacy skills are more important than ever, MiniTIFF aims to continue EducaTIFF's mission to cultivate the passion of young and very young audiences for the art of cinema and to help them better understand and discern visual culture.
"In the last 15 years, EducaTIFF has brought hundreds of films to students, followed by discussions with directors, teachers, and specialists, dozens of cinematic and media education workshops, initiated Cinema Hour – a film education project in schools which will be introduced in the curriculum of two high schools in Cluj-Napoca and Focșani this year – and contributed to the development of the film audience in Romania. Transforming this extensive program into an independent festival thus came as a natural step. We will use our experience working with young people, children, and teachers to develop MiniTIFF, a three-day festival entirely dedicated to young people and education, which will take place in October in Cluj. We are warming up at TIFF.23 with a special selection of films," said Maria Dobre, MiniTIFF coordinator.
Blondi (dir. Dolores Fonzi, Argentina, 2024, 12+): Shows the perfect relationship between a mother and her son – they share the same passions, go everywhere together, and even share the same friends.
Fox and Hare Save the Forest (dir. Masha Halberstad, Netherlands, 2024, 7+): A magical animation selected in the Generations section at Berlinale, where a fox and a hare go on an adventure to find their missing friend.
The Path of Excellence (dir. Frédéric Mermoud, France, 2024, 14+): A brilliant student leaves her parental home to attend a school for the gifted.
Horia (dir. Ana-Maria Comănescu, Romania, 2024, 12+): One of the most important Romanian debuts this year, about a teenager who embarks on a journey across the country on his father's old moped to meet the girl he loves.
Scrapper (dir. Charlotte Regan, UK, 2023, 12+): A debut feature that won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl living alone in London who realizes life isn't so rosy without any adults around.
All About the Levkoviches (dir. Ádám Breier, Hungary, 2024, 10+): A heartwarming and humorous family film about a boxing coach and his son, with whom he struggles to communicate.
Arnold Cautious and the Happiness Stone (dir. Arto Halonen, Finland, 2023, 7+): A Finnish fantasy about a boy with a rich imagination who embarks on the adventure of his life.
Excursion (dir. Una Gunjak, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2023, 14+): The story of a teenager whose life is turned upside down after she lies about having sex with her boyfriend during a game of "truth or dare."
Tickets for the films are available online at tiff.ro/filme/minitiff.
More details about MiniTIFF will be communicated soon.