This panel discussion will explore the ways in which film festivals can evolve into better experiences for everyone. The conversation will focus on both ensuring safer spaces for all participants—guests, volunteers, and audiences alike—and improving representation in festival curation, selected films, and featured guests.
The talk stems from an initiative by F-Sides, which originally invited members of the Romanian film industry to discuss the challenges faced by women, and an initiative by Animation Festival Network called Keep Festive, which tries to build safer spaces at film festivals.
Joining the discussion are Valentina Miu (Media Desk Romania), Alexandra Lulache (anthropologist and co-founder of F-Sides Cineclub), Cristina Iacob (co-director of the queer culture festival art200), and Flavia Dima (film critic and cinema curator). The panel will be moderated by Filip Mănișor (executive director of Animest).