Anti-communist dissident Cornea remembered in documentary at TIFF opening gala

A few thousand spectators attended the opening of the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) in the northwestern city of Cluj-Napoca, this year in its 17th edition, on Friday evening where a documentary short film about recently deceased anti-communist dissident Doina Cornea ran, as a tribute to one of the city's most famous personalities.

TIFF ChairmanTudor Giurgiu said at the gala that the idea of presenting the documentary "Papusa" (The Doll), made in 1993 by the Cluj-Napoca-born director Marius Sopterean emerged from a desire to remember the former dissident Doina Cornea, who died only a few weeks ago. This month she would have turned 89. The name of the film alleges to a doll used by Doina Cornea to hide letters she would send to the West.

Speaking about the festival in its 17th edition, Giurgiu said that the TIFF has grown by the years, being loved in Romania and internationally acclaimed.

"We have to do it better, not bigger. There are films in this year's edition from 51 countries, including an Ingmar Bergman retrospective; there are films shot in Cluj, a Japanese director who shot a horror film at the Turda salt mine, as well as an exhibition of photographs by director Lucian Pintilie," Giurgiu said.

The film selected by the organisers for the opening gala was "Foxtrot," a controversial drama based on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that was presented in the presence of director Samuel Moaz. The event was also attended by ambassador of Israel to Bucharest Tamar Samash.

"Foxtrot," a film released for the Venice Festival, focuses on the nation's soldiers, fathers and sons being funny, tragic, a film that takes no prisoners. Director Samuel Maoz earned international acclaim as far back of 2009, with his feature debut "Lebanon," the first Israeli production to win the Golden Lion in Venice; the film was presented a year later at TIFF.

Attending the opening in Unirii Square, located in the centre of Cluj-Napoca, were over 3,000 people, including Cluj-Napoca Mayor Emil Boc, as well as members of the jury of the TIFF competition. In spite of the rain that started only a quarter of an hour before the scheduled time for the reception of the spectators, the organisers were able to fit into the schedule.

Presented at this year's edition of TIFF will be 227 films from 51 countries, including 178 feature films. TIFF17 takes place May 25-June 3. AGERPRES (RO - author: Elena Stanciu, editor: Antonia Nita; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)