Mai intai a fost seara de gala de la prestigiosa sala Writers Guild Theatre din Beverly Hills. Peste cinci sute de invitati americani si romani au celebrat cea mai eleganta, si cea mai entuziasta, deschidere a SEEfest, festival aflat la cea de-a opta editie. Ne-am bucurat si mai mult pentru ca organizatorul principal al festivalului este, incepand de anul acesta, cineastul de origine romana Julian Andrei. Fotograf, scriitor, regizor, Julian coordoneaza Exile Group si o serie de pagini de web ce promoveaza artele, si produce filme independente. Seara a culminat cu filmul, si distinsa prezenta a lui Tudor Giurgiu; si pelicula si autorul au animat sala, o excelenta reprezentare a cinematografului romanesc, aplaudata la maxim de catre public. Printre invitati le-am remarcat pe actritele Maria Roman, Ana Pasti si Smaranda Luna, actorul Sebastian Gagyi, producatorii Constantin Brancov si Daniel Anghelcev. Ne-am intretinut cordial cu regizorul Sabin Dorohoi, prezent la randu-i in festival cu scurt metrajul “Way of the Danube”. Si am savurat cateva specialitati culinare romanesti.
Dupa ce ecourile premierei s-au stins, festivalul a continuat in cateva sali de proiectie. Am asteptat cu interest festivitatea de premiere, si nu ne-a surprins titlul comunicaului de presa: Romanian and Greek Films Win Big! Dupa ce gala de deschidere s-a transformat intr-o minunata seara romaneasca, si gala finala ne-a adus in luminile rampei:
After five days in five locations and 40 films shown to diverse audiences in Los Angeles, the South East European Film Festival, SEEfest 2013 concluded Monday night at UCLA’s Bridges Theater. Director Tudor Giurgiu from Romania won “Bridging the Borders” award for Best Feature Film of the festival, working class comedy OF SNAILS AND MEN. Honorable Mention went to Greek filmmaker Adrianos Georgantas for anarchist romance DOGS, CATS & RATS. Both awards are traditionally presented by Cinema Without Borders, festival’s media sponsor. Winner of 2013 Audience Award was Bosnian war drama HALIMA’S PATH by Arsen Anton Ostojić, from Croatia.
Prominent Romanian theater director with multiple awards from the international theater scene, Silviu Purcarete won Best Debut Feature award for a visual stunner SOMEWHERE IN PALILULA, while Best Documentary went to Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu for folkloric feat of PANIHIDA from the Republic of Moldova. Both cinematography awards went to Greek productions: for feature film DOGS, CATS & RATS, cinematographer Nikos Voulgaris; and for documentary MUSTAFA’S SWEET DREAMS, cinematographers Laurent Fénart and Giorgos Giannelis.
(Foto 1: Julian Andrei, Foto 2: laureatii si organizatorii SEEfest 2013)
