Young filmmakers’ contest takes place in Chisinau

Chisinau, 06 August /MOLDPRES/ – Seven teams of young filmmakers from Moldova, Romania and Ukraine participated in a contest "48h Moldovan Film Challenge" – "We Awake the Moldovan Cinema", held on 04-06 August in Chisinau. The competition ended on 06 August at Cultural Centre Odeon in Chisinau, where the seven films made for 48 hours were presented to public and appreciated by a jury led by director Sergiu Prodan.

The project is implemented by MOLDOX Association, the Association for Creative Development, MILK FILMS in partnership with the Moldova Film Studio and financially supported by the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau. It began on 04 August morning when the directors ran a sentence and a props object to be used for the film.

Interviewed by the agency, Jonathan Wolfington, Press Attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Chisinau, said that "48h Moldovan Film Challenge" was a project-challenge for young filmmakers from Moldova, Ukraine and Romania, attended by actors not only from the countries but also from Germany and Greece. According to the quoted source, its aim was to reanimate and remove from numbness the local cinema and to create a community of future filmmakers in Moldova.

At his part, the director of Moldova Film Studio, Alexandru Vasilache, said that "48h Moldovan Film Challenge" was an unusual project that attracted the interest of young filmmakers, eager to make films of quality.

Attending the event, director of the National Centre for Cinematography, Valeriu Jereghi, said that the project in question gave young filmmakers a chance to assert themselves. "I am glad to find that this competition is not the first collaboration in cinematography field with the U.S. Embassy, ​​and I would like to thank once again for the support given in our attempt to relaunch this very important domain," said Valeriu Jereghi.

In the possession of the best film award – Fluturele traieste doar o zi (The butterfly lives only a day), team Racheta composed by: Mihai Bruma – directing, Nahaba Stefan and Felicia Plamadeala – producers; Ruben Agadjanean – picture director; Maxim Cebanenco – sounder, Oksana Buga – screenwriter and actors Igor Babiac (Republic of Moldova), Janosch Fries (Germany) and Dakis Antropakis (Greece). The prize is worth $5,000 and consists of materials and equipment for future cinematographic production. The condition is that this is to be done in Moldova.

Film Bust was awarded for the best Cinematography, while for the best Screenplay Award – Scirtiit sportiv (Sport creak) movie, made by the Romanian team. Marcela Nistor was chosen for best Actress Award (in Bust) and Dragos Berghia for best Actor Award, in Taci si inghite (Shut up and Swallow).

The awards were handed by U.S. Ambassador to Moldova, James D. Pettit. The official said films could play a very important role in society and that the contest was a successful one.

(Reporter N. Roibu, editor L. Alcaza)