The Romanian Film Festival in the United Kingdom returns to Colchester on 28 and 29 November and to London from 2 to 7 December to promote Romanian cinema, celebrate Romania’s National Day and strengthen ties between filmmakers and British audiences.
In London, the festival will open on 2 December with the UK premiere of “You Don’t Belong Here” (2026), directed by Florin Serban, winner of the Golden Leopard at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, the organisers announced in a press release.
The screening of the film, which also won the Sarajevo Heart Award for Best Actor for Adrian Vancica, will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
The programme also includes an anniversary screening, marking 20 years since its premiere, of “12:08 East of Bucharest,” directed by Corneliu Porumboiu, as well as a rare special screening of “The Re-enactment” (1968), the masterpiece by director Lucian Pintilie, which received the prestigious Caméra d’Or award at Cannes.
Six directors whose films feature in the festival selection – Florin Serban, Paul Negoescu, Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, Ana-Felicia Scutelnicu, Corneliu Porumboiu and Tudor Giurgiu – will attend the London screenings to present their films and participate in discussions with audiences during question-and-answer sessions following the screenings. They will be joined by actress Andreea Vasile.
The London screenings will take place at Curzon Mayfair and Curzon Soho cinemas, while the Firstsite gallery in Colchester will host three special screenings ahead of the programme in the British capital.
The events will be accompanied by a gala reception on 1 December at the headquarters of the Ratiu Family Foundation.
Organised by ReelON Media Ltd and the Art Acord Cultural Association, the Romanian Film Festival in the United Kingdom is a recent cultural initiative created by Manuela R. Morar and Alexandru Gherman, continuing the tradition of promoting Romanian cinema in the UK.
The Department for Romanians Abroad earmarked RON 156,395 to fund this year’s edition of the festival.
