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And all the best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a great New Year!

We continue to bring you news from the world of Romanian film...

Ada Condeescu during the Q&A session following the screening of 'If I want to Whistle, I Whsitle' in the Romanian Film Festival in London, 2010

Europe's Hottest Young Actors to be Awarded at Upcoming Berlinale Romanian actress Ada Condeescu is one of the 10 exceptional young European actors selected as the 2013 SHOOTING STARS to be showcased February 9 – 11 at the 63rd Berlinale. Ada Condeescu's selected films: Loverboy by Catalin Mitulescu (Romania, Slovenia 2011) Wolf (Lupu) by Bogdan Mustata (Romania, Germany 2013) If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (Eu cand vreau sa fluier, fluier) by Florin Serban (Romania, Slovenia 2010) Jury's comment: “In Loverboy Ada Condeescu gives an impressive performance: sensual, loving and convincing. The camera loves her without falling into vulgarity or voyeurism.” Details here: www.shooting-stars.eu/en/press/2012/2012_12_12_2013_shooting_stars_announced.php Previous Romanian actors selected for this program: Ana Ularu (2012) , Dragos Bucur (2009), Anamaria Marinca (2008) and Maria Popistaşu (2007). Ada Condeescu was present in the Romanian Film Festival in London in 2010, for the screening of If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle.

It gives us great pleasure to bring you news from the world of Romanian film: awards, premieres, film and DVD launches...

Călin Peter Netzer

Berlinale 2013: The Berlinale’s Competition section has picked the first six films for the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival. They include productions and co-productions from Austria, Chile, France, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Spain and the USA. The Romanian film  is: POZIŢIA COPILULUI (Child's Pose) By Călin Peter Netzer (Maria, Medal of Honour, Zapada mieilor) With Luminiţa Gheorghiu, Bogdan Dumitrache, Florin Zamfirescu Details on www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_15828.html Călin Peter Netzer's films Maria and Medal of Honour were screened in London, to great public acclaim, within the Romanian Film Festival in 2003 (1st edition), 2010 and 2012 (7th and 9th editions) respectively.

You might know Profusion International as the people behind the Romanian Film Festival in London. Another important part of our work, also aimed at presenting to the British audience aspects of life and culture from Eastern Europe, is the collection of original crime writing Profusion Crime.

Have a look! http://twitrpix.com/69l8

“The 9th edition of The Romanian Film Festival (RFF) in London is a unique opportunity to enjoy a showcase of Romania’s most exciting new films.

The Romanian Film Festival took off in 2003. The Romanian New Wave was about to take off at the same time, highlighting remarkable actors and young directors. Supported and inspired by these sparkling new talents, the Festival went from strength to strength. For example, in Britain, we were the first to screen the short films and the debut feature of the prizewinning director Cristian Mungiu, who went on to forge an international reputation, and remains a friend and supporter of the event. In the ensuing years a long list of actors and directors have shown their work at the RFF, then developed into household names.

At the same time the Festival has continued to celebrate the classic Romanian cinema, acquainting British audiences with the best in our tradition. In 2004, for example, the highlight of the festival was the Lucian Pintilie Retrospective, which featured a stimulating appearance by the director.

The Festival has always been an important means of transmitting a positive message about Romania, and the rest of the East and Central European region. In contrast to routine media coverage, the films being screened are among the few positive contributions to images of life in the region. Ironically, the New Wave directors have been among the most acute and perceptive critics of Romania’s post revolutionary society, but this has been far from promoting a negative image of the country. Instead, in London, Berlin, Cannes and New York, their films have been recognised as a challenge to stereotypes, offering audiences a detailed understanding of Romanians as individuals like themselves.

The Festival is a not-for-profit enterprise, functioning with the help of grants and sponsorship from our numerous friends and supporters. Many thanks to you all.

We look forward to celebrating together the Romanian cinema in London. See you on the red carpet!”

Ramona Mitrică, Festival Director

“There is a growing interest in Romanian cinema in the UK, and we expect attendance by a large number of film lovers, both cinema aficionados and people who have discovered the Romanian New Wave in the past few years. Our aim is to encourage UK audiences to discover and appreciate the essence of Romanian identity. So the goals and working methods of the Romanian Film Festival are not about promoting an official line, but about presenting to the world some of the best examples of our country’s culture, in the hope that the audience will feel the same way as we do about the special qualities of Romania and its people.” (Ramona Mitrica, Festival Director)