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MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema has become, since 2006, the leading showcase dedicated to Romanian cinema in the US, while also enlarging the conversation with other countries in Eastern Europe…

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MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema has become, since 2006, the leading showcase dedicated to Romanian cinema in the US, while also enlarging the conversation with other countries in Eastern Europe…

Support

Since 2012, MAKING WAVES has been made possible with the generous and enthusiastic support of more than 600 individual donors: fans of Romanian cinema, artists, audience members, and other key figures from the festival’s creative community…

18th Making Waves
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MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema returns in November-December 2019 with an expanded 14th edition

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The complete MAKING WAVES Festival Collection

The complete MAKING WAVES Festival Collection

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MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema has become, since 2006, the leading showcase dedicated to Romanian cinema in the US, while also enlarging the conversation with other countries in Eastern Europe…

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MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema has become, since 2006, the leading showcase dedicated to Romanian cinema in the US, while also enlarging the conversation with other countries in Eastern Europe…

About

MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema has become, since 2006, the leading showcase dedicated to Romanian cinema in the US, while also enlarging the conversation with other countries in Eastern Europe…

Support

Since 2012, MAKING WAVES has been made possible with the generous and enthusiastic support of more than 600 individual donors: fans of Romanian cinema, artists, audience members, and other key figures from the festival’s creative community…

18th Making Waves
Press & News

MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema returns in November-December 2019 with an expanded 14th edition

Archive

The complete MAKING WAVES Festival Collection

The complete MAKING WAVES Festival Collection

Contact

MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema has become, since 2006, the leading showcase dedicated to Romanian cinema in the US, while also enlarging the conversation with other countries in Eastern Europe…

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Making Waves returns
IFC Center | Roxy Cinema New York | DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema
March 27 - April 2, 2024
Please join in supporting the 18th edition
and enjoy our benefits
In The News
←
A big thank you to our supporters!
April 6, 2024
As the 18th edition of Making Waves comes to a close, we would like to thank our partners and our generous sponsors and individual donors.

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Special encore screening of MMXX
March 29, 2024
Sunday, March 31, at 6:40 pm at IFC Center

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MW18 Trailer
March 29, 2024
Get a glimpse into this year's edition and learn more about this year's selection.

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Tickets are now on sale
March 8, 2024
Check out the festival calendar and get your tickets now!

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IFC Center joins our network of NYC partners
February 21, 2024
Making Waves launches at its 18th edition a partnership with IFC Center, the reputed venue showcasing the best in independent film, including Romanian cinema.

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Old partners, new edition
February 21, 2024
For its 2024 edition, Making Waves continues and extends the partnerships launched last year with Roxy Cinema New York and DCTV's Firehouse Cinema, to present a selection of recent Romanian films, along with surprise special screenings.

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Save the Date!
February 21, 2024
Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema returns to New York in-person from March 27 - April 2, 2024, for its 18th edition. Save the dates and stay tuned!

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Announcing a new edition of Making Waves
February 21, 2024
Making Waves returns with a new edition (its 18th!) of in-person screenings across a network of New York City cinemas in March-April 2024. More details will follow soon. Until then, please consider making a donation today and become a part of the Making Waves family.

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Want to stay in the loop?
April 1, 2022
Do you want to be informed about our next endeavours? Subscribe to our newsletter via Mailchimp or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. We will keep you informed, not spammed.

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Film critic Jay Weissberg at Salon Insula 42
March 28, 2022
On March 26, Making Waves #16 ONLINE presented a special event, in conjuction with the Insula 42 salon series. Film critic Jay Weissberg joined Corina Șuteu and Mihai Chirilov for a live conversation on the 16th Making Waves' lineup, the evolution of Romanian cinema, and much more.

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Richard Peña @ Salon Insula 42: 15 years later
February 12, 2021
On the occasion of the 15th edition of Making Waves, Salon Insula 42 is inviting you to an "essential conversation" with Richard Peña, professor of Film and Media Studies at Columbia University and one of the most dedicated champions of Romanian film in the U.S., on 15 years and more of Romanian film excellency.

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MW18 Lineup
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Angela Goes On
February 28, 2024
SPECIAL SCREENING Lucian Bratu’s forgotten crowd-pleaser from Communist Romania gets a well-deserved exposure thanks to the bits and pieces featured extensively in the latest agit-prop from Radu Jude, Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World. It is an unexpected opportunity to reconsider this bittersweet gem about a divorced, jaded and refreshingly cynical female taxi driver free-wheeling through a traffic-jammed routine. That is until she bumps into a new love interest. On the surface it may look like a social(ist) dramedy of its time, embracing the clichés of most women’s lives. What lies underneath though is a work of quiet subversiveness and subtle feminism that recalls a certain, less obvious Scorsese movie: just like Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Dorina Lazăr’s magnetic presence and flair for heart-tugging warmth make for a rewarding ride.

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MMXX
February 28, 2024
U.S. AVANT-PREMIERE Following his fascinating period piece Malmkrog, Cristi Puiu returns with an equally loquacious epic of a different sort. Ironically reflected in the Roman numerals of the title, the annus horribilis 2020 becomes the backdrop for a daring quartet of seemingly unconnected shorts. The dominant tone is rage, complete with extra layers of domestic unrest that defined the pandemic times. Rigorously composed, some episodes are two-hander conversations captured in a single shot, another one echoes the choreographed chaos in Sieranevada. It’s an intriguing and provocative offer steering from the director’s conviction that back then, dialogue was perceived as an aggression. Going from absurdly funny to grimly macabre, this hard-hitting medley of ‘human comedy’ proportions encapsulates the mundane, bizarre and brutal essence of the deceptive world we all live in.


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Libertate
February 28, 2024
NEW YORK PREMIERE. Q&A with producer Oana Bujgoi Giurgiu following both screenings. The rallying cry that shook Romania in 1989 becomes a chilling backdrop to the true events depicted in this hyper-kinetic historical drama. As protests against the oppressive Ceausescu regime engulf the country, a local police station in the city of Sibiu becomes a chaotic battleground. A violent assault erupts into a bloody clash between soldiers, police, civilians yearning for freedom, and the dreaded Securitate secret police. Each side fights to control the narrative, manipulating information and stoking confusion amidst the turmoil. Caught in the crossfire, a group of men attempting to escape the siege are captured by the army and thrown in an empty swimming pool holding hundreds of other prisoners accused of terrorism. Revisiting this hidden chapter three decades later, it’s a cynical reminder of the challenging foundation upon which Romanian democracy was born.

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Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
February 28, 2024
SPECIAL SCREENING This special screening, held in celebration of Parajanov's centennial, offers a rare glimpse into the enchanting world of the Ukrainian Hutsul people, a mountain community whose culture and traditions extend into neighboring Romania. Set in the Carpathian Mountains, the story follows the star-crossed lovers, Ivan and Marichka, whose passionate bond is tragically tested by ancient feuds and societal pressures. It’s a stunning work of breathtaking beauty, based on a beloved novella by Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky, that transcends the boundaries of language through its vibrant interplay of imagery and evocative music. Lauded by film titans Godard and Tarkovsky, this timeless masterpiece unfolds like a majestic visual symphony of rich colors, symbolism, and dreamlike sequences, drawing inspiration from Ukrainian folk art and mythology, infusing the story with a poetic soul.

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Occasional Spies
February 28, 2024
NEW YORK PREMIERE. Q&A with director Oana Bujgoi Giurgiu. Facing a shortage of skilled agents for a daring rescue mission in occupied Eastern Europe, the Allies turned to a resourceful group of Jewish immigrants who had fled Nazi persecution and arrived in Palestine. These individuals, fluent in the local languages and familiar with the customs, were ideally suited for the task. Trained in Egypt by MI9, they infiltrated Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Romania to locate American prisoners of war and support resistance movements. Due to limited archival footage, Oana Giurgiu delivers the story through a series of still images from reenactments with actors. It’s an innovative approach that effectively creates a sense of watching a live-action film. Shedding light on a lesser-known chapter of WWII, this creative documentary celebrates the unwavering courage of these unlikely heroes who found themselves thrust into the world of espionage.

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Boss
February 28, 2024
NEW YORK PREMIERE An ambulance driver's life spirals into darkness after a botched robbery. Fleeing the scene, he accidentally strikes a witness who falls into a coma, ultimately succumbing under suspicious circumstances. Consumed by guilt and paranoia, he embarks on a relentless pursuit of the truth, the line between hunter and hunted blurring with each step. Razor-sharp dialogue crackles with tension, drawing you deeper into the labyrinthine plot and the protagonist's unravelling psyche. Following his acclaimed 2016 debut, Dogs, Bogdan Mirică's Boss offers a thrilling departure from the conventions of New Romanian cinema. Recalling the captivating ambiguity of The Usual Suspects, this stylish neo-noir, brimming with intricate twists and turns, is a genre-bending experience that rewrites the rules for Bucharest's underbelly with its own distinct personality.

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Between Revolutions
February 28, 2024
NEW YORK PREMIERE Vlad Petri's acclaimed documentary weaves a poignant tapestry of two women's lives, Maria and Zahra, separated by distance yet united by a shared desire for freedom. They met in 1970s in Bucharest as university students and forged a deep friendship that continued even after Zahra's forced return to Iran, sustained through heartfelt letters. Their correspondence depicts the women navigating their complex emotions for each other, which go beyond mere friendship. Petri utilizes rare archival footage, transporting the audience to the heart of historical upheavals in both countries. We witness the exhilaration of protests and the despair that followed disillusionment. Blurring the lines between documentary and fiction, Between Revolutions also explores the enduring power of female friendship and the universal human desire for a life free from oppression.

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A Cautionary Tale
February 28, 2024
NEW YORK PREMIERE. Q&A with director Ilinca Călugăreanu. A Cautionary Tale plunges us into the surreal odyssey of a man who, after 25 years abroad, returns home only to discover he's been declared legally dead. This stranger-than-fiction story made international headlines in 2018, exposing the absurdity of a system that refused to acknowledge his existence despite his physical presence in court. Director Călugăreanu embeds herself in his arduous quest to reclaim his identity, capturing both his desperation and unwavering determination. As the film delves deeper, however, unsettling questions arise about his narrative. Was he truly a victim of bureaucratic blunder, or is there a hidden truth lurking beneath the surface? This thought-provoking exploration, laced with dry humor, leaves viewers grappling with the complexities of truth and the thin line between victim and manipulator.

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Past Editions
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17th Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema
November 16, 2022
March 30 - April 2, 2023 | Metrograph | Roxy Cinema New York | DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema
April 28 - May 4 | Film Forum NYC

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16th Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema
November 1, 2021
March 25-31, 2022 | ONLINE IN THE U.S.
December 7-9, 2021 | Jacob Burns Film Center

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15th Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema
February 5, 2021
Feb 18-24, 2021 | ONLINE IN THE U.S.
Co-presented with the Jacob Burns Film Center

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14th Making Waves: “The Romanians” Retrospective
September 20, 2019
Nov 2019 - Mar 2020 @ Film Forum & U.S. Tour
May 2020 - 2021: ONLINE ON DEMAND

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14th Making Waves: New Releases
June 17, 2020
Dec 5-10, 2019
@ Jacob Burns Film Center

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13th Making Waves
September 26, 2019
Nov 26-Dec 5, 2018
@ BAM & Jacob Burns Film Center

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12th Making Waves
September 26, 2019
Nov 30-Dec 7, 2017
@ BAMcinématek & Jacob Burns Film Center

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11th Making Waves
September 26, 2019
Dec 1-8, 2016
@ Jacob Burns Film Center

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10th Making Waves
September 26, 2019
Dec 2-8, 2015
@ Film Society of Lincoln Center & Jacob Burns Film Center

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9th Making Waves
September 26, 2019
Dec 4-10, 2014
@ Film Society of Lincoln Center & Jacob Burns Film Center

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8th Making Waves
September 26, 2019
Nov 29 - Dec 10, 2013
@ Film Society of Lincoln Center & Jacob Burns Film Center

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7th Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema
September 26, 2019
Nov 29 - Dec 5, 2012
@ Film Society of Lincoln Center

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Past Editions 2006 – 2011
September 26, 2019
Take a stroll down memory lane. MAKING WAVES: New Romanian Cinema continues, in a new configuration, the Romanian Film Festival in NYC, initiated in 2006 and chaired by reputed cultural entrepreneur and cultural policy expert and trainer Corina Suteu, under the artistic direction of Mihai Chirilov.

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Visual Diaries
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Photos: 14th MW – Retrospective
November 1, 2021
For its 2019 edition, Making Waves celebrated the 30 years since the Revolution of 1989 with a comprehensive 30-Film Retrospective of Romanian Cinema of the Past 30 Years at Film Forum New York.

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Photos: 14th MW – New Releases
November 1, 2021
December 2019 at the Jacob Burns Film Center

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Photos: 13th MW
May 11, 2023
For its 13th edition at BAM and the Jacob Burns Film Center, from November 26 - December 5, 2018, Making Waves showcased not just its traditional best of year selection, but also a brand new wave of female directors in Romanian cinema, and a retrospective of director Radu Jude.

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Photos: 12th MW
May 11, 2023
The 12th edition of Making Waves, from November 30 - December 7, 2017, marked a change in format, with different and complementary programs presented in the two partner venues - BAMcinématek, and the Jacob Burns Film Center. 

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Photos: 11th MW
May 11, 2023
From December 1-8, 2016, the 11th edition of Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema presented at the Jacob Burns Film Center the best of recent Romanian Cinema, with Poland as the year’s guest country.

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Photos: 8th MW
May 11, 2023
The 8th edition of Making Waves took place at the Film Society of Lincoln Center from November 29 to December 3, 2013, with a varied program of contemporary and classic Romanian filmmaking. For the first time, the series expanded with a selection at the Jacob Burns Film Center from December 5-10.

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Photos: 7th MW
May 11, 2023
Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema continued the celebrated Romanian film series in New York at the Film Society of Lincoln Center from November 29 to December 5, 2012, marking its reinvention under the leadership of the Romanian Film Initiative.

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Team
←
Corina Șuteu
Festival President
October 24, 2019
Corina Șuteu is the initiator and president of the Romanian Film Festival in New York since 2006. An international cultural consultant, she was Romania's Minister of Culture.

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Oana Radu
Festival Manager
September 12, 2019
Oana Radu is a cultural manager and cultural policy consultant. Co-founder of Film ETC Association and manager of Making Waves.

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Mihai Chirilov
Artistic Director
September 12, 2019
Co-founder of the Romanian Film Initiative, Mihai Chirilov has been the Artistic Director of the Romanian Film Festival in NYC since its founding in 2006.

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Andi Vasluianu
Co-Founder & MW Ambassador
September 12, 2019
Andi Vasluianu is one of the most prolific and talented actors of his generation. A co-founder of Film ETC. Association and Making Waves Ambassador.

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Elvira Lupșa
Development Associate
September 12, 2019
Elvira Lupșa joined Film ETC. since its launch in 2012. She conceived the first successful crowdfunding campaign for a major Romanian project - the independent 2012 Making Waves Festival.

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Elena Coman
Social media coordinator
October 24, 2019
Our new team member, Elena Coman is a theater critic, cultural events planner and publicist.

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Follow Us
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Contact
October 31, 2019
Film ETC. Association
42 Theodor Aman St, #4
Bucharest 010779, Romania

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Newsletter Sign-up
September 12, 2019
Subscribe to our newsletter via Mailchimp.
We will keep you informed, not spammed.

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Facebook
September 12, 2019
You can find more on our official facebook page: facebook.com/MakingWavesRO

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Instagram
September 12, 2019
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/MakingWavesRO

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YouTube
September 12, 2019
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/MakingWavesRO

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Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema is the longstanding Romanian Film Festival in New York. Initiated and presented by Film ETC Association, in partnership with leading U.S. organizations, including the Jacob Burns Film Center (since 2013), Film Forum (since 2109), BAM (since 2017), or the Film Society of Lincoln Center (2011-2015).

MakingWaves © 2012-2023

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