BFFF 2022
In 2022, we organised the MANIFEST Edition, an edition through which we wanted to talk about why we still need feminism and gender equality in 2022, in a European country, and to look at feminism & gender equality from different perspectives, with people with different experiences & backgrounds. Through 4 days of film screenings and educational events, we set out to explore the past, see where and why feminism emerged, and demystify the extremism that is associated with it. We tried to reclaim it, while bringing into the light its core values and showing the changes it brought throughout time.
Through the dialogue provoked by the films, we also wanted to address the question “Who is/can be a feminist?” and to convey our belief – that feminism is not just for women, but for everyone – that gender inequality issues affect us all, from an early age.
For us, feminism is a personal need to live freer, to let go of labels, to free ourselves from the grips of patriarchy and imposed social standards.
How was the MANIFEST edition?
The first day of the festival started with a feminist manifesto, where we listened to Ionela Băluță, conf. Univ. Ph.D. at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Bucharest, Tristan Garcia, political advisor, The Embassy of Canada in Romania, Andrada Cilibiu, human rights activist, FILIA Center, and Cătălin Teniță, deputy in the Romanian Parliament, who shared with us their perspective of the importance of feminism. The evening continued with the screening of the film Immaculate, directed by Monica Stan, and ended with a Q&A session with Cezar Grumăzescu and Ana Dumitrașcu, actors in the main roles.
On the second evening, we listened to the radiophonic theatre Frica în sân, which talks about breast cancer, from Teatru Improbabil, we explored feminist films, we listened to the stories of directors who talked about their work, their ideas and future projects, we laughed together and we were excited to see how people showed up, with curious eyes, to take part in the discussions and see the films.
On Saturday, we met again to watch feminist films together, and this time we explored screenings about the experiences of queer people, while we also continued to listen to the stories from the digital exhibition brought to the festival by Identity.Education Association. We also had Q&A sessions, and in the second part of the day, an intersectional panel discussion about gender roles & stereotypes. The Make it double panel was joined by Arthur Chays, director from France, Carmen Gheorghe, E-Romnja, Patrick Brăila, trans activist, ACCEPT, Lia Suderman, director, in a discussion moderated by Cătălin Georgescu. At the end of the evening, we also had with us the girls from F-Sides Cineclub on stage, who told us about the great work they do.
Step by step, we reached the last day of the festival, after we laughed & cried together while watching some films and listening to the discussions with the experts, and we ended up looking for solutions to the problems we face, irrespective of our gender.
On the last day, we had screenings about body and sexuality, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and a panel discussion about the representation of women in politics attended by Oana Țoiu, Petre Florin Manole, Mihaela Ștefan and Ciprian Ciucu, moderated by Teodora Munteanu. After the debate, we had the short films category about gender-based violence and the closing ceremony.
BFFF 2022 After Movie
You can see the story of the second edition of the Bucharest Feminist Film Festival in the after movie below.
Awards in 2022
In 2022, the jury was made up of Ruxandra Ghițescu, Ioana Bugarin and Andra Tarara.
The award for the best foreign short film was awarded to “PERFORMANCE 54”, directed by Alimohammad Eghbaldar, “For the originality and playful spirit with which it brings into discussion universal themes of patriarchal societies and gender roles, and for exposing specific issues, and because it provides a framework for the representation of marginalised voices,” adds the jury.
The first special mention went to “INVISIBLE HANDS”, directed by Lia Sudermann and Simon Nagy, who were in Bucharest with us throughout the festival, “For the way in which it debates, without drawing conclusions, the discussion around domestic work and the difficulties of escaping from it. You can’t go on strike at home!”, explains the jury.
And the second special mention went to the film “THINGS THAT DON’T DIE”, directed by Manuela Gutierrez, who was also with us in Bucharest, ”For the courage of facing with sincerity and candour a contemporary struggle”.
Partners
The second edition of the Bucharest Feminist Film Festival was organised with the support of the Embassy of Canada in Romania, the Bucharest Community Foundation & Swimathon Bucharest (& to all the swimmers who helped us raise funds), the Embassy of Spain in Romania and the Austrian Cultural Forum and those who supported us with donations.
Main media partner: Radio Guerilla
Media partners: IQ Ads, Igloo, Munteanu recommends, Private Education, Film Menu, Movienews, Spotmedia.ro, Days and Nights, Zeppelin Magazine, AIVImedia.hub and LitFem.
And because any successful event must be accompanied by good wine, we want to thank Domeniile Sâmburești for making our cocktail party for the opening of this edition a very special one. We also thank Aqua Carpatica and FruFru for helping us take care of the volunteers we worked with.
See you there!
