Actors, Renowned Directors, and Stars: the Special Guests at TIFF.23

Jojo T. Gibbs, one of the most promising emerging actresses, is a special guest at the 23rd edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival (June 14-24, 2024, Cluj-Napoca). She will also attend the festival's Opening Gala, where the latest film directed by Luc Besson, Dogman, will be screened.

An actress and comedian, Jojo T. Gibbs first gained attention in Twenties, a partially autobiographical comedy series about a young queer woman of color and her straight friends. She then starred in significant films such as Past Lives (dir. Celine Song, nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, 2023), Dogman, where she plays the prison psychiatrist of the protagonist who survived a traumatic childhood through his love for dogs, and most recently in Alex Garland's dystopian thriller Civil War.

Considered one of the most important contemporary Italian filmmakers, Daniele Luchetti is one of the directors honored at TIFF.23 in the 3x3 section. He will be present at the screening of his film Confidenza on Saturday, June 15, at 19:00 at the Student Culture House, where he will receive the Special Award for Contribution to World Cinema. Daniele Luchetti will be present at TIFF with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute in Bucharest.

Her role in Head-On (dir. Fatih Akin, 2004), which earned her two Lola Awards, propelled her to the ranks of Europe's top actresses, and international fame followed her performance in the hit series Game of Thrones. We’re talking about Sibel Kekilli, who will attend TIFF as a member of the jury deciding the Official Competition awards.

Also invited as a member of the Official Competition jury is Konstantinos Kontovrakis, one of the most important European producers, who in recent years has produced or co-produced internationally awarded films such as "How to Have Sex" (dir. Molly Manning Walker, winner of the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes in 2023) and "Triangle of Sadness" (dir. Ruben Östlund, Palme d'Or winner at Cannes in 2022).

A regular at TIFF, director Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson returns to Cluj-Napoca for the fourth time, this time as a jury member. This follows the natural progression after his first English-language film, Northern Comfort (2023), opened last year's festival.

The Official Competition jury also includes Romanian director Paul Negoescu (Two Lottery Tickets, Men of Deeds) and Markéta Šantrochová, president of European Film Promotion.

The What's Up, Doc? competition jury includes editor and director Dana Bunescu, Bulgarian producer Mira Staleva, and Italian film critic Giuseppe Gariazzo.
 

Known for landmark films such as Buletin de București (dir. Virgil Calotescu) and The Curse of the Earth, the Curse of Love (dir. Mircea Mureșan), Catrinel Dumitrescu is a significant name in Romanian cinema and theater. She will receive the Excellence Award at the TIFF.23 Closing Gala and participate in a special screening of Marriage with Rehearsal (dir. Virgil Calotescu) on Saturday, June 22, at 17:00 at Cinema ARTA.

Bogdan Dumitrache has grown alongside the New Wave, starring in major Romanian productions from The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu (dir. Cristi Puiu) to Child’s Pose (dir. Călin Netzer) and When Evening Falls on Bucharest or Metabolism (dir. Corneliu Porumboiu). At TIFF.23, you can see two of his latest films – 3 Kilometers to the End of the World (dir. Emanuel Pârvu) and Free Fall (dir. Fésős András) – and meet him at Q&A sessions.

Premiering nationally at TIFF, 3 Kilometers to the End of the World is the only Romanian film selected in the Official Competition at the most recent edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Special guests include director Emanuel Pârvu and Miruna Berescu, the film’s producer and co-writer.

One of the most important Romanian directors of all time, Stere Gulea, will present the premiere of Moromeții 3, the final part of the trilogy based on Marin Preda’s novels, at TIFF. He will be joined in Cluj by actors Horațiu Mălăele, Olimpia Melinte, Alex Călin, Dorina Chiriac, and Mara Bugarin. The screening of Moromeții 3 will take place on Friday, June 21, in Piața Unirii.

Ilie Năstase and Ion Țiriac will be present at the screening of the film NASTY (dir. Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu, Tudor D. Popescu) in Piața Unirii on Sunday, June 16.

The legendary artist Marina Voica returns to TIFF, this time as the protagonist of the film Night Butterflies (dir. Andrei Răuțu), selected in the Romanian Film Days.

Among this year’s festival guests are directors Cristi Puiu and Nae Caranfil, actors Iulian Postelnicu, Rodica Lazăr, Dorian Boguță, Katia Pascariu, Dana Rogoz, Ana Ularu, and Toma Cuzin, as well as celebrities like Doina Levintza, Ovidiu Buta, Irina Margareta Nistor, Amalia Enache, and Andreea Esca.