Unirii Open Air at TIFF.23: Premieres, Sparkling Comedies, and Box Office Hits

The Unirii Open Air programme for the 23rd edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival (June 14-24, 2024, Cluj-Napoca) will bring to the audience Romanian film premieres, sparkling comedies, documentaries on the power of sports, and epic historical productions.

Tickets for the films in Piața Unirii, as well as for other TIFF.23 events, are available online at https://tiff.eventbook.ro/hall/unirii-open-air

Over 3,000 spectators are expected on Friday, June 14, for the TIFF.23 Opening Gala, to watch Luc Besson's latest film, Dogman (France, 2023), on the big screen. Known for cult films like Léon: The Professional and The Fifth Element, Besson presents a powerful story of revenge and redemption, featuring a protagonist who, after a traumatic childhood, now burgles wealthy homes with the help of a pack of dogs, the only creatures that ever showed him affection. Caleb Landry Jones, known for films like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (dir. Martin McDonagh) and Nitram (dir. Justin Kurzel), for which he won an award at Cannes in 2021, delivers a masterful performance.

Those who believe football is primarily a men's sport and that the women's game couldn't draw a large audience should see Copa 71 (dir. Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine, UK, 2024), a documentary produced by Serena and Venus Williams about the 1971 Women's World Cup, an unofficial event held in Mexico. Archival footage and interviews with those who experienced that moment reveal an incredible event, completely ignored by FIFA and forgotten by history, but one that finally deserves recognition. The screening will take place on Saturday, June 15.

Nasty, r. Tudor Giurgiu, Tudor D. Popescu și Cristian Pascariu

Following a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival, Nasty (Romania, 2024) arrives in Unirii Open Air, Cluj-Napoca. Directed by Tudor Giurgiu, Tudor D. Popescu, and Cristian Pascariu, this documentary delves into the impressive career of Ilie Năstase, the "bad boy" of tennis and the first leader of the ATP rankings after its establishment. As the star of the film himself says, "It's not just a film about tennis, but also a film about a different era of sport, about friendship, hard work, and staying true to yourself. It's what I've always done, but in my own way." The screening will be on Sunday, June 16.

Also from the world of sports comes Voy! Voy! Voy! (dir. Omar Hilal, 2023, Egypt's Oscar submission), a sparkling and absurd comedy based on a true story. The film's protagonist would do anything to escape his mundane life and leave his native Egypt for Europe—anything, including completely abandoning morality and pretending to be blind to join a football team set to participate in the Blind Football World Championship in Poland. The screening will be on Monday, June 17.

Mads Mikkelsen headlines The Promised Land (dir. Nikolaj Arcel, Denmark, 2023), an epic historical production inspired by the true story of an 18th-century army captain who retires to become a simple farmer. This Nordic western premiered in the official competition at the Venice Film Festival and promises a visual feast best seen on a big screen. The screening will be on Tuesday, June 18.

One of last year's biggest box office hits in Poland, Kos (dir. Pawel Maslona, 2023) is also a historical film set in 1794, focusing on the emblematic Polish figure, General Tadeusz Kościuszko, who mobilized the population to fight against the Russians. The film's atmosphere has been compared to Quentin Tarantino's works, so prepare for an adrenaline shot that will keep you glued to the screen. The screening will be on Wednesday, June 19.

Direct from the Official Competition at Cannes comes Three Kilometers to the End of the World (dir. Emanuel Pârvu, Romania, 2024), a film that questions familial love, asking what the limits are when it comes to the unconditional love parents are supposed to have for their children. The screening will be in the presence of the team on Thursday, June 20.

Moromeții 3, r. Stere Gulea

Moromeții 3 (Romania, 2024), the final film in Stere Gulea's trilogy based on Marin Preda's novels, will have its premiere at TIFF.23. This time, the focus is on Niculae, the youngest son of Ilie Moromete, now a young writer called to support the party line and participate in collectivization. Unlike the previous films, Moromeții 3 is not based on a specific novel but on an original screenplay by Stere Gulea. The top-tier cast includes Alex Călin, Horațiu Mălăele, Mara Bugarin, Olimpia Melinte, Iulian Postelnicu, and Răzvan Vasilescu. The screening will be on Friday, June 21.

Renowned screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga, best known for his collaborations with Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel earned him an Oscar nomination), penned the script for Upon Open Sky (Mexico, 2023), the debut film of his children, Mariana and Santiago Arriaga. Part road movie, part coming-of-age story, it follows two teenage siblings driven by revenge, who reach the US-Mexico border in pursuit of the person they believe responsible for their father's death. The screening will be on Saturday, June 22.

A 32-year-old man, an immortal who is already 8000 years old, and a rat meet on a moving train. This is the crazy premise of Seven Hills Seven Seas (dir. Ram, India, 2023), and it’s best not to know more about the story before watching to be fully surprised by this fascinating odyssey that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The screening will be on Sunday, June 23.

Lucky Winners, r. Maxime Govare și Romain Choay

The odds of winning at the lottery are extremely low, possibly even lower than being struck by a meteorite. Nonetheless, you've probably wondered at least once what you would do if it happened to you. In four comedic stories, Lucky Winners (dirs. Maxime Govare and Romain Choay, France, 2024) shows a few characters who experience this fortune. See what they ultimately do with the money and what the money does to them. The title is, of course, ironic, and it's up to you whether it gives you something to think about or not, but it will certainly make you laugh. The screening will be on Monday, June 24.

TIFF.23 passes are available online at https://tiff.eventbook.ro/