Teen Spirit
TEEN SPIRIT at TIFF.25: A Program Created by Gen Z for Gen Z
The Transilvania International Film Festival (June 12–21, 2026, Cluj-Napoca) continues to create space for a new generation of cinephiles and creators through Teen Spirit, a program which, alongside its competitive section juried by teenagers, will also include a special initiative this year: a festival program designed entirely by young people. Bringing energy, diversity, and alternative formats to TIFF, the program features screenings, workshops, analog markets, sports, music, urban art, and conversations around topics relevant to the younger generation.
Following a call launched among TIFF volunteers, several teams were formed and invited to propose program concepts dedicated to Gen Z audiences.
The winning project was developed by a group of eight young people aged 18 to 25, who will curate and implement a special program during the festival, at the Cluj-Napoca Art Museum, with free admission. Updates about Teen Spirit will be shared on Instagram and TikTok at @teenspirit.tiff.
Weekend 1 — June 13 & 14 — Analog Market — 12:00–18:00
A market dedicated to analog culture, where visitors can discover and purchase vinyl records, DVDs, Blu-rays, VHS tapes, audio-video equipment, and other media objects curated by invited collectors and sellers. A space for enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone curious to explore the physical formats that continue to inspire us today.
Guests: Used Products, Sound Ancestors (Baia Mare)
Monday, June 15 — One City, Many Stories — 15:00–17:00
A multicultural gathering organized in partnership with Adunat Association, bringing together young people from Cluj and members of the international communities living in the city. Through dialogue, shared stories, and mutual discovery, we will explore together what it means to build an open community based on respect and authentic encounters.
Tuesday, June 16 — Animation Day — 14:00–16:30
Screenings of short animated films made by young creators, followed by discussions with the authors.
Wednesday, June 17 — The Art of Staying Independent — 13:00–17:00
Through the collaborative documentary project PeZONA: Between Creative Freedom and Compromise, we will explore the journeys of independent artists and the practices through which they build their identity, communities, and financial sustainability. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the protagonists, members of ZONA Creative Space, BAS Tattoo and Piercing, Concrete Rockers, and Comunitatea 156.
Activities: film screening, Q&A, exhibition, collaborative graffiti intervention, and breakdance cypher.
Thursday, June 18 — Behind the Ride — 14:00–17:00
Two practitioners and filmmakers who document action sports will share footage, photographs, and stories from the field, exploring the challenges of filming in extreme conditions and the ways in which their passion for sport has shaped their authorial perspective.
Guests: Silviu Naicu, Szilard Serestely
Friday, June 19 — Intimacy Beyond the Screen — 13:00–17:00
Together with the psychologists of the EROS Association, we propose two workshops for participants. The first looks at what is often missing from conventional representations of intimacy in cinema: protection, conversations about boundaries, vulnerability, testing, aftercare, and sexual health. The second starts from queer coming-of-age films and opens up a conversation about becoming, through reflection exercises, guided discussions, and the rewriting of a film scene.
For participants under the age of 18, a parental consent form is mandatory and must be presented in physical format, printed and signed by a parent or legal guardian. The form can be downloaded here.
Saturday, June 20 — Back to Analog — 12:00–14:00
A conversation about the charm of analog formats, from technology and creativity to experiences that cannot be replicated digitally.
Guests: Andreea Păduraru (director), Dan Nanoveanu (film editor), Tudor Lucaciu (cinematographer), Tudor Popescu (film editor), Mihai Câmpinenau and Mihai Dobre (musician / Șuie Paparude)
Weekend 2 — June 20 & 21 — Analog Market — 12:00–18:00
A new weekend dedicated to collectors and analog culture enthusiasts, with vinyl records, films, audio equipment, and other discoveries for lovers of physical formats.
Guests: Used Products, La Vinil (5 Napoca St.), Sound Ancestors (Baia Mare)
