What Should the International Industry Anticipate from This Year’s RO Days Program in Transylvania?

“This year’s RO Days has been nothing short of an odyssey,” confesses Dumitrana Lupu, now navigating her third year at the helm of the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF). It’s a role that feels more akin to being the captain of a ship sailing through uncharted waters, especially with the introduction of the **Full Moon Creative Lab**—a whimsical yet practical addition to their genre TV series portfolio. “Previously, our only series program was the **Drama Room**, so you might say it was like hosting a potluck with a singular main course,” she quips.

Among the stormy seas of expectations, last year’s celebrations for the **Transilvania Pitch Stop (TPS)**, which marked a decade of creativity and collaboration, have added yet another layer of responsibility to the mix. “It’s as if we threw a big, glittering party and now everyone expects us to serve caviar when all we have is a perfectly good cheese platter,” she observes. The TPS this year will dazzle the audience with **ten feature film projects** developed from a smorgasbord of around **40 submissions**, promising everything from dystopian thrills to poignant coming-of-age tales.

“These projects,” Lupu adds, “are essentially the beautiful quilt of regional storytelling—rich in themes of relationships, personal struggles, and the untamed spirit of social issues woven into both contemporary and historical contexts.” Take, for instance, Cristian Pascariu’s **A Flower Is Not a Flower** and Mihai Dragolea’s **Grained**, which meander through Romania’s storied past, while the Turkish entries **My Happy Family** and **Dancing Angels** navigate the intricacies of modern family dynamics like a skilled tightrope walker.

Lupu ensures we know that this year’s TPS also tilts the spotlight toward **young protagonists** and female-driven narratives, making it a veritable tapestry of diversity. It’s like watching the cinematic version of a coffee shop where everyone has a story to tell—and they’re all interesting!

Moreover, Lupu proudly reflects on past TPS success stories, including projects that have galloped from conception to international acclaim, such as Mihai Mincan’s **To The North** and Ukrainian director Maksym Nakonechnyi’s **Butterfly Vision**, which waltzed into the **Cannes** spotlight in 2022. Even *The Talentless*, a Serbian film that emerged as the main prizewinner in 2021, is now in pre-production, showing just how far these fledgling ideas can soar.

“You never know what magic might brew in our little melting pot of creativity,” she enthuses, as we also hear optimism surrounding **F.E.Z.Z.**, a dark comedy by Tedi Mirea, currently in post-production, and Cosmin Nicolae’s evocative war drama **Pyrrhic**, which recently took home accolades at the **Midpoint Consulting Awards**. It seems the festival is brimming with triumphant stories waiting to be told.

No stone is left unturned as Lupu hints at the return of beloved initiatives like the **Drama Room** and the **Transilvania Talent Lab**. This year, the Drama Room experienced a slight shrink in applications—perhaps everyone was busy with their own dramas—but it still offers intriguing possibilities for the five projects chosen to contend for the award. After all, this is where people realize their potential and sometimes even pivot from series to feature films, as evidenced by Ioana Mischie’s project, **Die, Please**, which transformed itself beautifully this year.

The inaugural **Full Moon Creative Lab** is wrapping up with promising screenwriters, each with their narratives that blend suspense with intrigue. Romania’s very own Adina Istrate, alongside Italy’s Giulio Rizzo and Slovenia’s Barbara Skubic, prepares to showcase their hard work before a jury that boasts impressive credentials from across the industry. They’ll continue to hone their craft under the watchful eye of seasoned facilitators, ensuring that their cinematic dreams don’t just flicker out like a candle but instead, ignite into something splendid.

As Lupu beams with excitement over the influx of applications for the **Transilvania Talent Lab**, it’s clear that the narrative of this festival is one of growth and empowerment. “We initially set out to select 10 participants,” she reveals, “but the sheer brilliance of the applications led us to open the gates wider.” They’re ready to welcome 12 spirited creators, inviting them into TIFF’s warm embrace.

Even without a **First Cut Lab** this year, TIFF is buzzing with the energy of new programs like the **Docu Rough Cut Boutique** and the **European Women’s Audiovisual Network (EWA)**. It’s like a richly woven tapestry of mentorship and creative collaboration. After all, in the world of film and storytelling, a strong community is just as vital as a compelling narrative.

So here’s to the filmmakers, the dreamers, and the risk-takers at TIFF, navigating the intricate dance of creativity and reality, reminding us that the world of cinema is eternally alive and brimming with stories yearning to escape.