Cannes 2012: Romanian Short Waves

Since 2004, Short Film Corner which takes up the bottom lobby portion of the Cannes Film Festival market has granted producers and directors the possibility to show their films and more importantly, shake hands and make connections. This year, the Romanian Short Waves – part of the Short Film Corner – includes 9 short films: Tatăl meu e cel mai tare/My Father is the Best – director Radu Potcoavă, 24 găleți, 7 șoareci, 18 ani/24 buckets, 7 mice, 18 years – director Marius Iacob, Lost Springs 2 – director Andrei Dobrescu, Chefu’ /The Party – director Adrian Sitaru, Hello, Kitty – director Millo Simulov, Numărătoarea manuală – director Daniel Sandu, Fotografii de familie/Family Pictures – director Andrei Cohn, Stremț ’89 – directors Anda Pușcaș and Dragoș Dulea (see pic above), and Wedding Duet – director Goran Mihailov.

These films are joined by Cristi Iftime’s Tabăra din Răzoare/The Camp in Razoare – also selected for Cinefondation, Betoniera – director Liviu Săndulescu, Așteptând zorile – director Mihai Sofronea, Micile vedete de la țară – director Ariana Pendiuc, Detașamentul orb – director Vlad Feneșan, Kiddo – director Millo Simulov and Monday Morning by Eva Pervolovici. Millo Simulov’s Kiddo is the surprise that organizers have prepared for this year’s Romanian Short Waves program. This is an interactive film which will be shown during a workshop and the some of the protagonists’ storyline will be chosen by the public.

The main character – Kiddo – is a 19-year-old girl passionate about boxing who struggles to find success in this sport. But the lack of money and her family situation – a handicapped brother and an alcoholic father that doesn’t care about her passions – are a few reasons for Kiddo to give up boxing. Despite all of these, the girl fights in the ring and with her life trying to prove her talent. Will she make it? Millo Simulov wanted to let the public decide. Kiddo is played by Anamaria Maier, Adrian Titieni (The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, Pescuit Sportiv/Hooked, From Love, with Best Intentions) is the father, Constantin Florea is the coach, while Dragoş Dumitru is the girl’s boyfriend. Les Elephants Bizarres has composed an original song for this film: Wish (You were here). Below is the classic version of this song’s video, that features some scenes from the film, but the band is also working on an interactive video. Kiddo is produced by Spider Film and Ono Pictures and was made during 18 months with the support of the Western Transylvania Film Fund, the first regional film fund in Romania.

The films included in the Romanian Short Wave program will be screened during Cannes 2012 Film Festival, on May 20 and May 24^th at Palais K. Here is the facebook page created for the program.