'Truth or Dare' and 'Hushes and Phonics' win Jury Award at Film O'Clock International Festival
The films 'Truth or Dare,' directed by Simona Borcea, and 'Hushes and Phonics,' directed by Polish filmmaker Piotr Kaminski, won the Ex Aequo Jury Award at the fifth edition of the Film O'Clock International Festival, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday.
The Ex Aequo Jury Award went to 'Truth or Dare' for its 'precise performances and well-defined coming-of-age universe,' while 'Hushes and Phonics' was recognised for its 'subtle cinematography and nuanced acting,' according to the jury's motivation.
A Special Honourable Mention from the jury was awarded to 'From You,' directed by Jedrzej Gorski (Poland), for its 'exceptional portrayal of the father-son relationship.'
The Audience Award, based on votes from filmgoers across the 11 participating countries, went to 'A Promise to the Sea,' directed by Hend Sohail (Egypt). The film moved audiences with its deeply human and universal story, capturing hearts through its sensitive and complex approach to themes such as promises and human connection, despite cultural differences.
The short film competition was judged by an esteemed international panel: Romanian director and screenwriter Bogdan Muresanu, Hungarian cinematographer Eszter Csepeli and Egyptian producer Muhammad Taymour.
This year's edition of the Film O'Clock International Festival brought together cinema lovers and film professionals from 11 countries - Romania, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, South Africa, Serbia, Hungary and Poland - in a celebration of cultural diversity and dialogue through cinema. The festival screened 38 films across 94 screenings, providing a unique platform for connection and reflection on global filmmaking.
Highlights included a masterclass on film education for children, led by Greek experts from Schedia Art, as well as interactive Q&A sessions with competing filmmakers and a vibrant intercultural evening.
Poland played a central role in the programme under the aegis of Solidarity on Screen, an initiative organised in partnership with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, as part of Poland's international cultural activities during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
A standout moment from this year's edition was the launch of the Romanian-language podcast 'Celluloid Solidarity,' exploring the global influence of Polish cinema. The podcast addresses solidarity across multiple levels and serves as both an educational and cultural resource for audiences in Romania and the wider region.
Another major draw was the screening of the contemporary documentary 'Solaris Mon Amour,' directed by Kuba Mikurda, a poetic exploration of Stanislaw Lem's masterpiece. Mikurda was the keynote speaker at the conference 'Archives, Cinema and Collective Healing,' which discussed the role of archives in preserving collective memory and the connection between film and healing processes.
Film education also featured prominently, with an online discussion titled 'Poets or Engineers on Filmmaking,' featuring special guest Polish director Rafael Kapelinski, author of a book on the subject, alongside representatives from prestigious Polish film schools.
In the classics section, the festival screened 'Camera Buff,' directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski, a landmark of Polish cinema. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – [email protected].
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
President Dan: Romania is honored to have the United Kingdom as a strategic partner, ally and friend
Romania is honored to have the United Kingdom as a strategic partner, ally and reliable friend, declared President Nicusor Dan on Thursday, at the reception for King's Birthday. 'Together, we can bring a plus to the prosperity and resilience of our societies, to promote the values we share and to the security of Europe,' said the Romanian head of s
Nine companies represent Romania at this year's Paris Air Show
AGERPRES special correspondent Cristina Matei reports: Nine companies represent Romania at the Paris Air Show taking place in Le Bourget June 16 - 22, with president of the Romanian Aeronautical Industry Employers' Organization (OPIAR) Mihail Nicolae Toncea stating that the Romanian presence at this year's edition is significant, and the turnover of this sector is on
Autoracing: The first night drift race to take place at Transilvania Motor Ring
The first night stage in the history of the National Drift Championship will take place at the end of this week on the Transilvania Motor Ring circuit, where almost 70 drivers from six countries have announced their presence, according to a press release from the organizers. 'The second stage of the 2025 season is notable not only for its nighttime running
USR supports Ilie Bolojan as prime minister who really wants to make changes (chairperson Fritz)
Chairperson of Save Romania Union (USR) Dominic Fritz said Thursday that he had informed President Nicusor Dan that USR supports Ilie Bolojan for the position of prime minister, noting that it is clear that the latter will be a prime minister who wants to make changes and demands authority. 'I had a very productive discussion with the president. I told him
Trade between Romania and Germany declines 6.1pct in Q1 2025
Trade between Romania and Germany decreased by 6.1% in Q1 2025, year-on-year, to EUR 10.36 billion, according to data published on Thursday by the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania). Germany's exports to Romania decreased by 1.2%, to over EUR 5.68 billion, while imports from Romania decreased by 11.4% to EUR 4.68 billion.
Sibiu International Theatre Festival to feature over 840 events and 5,000 artists from 82 countries
The 32nd edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS) begins on Friday, bringing together over 5,000 artists from 82 countries, who will present a total of 841 events, according to a press release from the organisers. The events will take place over ten days, transforming the county capital into a spectacular open-air stage, featuring large-scale
Poll: 66pct of Romanian employers focus on balance between business development and offering stability to employees
Two-thirds of employers in Romania (66%) believe that adjusting the organisation's structure to balance the agility and flexibility needed for business development with the stability needed by employees is very important for the organisation's success, but only three out of ten (28%) have made real progress in this respect, according to the results of the research De
National Symphony Orchestra of Romania to perform at Varna Summer Festival
The National Symphony Orchestra of Romania will stage a concert on June 30 the Varna Summer Fest international festival, the longest-running classical music event in Bulgaria, at the festival's 99th edition this year. The program is entirely dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven and will be conducted by Cristian Mandeal. The evening will begin w
AI plus X-ray scanning system for battery detection in electronic waste
GreenGroup, through its GreenWEEE branch in Buzau County, which specialises in the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), has unveiled for the first time the results of the European project GRINNER, an advanced system that uses artificial intelligence and dual X-ray scanning to automatically detect batteries in discarded electronics. Ac
Leonardo SpA and Avioane Craiova SA sign technological and industrial cooperation agreement
Italian defence group Leonardo SpA and Avioane Craiova SA signed a 'Technological and Industrial Cooperation Agreement' on Wednesday at Paris Air Show, a significant step forward in strengthening industrial collaboration between the two companies, informs a press release of the Italian group. The agreement covers several areas of potential cooperation,
From Portugal to Bulgaria, Europe is getting ready for the wildfire season (enr)
Europe is bracing for another intense wildfire season. Countries are steadily building up their defences at home - often with the help of EU funds. But questions remain over how effectively the funds are spent. The summer season is upon us and that means European countries are ramping up preparations to combat forest fires and other natural di
Protest in Victoriei Square after 26th case of femicide in 2025: Silence and ignorance - complicity in murder
The FILIA Centre, together with other non-governmental organisations, is organising a public demonstration in Victoriei Square on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., following the case of femicide that took place this week in a locality in Prahova County. 'A man kills a pregnant woman after repeatedly striking her in the head with an axe. The femicide took place in fr
Commander of the Multinational Corps South-East: Peace is not inherited, but built
The Commander of the Multinational Corps South-East, Lieutenant General Cristian Dan, said on Wednesday that 'peace is not inherited, but built,' on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of this NATO structure in Sibiu. 'Eight years ago, it was just an idea - a shared vision between Romania and NATO. Five years ago, this vision became a reality thr
Interim ForMin: Discussions on Visa Waiver Program will take place in Washington in the coming days
Tripartite discussions on the Visa Waiver Program will take place in Washington in the coming days between representatives of the European Commission, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and Romania's Ministry of Internal Affairs, announced interim Minister of Foreign Affairs Emil Hurezeanu. He was asked during a press conference at the Vict
Digital transformation investment generated 20pct improvement in Romania's DESI ranking (official)
Investments in digital transformation conducted by Romania are making their presence felt as progress on the public services component, and in the DESI ranking the country witnessed an improvement of over 20%, in the 2024 report for 2024, chairman of the Authority for the Digital Transformation of Romania (ADR), Dragos Cristian Vlad, said on Wednesday. 'We