This autumn, the Great Square in Sibiu becomes ground zero for the future of cinema, thanks to the installation of two dome cinemas and an immersive Infinity Mirror Room. These will be set up in the city center during the anniversary edition of the Astra Film Festival (October 15-22), a cultural event celebrating its 30th year. The special program, AFF New Media, is dedicated to audiences of all ages who want to experience the spectacular world of digital cinema (using techniques such as Concept Art and Augmented Reality). Spectators from all over the country are expected to attend because only in Sibiu can they embark on an extraordinary cinematic journey, from classic non-fiction cinema to immersive, unconventional experiences using cutting-edge creative technologies, from traditional cinema screenings to 360-degree cross-media projections.
"Every year, we challenge ourselves to offer something new to our audience. The Astra Film New Media program is extremely rewarding and provides new spectacular perspectives on consuming documentary film. We are delighted that the younger generation is getting closer to our festival, and that's why we always seek to speak their language, which is the language of the future," said Dumitru Budrala, founder and director of the Astra Film Festival.
The immersive screenings presented at the Astra Film Festival shift the focus from the production itself to the audience's experience. Films shown in the new cinematic spaces, which appear like UFOs landed among the charming old buildings of Sibiu, utilize advanced technologies that blend virtual reality, holograms, sound and visual effects, artificial intelligence, and digital projections, creating the impression that the viewer is part of the action.
From microcosms to microcosmos, from suprematism to Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon's immersive universe
The subjects covered are of great interest. On the one hand, there are the films selected for the Astra Film Junior educational program, which take children and teenagers from primary, middle, and high school on spectacular adventures, exploring both the stellar universe and the inner world, as is the case with a Swedish production from 2023, where viewers are invited to discover the chemistry and secrets of life.
On the other hand, audiences of all ages, including families, are invited to journey into the underwater world to listen to the unknown sounds of the ocean, witness "narratives of cultural astronomy," get acquainted with the urban neuroscape, or explore an inner island, a world born from a musical piece, or discover a lesser-known cultural movement, suprematism, launched a century ago. A particularly awaited projection is the immersive adaptation, through music and imagery, of the iconic Pink Floyd album, "The Dark Side Of The Moon," originally released 50 years ago. With the help of technology, the spectacle combines stunning views of the solar system and beyond, presented in 42 minutes of surround sound.
About Astra Film Festival
Astra Film Festival Sibiu, launched in 1993 as an innovative project, is one of the most important documentary film festivals in Europe. Held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, the festival is organized by Astra Film, CNM Astra, and the Astra Film Foundation, with the strategic support of the Ministry of Culture and the backing of the Sibiu County Council, the National Center for Cinematography, the Romanian Cultural Institute, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sibiu, and the Filmmakers' Union. The event is co-financed by the Sibiu City Council through the Municipality of Sibiu.
Strategic Partner: Ministry of Culture
Sponsors: HBO Go, Cinelab, Materom Autohaus, Luthelo, CineGOLD, Promenada Mall, DPD Romania, Kulinarium, Sonne, OAR Sibiu-Vâlcea
Monitoring Partner: MediaTrust
Media Partners: Europa FM, TV5 Monde, News.ro, G4media, Hotnews, Spotmedia, PressHub, Turnul Sfatului, Sibiu 100%, Tribuna, Mesagerul de Sibiu, Ora de Sibiu, Sibiu independent, Sibiul azi, Hermannstädter Zeitung, Nine O'Clock, Scena9, Cinemagia, Cineuropa, Film New Europe, Observator cultural, Timpul, AaRC, MovieNews, Cinefan, Cinefilia, Liternet, Capital Cultural, Revista Transilvania, Filmtett.
Communication Partner: PiArt Vision
