Astra Film Festival 2023. Official Selection
Top Productions in Non-Fiction Cinema Premiering in Sibiu for the anniversary edition „30 Years of Documentary Film”
The Astra Film Festival's anniversary edition, set to take place in Sibiu from October 15th to October 22nd, 2023, marks a significant milestone in the world of documentary filmmaking. Over the past three decades, Sibiu has established itself as a prominent hub for documentary cinema. This enduring tradition continues into its 30th year, where numerous documentary filmmakers choose to premiere their works in front of an informed audience. In fact, three-quarters of the films selected for the competition are making their world or national premieres.
Year after year, the Astra Film Festival has championed a central idea: regardless of the challenges faced, every moment in life should be viewed with emotion and joy, with the mind and soul wide open. This philosophy extends to the festival's audience, as reflected in the official event poster, which features artwork by the artist Dan Perjovschi.
This year's selection includes over 130 films from more than 40 countries, spanning four competitive sections and numerous special programs across 15 event spaces. Among them are 75 national premieres and films already acclaimed at prestigious festivals such as Sundance, Cannes, Berlinale, and IDFA. The festival program is further enriched by films selected for full-dome projection, exhibitions, concerts, parties, and surprise events over eight exhilarating days. You can find a complete list of all the films in the official selection on the Astra Film website: https://www.astrafilm.ro/en/news/official-selection-aff-2023
"After 30 years of the Astra Film Festival, I can confidently say that documentary filmmaking has rightfully earned its place in the tapestry of Romanian cinema. I am delighted that, through the festival, we have contributed to this achievement. I extend my gratitude to Romanian directors who have submitted their films to the festival and, over the years, have transformed the Astra Film Festival into the home of documentary film," declared Dumitru Budrala, the director of Astra Film Festival.
Four competitive sections
In the four competitive sections of the Astra Film Festival in Sibiu (Romania, Emerging Voices of Documentary, Central and Eastern Europe, and DocSchool), 43 films have been selected, of which 31 are world, European, or national premieres.
• ROMANIA: As is the tradition in the three-decade history of the Astra Film Festival, the Romanian Competitive Section showcases the newest and most valuable documentary films made by Romanian directors between 2022 and 2023. Out of the 11 selected films, produced in France, Luxembourg, and Romania, six are premieres (four world premieres and two national premieres).
• EMERGING VOICES OF DOCUMENTARY: This section, dedicated to emerging filmmakers on the path from debut to recognition, presents nine very recent films, with five of them premiering nationally in Sibiu.
• CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: In this section, audiences will experience true stories from Southeastern Europe. Ten films have been selected, with seven of them having their Romanian premiere in Sibiu.
• DOCSCHOOL: Student documentary filmmaking continues to shine, with 13 out of 14 films in competition being premieres (including six world premieres, three international premieres, and four national premieres).
In addition to these sections, the festival offers several dozen more films in special programs, including DokTank (the festival's industry program), Astra Film Junior (an educational program through documentary film), Cinema DOM screenings in Piața Mare, and profiles dedicated to masters of documentary cinema.
About Astra Film Festival
The International Documentary Film Festival Astra Film in Sibiu was launched in 1993 as an innovative project and has since become one of the most important non-fiction film festivals in Europe. It's included by the European Film Academy on the list of festivals with the right to make direct nominations for the European Film Awards.
The Astra Film Festival is under the High Patronage of the President of Romania and is organized by Astra Film, CNM Astra, and the Astra Film Foundation. It's offered support by the Ministry of Culture as a strategic partner, and it receives support from the Sibiu County Council, the National Centre for Cinematography, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sibiu, and the Filmmakers' Union. This event is co-financed by the Sibiu Local Council through the Municipality of Sibiu and by the European Union through the Creative Europe Programme.
