School screenings

At the boundary between fiction and documentary, "You Are Ceaușescu to Me" brings before the camera young people aged 15 to 22 from different backgrounds, who participate in auditions for the role of young Nicolae Ceaușescu in the mid-1930s, attempting to uncover the motivation behind his actions. The teenagers transform a series of official documents into fiction and relate to the young communist as a fictional character, free from preconceived notions, adopting his characteristics according to their own passions and through the lens of clichés from commercial cinema.
The film creates a portrait of the new generation and an image of the legacy of the past, now that social networks are based on the same desire for aggrandizement specific to the '30s.

The program consists of two short films by authors of the younger generation whose main protagonists are teenagers. The films “Then I See Tanja” (2010) and “Into the Blue” (2017) focus on teenagers and the sensitive but important period of growing up, which encompasses first loves, friendships, and difficult family situations.

Onda vidim Tanyu (Then I See Tanja)

Zeljko (16) and his younger brother have been living on their own since their mother ended up in hospital. Zeljko has set his mind on two things: he has to finally take the initiative to meet Tanja and earn some money to buy his Mum a wig. A real one, made from human hair. If he achieves these two goals, the things might turn for the better.
"Then I See Tanja" is a coming-of-age story built almost entirely from stills.

U plavetnilo (În albastru)

Thirteen year old Julija and her mother flee their abusive household to find refuge on an idyllic Croatian island where Julija grew up. Emotionally scarred, Julija is desperate to reconnect with her best friend, Ana. But Ana is in love with a boy and Julija is no longer a priority. Ana's mounting rejection re-ignites Julija's wounds and family history, awakening the monster of violence she thought she's left behind.

Screenings followed by a discussion with the Contrasens team.

Fishermen and fishing

The film showcases various traditional fishing techniques and the daily lives of fishermen from the Molivos community on the island of Lesvos, located in the northeast of the Aegean Sea. Through a series of images transporting us to Mithymna in 1961, we observe a glimpse of life in the picturesque fishing village of Molivos. We witness the fishermen's daily activities, Sunday rituals including liturgy at the local church, and moments of relaxation in the coffee shop. The fishermen head out to sea with a fishing net; we see the settlement of Molivos, a coffee shop, the narrow cobblestone streets, the castle; women chatting and weaving in front of their houses…

Louomenoi (Bathers)

The film follows a summer in the lives of a group of Greek retirees, both men and women, who regularly visit various thermal resorts in Greece. Life around these thermal resorts unfolds at a slow pace reminiscent of bygone times. In this tranquil atmosphere, people feel free to do and say things they would never do in their usual social circles. Instead of feeling like you are among elderly individuals, you often get the sense that you are surrounded by a group of teenagers at a summer camp. This joyful atmosphere is frequently interrupted by reflections on the past or on death.

Screenings followed by a discussion with director Eva Stefani.

In the winter of 1991, Aleksandra Zec, a twelve-year-old Serbian girl, was murdered. Despite the case being known to the public, those responsible were never convicted. A quarter of a century later, theater director Oliver Frljić creates a play about the Zec case. The process brings hidden traumas to the surface, transforming rehearsals into a collective therapy session.