TAIFAS – The Balkan Film and Culture Festival is a collaborative initiative between the Contrasens Cultural Association and Bad Unicorn, two organizations dedicated to art cinema, focusing on Balkan cinema. The festival aims to bring arthouse cinema closer to the public, foster connections between diverse communities, and support emerging filmmakers. Beyond the film industry, TAIFAS incorporates interdisciplinary elements such as literature, gastronomy, and music to offer a broad and engaging cultural program.
The festival’s third edition will take place from October 13-19, 2025, in Timișoara, Romania.
→ Submit applications here: https://forms.gle/QqupkL3XXStHPT9T6
TAIFAS invites young researchers to apply for its Research Fellowship Program, supporting innovative research in the following key areas:
Research Areas:
- Dialogue and Representations of the Other in Romanian and Balkan Cinema
- Possible research topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Representations of majority-minority relations in Romanian and Eastern European cinema
- Representation of sexual minorities and gender identities in Eastern European cinema
- Cinematic depictions of ethnic minorities, immigrants, refugees, and the cultural tensions they evoke
- Comparative perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged.
- Possible research topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Audience Development and visibility of Balkan cinema in international film festivals
- Possible research topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Quantitative and qualitative research on audience engagement with Balkan cinema
- Festival programming and its impact on increasing the visibility and appeal of films from the Balkans
- Film literacy and educational programs as tools for audience development
- Comparative and case-study approaches to examine audience engagement strategies in different festival contexts
- Possible research topics may include, but are not limited to:
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to students (BA, MA, PhD) and graduates, regardless of their field of study, under 35 years old from Europe.
Application Timeline:
- Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
- Review Period: April 15 – May 15, 2025
- Research Completion Deadline: November 8, 2025
Fellowship Details:
- Format: Research residency during the TAIFAS Festival (October 13-19, 2025) and submission of a final research paper.
- Language: Romanian or English
- Fellowship Value: 1000 EUR per selected candidate
- Additional Support: Per diem, the organizers will cover accommodation and travel expenses for the festival.
Final Research Paper Requirements:
- Length: 30,000 to 50,000 characters (including spaces)
- Deadline: November 8, 2025 (strict deadline, no extensions)
- Publication: Selected research will be included in a collective volume published by Contrasens Publishing House in 2027, alongside research from 2023-2027.
Application Process:
Applicants must submit the following documents by April 15, 2025:
- Abstract: 2000-2500 characters (with spaces), using Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 line spacing.
- Research Outline
- Selective Bibliography
- Academic CV
- Letter of Recommendation
→ Submit applications here: https://forms.gle/QqupkL3XXStHPT9T6
Selection Criteria:
- Alignment with the identified research themes: Proposals should directly relate to one of the key areas outlined.
- Originality: Preference will be given to innovative approaches or new perspectives on the selected research theme.
- Clear and well-defined research objectives: The proposal should present a focused, coherent research question with a strong theoretical framework and methodology.
- Contribution to the field: The research should be relevant to Balkan cinema or festival studies, with potential for meaningful contribution.
Applications will be reviewed by an evaluation committee (details to be provided). Selected applicants will be notified via email regarding the outcome of their application. The final selection will be based on an online interview.
For inquiries, please contact: asociatia.contrasens@gmail.com
Project co-financed by Centrul de Proiecte Timișoara. The project is part of the „Landmarks in Culture” Program, run by the Timișoara Project Center.