David Lynch and Gene Hackman, honored at the 9th American Independent Film Festival
Two of their iconic films – INLAND EMPIRE and THE CONVERSATION – will be available for viewing by the Romanian public in restored versions

American Independent Film Festival returns in June with an electrifying selection of American independent films and special events organized in Bucharest, Bran, Sibiu (in partnership with the Sibiu International Theatre Festival), Cluj, Timișoara, Iași, and Arad.

The 9th edition of the festival, presented by Raiffeisen Bank, pays tribute to David Lynch and Gene Hackman by screening two of the most representative films of their careers, shown in recently restored versions: INLAND EMPIRE (2006) and THE CONVERSATION (1974).

INLAND EMPIRE (dir. David Lynch, 2006) is a radical and hypnotic film, constructed as a fractured meditation on identity, fear, and the art of cinema. Lynch’s final feature film stars Laura Dern in a haunting performance regarded as one of the strongest of her career. Critic Damon Wise from Empire described the film as “a brilliant, exceptionally original enigma, told by an enigmatic storyteller,” highlighting the depth of Dern’s performance. The Guardian noted that “Lynch creates a bizarre web of links between myth, film, and reality,” resulting in “a colossal spectacle.” The film is widely considered a unique cinematic experience that both challenges and fascinates.

THE CONVERSATION (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, 1974), restored in 4K and re-released in 2024 as part of the Il Cinema Ritrovato selection, is considered one of the masterpieces of the 1970s. The film follows Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), a surveillance expert obsessed with the consequences of his work. With a tense atmosphere and a minimalist score by David Shire, The Conversation is a profound portrait of guilt and alienation in a world where privacy becomes an illusion. “A disturbing and extraordinarily relevant film even today, in the age of digital control” – The Guardian.

The recent passing of director David Lynch (January 2025) and actor Gene Hackman (February 2025) marks a moment of reflection in the world of cinema. American Independent Film Festival honors them with special screenings of some of their most representative works, in a setting that celebrates the innovative spirit and iconic voices of American filmmaking.

Unmissable titles from the AIFF #9 selection
In addition to these landmark screenings, AIFF brings to Romania—premiering for the first time—recent titles from this year’s editions of the Sundance, Berlin, and Cannes 2024 festivals:

Written and directed by Amalia Ulman, Magic Farm (2025) follows an American TV crew that accidentally ends up in a rural area of Argentina. The New York Times called it a “delightful comedy.”

In Peter Hujar’s Day (2025), the new film by acclaimed American filmmaker Ira Sachs, a recently discovered 1974 conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and writer Linda Rosenkrantz offers insight into New York’s art scene and the personal struggles and epiphanies that define an artist’s life. The cast includes Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall.

In The Surfer (2024) by Lorcan Finnegan, Nicolas Cage plays a man who returns to his Australian hometown, only to find himself in an increasingly tense conflict with a group of local surfers. As tensions escalate, the film shifts between psychological thriller and existential allegory, with a powerful and unpredictable performance by Cage. Included in the Midnight Screenings section at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, The Surfer is a gripping and hard-to-define film that moves between art-house and genre cinema.

The list of films in the new edition’s selection can be found and will be updated at filmedefestival.ro

American Independent Film Festival across the country
The screenings and special events of the American Independent Film Festival will take place for the first time in Bucharest and six other locations across the country:

Bucharest: June 6–12 (Cinema Elvire Popesco, Cinema Muzeul Țăranului)
Cluj-Napoca: June 9–11 (Cinema Arta)
Bran: June 13–14 (Bran Castle Courtyard – outdoor screenings)
Timișoara: June 13–15 (Cinema Timiș)
Arad: June 17–18 (Cinema Arta)
Iași: June 21–22 (Cinema Ateneu)
Sibiu: June 25–29 (in partnership with the Sibiu International Theatre Festival – FITS)

American Independent Film Festival continues to be an essential meeting point for cinema lovers in Romania. The festival brings together not only outstanding films but also a passionate film-loving community eager to discover stories that challenge, inspire, and stay with us. We invite you to be part of this unforgettable cinematic experience. Complete details about the schedule and tickets, which will be available soon, can be found at filmedefestival.ro.

AIFF #9 is an event presented by Raiffeisen Bank.
Cultural project funded by the Ministry of Culture and the National Center of Cinematography
With support from: Aqua Carpatica, Pepsi, Cushman & Wakefield Echinox
Partners: Romanian Cultural Institute, French Institute, Cinema Elvire Popesco, Cinema Muzeul Țăranului, Europa Cinemas, Bran Castle, Humanitas Bookstores, I’Velo
Main media partner: PRO TV
Media partners: Voyo, Radio Guerilla, Agerpres, Films in Frame, Cultura la Dubă, ELLE România, Urban.ro, Libertatea, Zile și Nopți, Haute Culture Magazine, Daily Magazine, Observator Cultural, LiterNet, Cinemagia, Munteanu Recomandă, Cinefan, Cinefilia, Cine Ghid
Monitoring partner: MediaTrust