Strong start at the American Independent Film Festival:
two strong female voices of cinema, in the first weekend in Bucharest
The 10th edition of the American Independent Film Festival (AIFF.10) brings an impressive selection of American independent films to Bucharest between June 5 and 11, which will be screened at Cinema Elvire Popesco and Cinema Muzeul Țăranului. The festival also arrives in Timișoara between June 5 and 7, at Cinema Timiș. And this year, AIFF.10 will be organized in Sibiu, in partnership with the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS).
AIFF.10: female-centric cinema, signed by two surprising female directors
The opening weekend of the American Independent Film Festival (AIFF.10) begins spectacularly in Bucharest, with the presence of two directors who will enter into direct dialogue with the audience passionate about independent cinema. The focal point of the tenth edition is the FOCUS AIFF section, dedicated in 2026 to the Australian director Kitty Green, internationally recognized for her courageous and deeply rooted films in social realities, awarded at festivals such as Sundance, Venice, San Sebastian and the AACTA Awards. At AIFF.10, the audience will be able to discover two of her most acclaimed films, The Assistant and Ukraine Is Not a Brothel, and will have the rare opportunity to meet the director at an extended talk on June 6, at Cinema Elvire Popesco. A weekend that promises inspiration, dialogue and cinema of the highest quality.
“I am thrilled to be attending the American Independent Film Festival in Bucharest. I am a huge fan of the Romanian New Wave and look forward to joining the festival’s founder, Cristian Mungiu, and the Romanian film community for great films and engaging discussions!” (director Kitty Green)
The Assistant (Sundance Film Festival), starring Julia Garner, captures a day in the life of a young assistant at a New York production company, exposing the power dynamics and harassment behind the scenes of the industry. The film offers a lucid perspective on the barriers women face on their way to leadership positions. Ukraine Is Not a Brothel (Venice Film Festival) is a documentary that explores the phenomenon of Femen, the topless feminist movement in Ukraine that has captured the attention of all of Europe. The film reveals, with direct honesty, the behind-the-scenes of the organization and the paradox of a male leader at its center. Through the voices of the protagonists, the documentary captures both the courage of the protests and the harsh consequences and personal confrontations behind the activism.
After the resounding success achieved this year at the Oscars, director Natalie Musteata will be present in Bucharest, together with Alexandre Singh, for the Romanian premiere of the film Two People Exchanging Saliva and an extended meeting with the film-loving public on June 5, at Cinema Elvire Popesco. Winner of the Oscar for Best Fiction Short Film in 2026, Two People Exchanging Saliva is a dystopian short film set in an absurd society where kissing is forbidden and intimacy is severely punished, and money is replaced by slaps on the face, to directly differentiate the rich from the rest of the world.
Films premiering for Romania this year at
American Independent Film Festival
I Swear, directed by Kirk Jones, is a biopic about activist John Davidson, who lives with Tourette syndrome, and addresses the challenges of the character with sensitivity and humor. Robert Aramayo’s remarkable performance and his warm, honest perspective on the character’s tics were praised by critics. I Swear received five BAFTA Award nominations and won two awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Robert Aramayo) and Best Casting (Lauren Evans).
Bradley Cooper stars in Is This Thing On?, a deliciously dramatic comedy loosely inspired by the life of British comedian John Bishop. First seen at the New York Film Festival, Is This Thing On? follows Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern), a couple on the brink of divorce, as they try to rebuild their lives, raise their children together, and rediscover the joy of living. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Bradley Cooper treats acting as a therapeutic means of overcoming the end of a marriage and achieving the self-discovery necessary to understand what went wrong.
The Testament of Ann Lee, directed by Mona Fastvold, is a musical inspired by the life of the founder of an 18th-century religious sect, a visionary who believed in a utopian society. The screenplay, co-written with Brady Corbet (with whom Mona Fasthols also wrote the screenplay for The Brutalist), combines an intense story with musical moments inspired by Shaker hymns, about faith, work and spiritual longing. The film earned Amanda Seyfried a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, and the director was nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Tuner, directed by Daniel Roher, reunites Dustin Hoffman and Leo Woodall in an unconventional independent film that combines romantic comedy with thriller elements. The story follows the relationship between a veteran piano tuner and his apprentice as the latter is drawn into a dangerous world, but also into an unexpected love story. Daniel Roher’s fiction debut, previously noted for Navalny, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews from critics and audiences. The film is distributed by Prorom.
More details about the full festival program and ticket sales will be announced soon on www.filmedefestival.ro and on the festival’s social media accounts.
With the support of: Aqua Carpatica, Adrem
Cultural project funded by: CNC
Partners: French Institute, Cinema Muzeul Țăranului, Europa Cinemas, Cinema Timiș
Main media partner: PRO TV, VOYO
Cultural partner: RFI Romania
Media partners: Films in Frame, urban.ro, Like 5, Cultura la dubă, Liternet, Cinefan, Jurnalul de sâmbătă, Daily Magazine, Biz, Movienator, Movienews, Cinefilia, Cărturești, happ.ro, Pagina de psihologie, Floral Soul, AIVI Media, FILM
Monitoring partner: mediaTrust
