Director Kirill Serebrennikov and actress India Hair
Special guests at the 17th edition of Les Films de Cannes à Bucarest
Kirill Serebrennikov is one of contemporary cinema’s most powerful and controversial voices. Rising to prominence in the mid-2000s with a distinctive style, he quickly established a unique profile through films that challenge authority and explore the complex tensions between individual desire and societal constraints. A regular presence at Cannes—with a body of work defined by the exploration of artistic freedom and the conflict between the individual and society—Kirill Serebrennikov comes to Les Films de Cannes à Bucarest to meet the audience. The two films featured in the festival’s “Focus” section are distinguished by his unmistakable directorial power.
*The Disappearance of Josef Mengele*, starring August Diehl, follows the life of the controversial SS doctor from Auschwitz after he fled Europe at the end of World War II. Mengele takes refuge in South America and attempts to forge a new identity, living in hiding for years. The story tracks both his efforts to evade the authorities and his relationships with his family, particularly his son. The film is constructed largely from Mengele’s perspective, without romanticizing the character.
*Tchaikovsky’s Wife* focuses on the life of Antonina Miliukova, a young woman who marries Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky for love, only to see their marriage rapidly devolve into a devastating obsession. Serebrennikov reconstructs the relationship between the two in 19th-century Russia, placing particular emphasis on Antonina’s obsession and the psychological deterioration caused by the relationship. *Tchaikovsky’s Wife* competed for the Palme d’Or in the Official Competition at Cannes in 2022.
India Hair is a French actress known for her versatile roles in film, television, and theater. With a French, American, and English cultural background, she brings a unique perspective to every role she plays. In 2021, she was nominated for a César Award in the Most Promising Actress category for her role in *Poissonsexe*. Bucharest festival audiences will have the opportunity to see India Hair in *Marvellous Mornings* and *Parallel Tales* and to participate in a discussion with the guest at selected screenings.
*Marvellous Mornings*, Avril Besson’s directorial debut, unfolds partly as a road movie set to disco music. Charlie sets out to deliver a box of vinyl records to a mysterious dancer. The journey brings back memories of her mother’s dance moves and leads her to Marina, a charming waitress dreaming of a life beyond the small-town pizzeria where she works. *Le Monde* wrote: “There are films where the director’s generous gaze upon their actors shines beyond the screen. *Marvellous Mornings* is one of those films.”
*Parallel Tales*, directed by Asghar Farhadi, centers on Sylvie, a famous writer in search of inspiration who becomes fascinated by the lives of the neighbors across the street. When she hires the mysterious Adam as an assistant, her life is turned upside down. Featuring an exceptional cast that includes Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, and Adam Bessa, the film has been noted for the way it explores psychological and social conflicts while examining the fragile boundaries between reality, imagination, and fiction. *Time Out* describes it as “a captivating saga.”
New films that won over audiences and critics at Cannes in 2026
*Club Kid*, Jordan Firstman’s directorial debut, premiered at Cannes in the *Un Certain Regard* section, where it received a seven-minute standing ovation. The film follows the life of a New York club scene promoter, which is upended by the arrival of the 10-year-old son he never knew he had. Described by *Screen Daily* as “an acerbic and bitingly funny portrait of New York’s hedonistic world,” *Club Kid* promises to be a standout debut in independent cinema. The cast includes Jordan Firstman, Cara Delevingne, and Diego Calva. The film was nominated for the *Un Certain Regard* Award, the *Caméra d’Or*, and the *Queer Palm*, and is set to hit Romanian cinemas on November 20.
*Amarga Navidad*, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, tells the story of Elsa, a commercial director who throws herself into work to cope with her mother’s death. Meanwhile, screenwriter and director Raúl Durán writes a script inspired by Elsa’s life, creating a meta-cinematic interplay where fiction and reality intertwine. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Pedro Almodóvar’s elegant meditation on art and ethics is deeply personal.
In *El ser querido*, Rodrigo Sorogoyen brings to the fore the confrontation between Esteban Martínez (Javier Bardem)—a famous director haunted by a violent past—
