Return of the Documentary Film Festival fARAD in Arad, October; Features Introduce of New Romanian Short Film Competition
The 12th edition of the fARAD International Documentary Film Festival is set to return to Arad, western Romania, this autumn. This year's theme, "Memory", explores various dimensions of remembrance, history, and the ways personal and collective memories shape identities and societies.
Since its launch in 2014, fARAD has aimed to revive interest in art film and educate audiences through visual storytelling. This year's festival promises to deliver a diverse selection of documentary projects that engage deeply with themes of memory and identity.
Competition Highlights
The competition lineup for the 12th edition of fARAD will be announced in early September. A total of 89 submissions were received, showcasing the growing interest in documentary filmmaking in Romania. The winning film in the national competition will receive a prize of EUR 1,000, and a special mention winner will be offered a mentorship session with Dana Bunescu, a renowned Romanian film editor and sound designer.
The competition will attract a jury of industry professionals who will select the final program, with Dimitris Kerkinos, the artistic director of fARAD, at the helm.
fARAD Laboratory and National Competition
For the first time, the festival is introducing a national competition dedicated to Romanian short documentary films. This competition will be complemented by the 10th edition of the fARAD Laboratory, a creative development space for emerging documentarians. The fARAD Laboratory will showcase projects from this initiative, providing a platform for new voices and innovative approaches to documentary filmmaking.
Special Guest and Screenings
The director of "Viitor luminos," Andra MacMasters, will be in attendance during the festival. This film, which premiered at IDFA and was developed at the fARAD Laboratory, will be screened during the festival. "Viitor luminos" also won the Debut Award at the 2025 Romanian Film Days at TIFF.
The final program will include three screening sessions with filmmakers present for Q&A discussions, offering audiences the opportunity to engage directly with the creators of these thought-provoking documentaries.
The 12th edition of the fARAD International Documentary Film Festival will run from October 8 to 12. This event promises to be an exciting celebration of documentary cinema, offering audiences a unique opportunity to explore the theme of memory through a diverse range of narratives and perspectives. Stay tuned for the official announcement of the theme and competition lineup on the festival's website and social media channels.
Entertainment seekers in Arad, western Romania, will find a wealth of documentaries this autumn, as the 12th edition of the fARAD International Documentary Film Festival focuses on the theme of Memory. Movies-and-TV enthusiasts can look forward to a diverse selection of documentaries, including the Romanian short film "Viitor luminos," which was developed at the fARAD Laboratory and won a prestigious award at the 2025 Romanian Film Days at TIFF.
