Romanian Animation Steps into the Spotlight at TIFF 2025

This year’s Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF), taking place in Cluj-Napoca between June 13–22, 2025, marks a significant moment for Romanian animation. Out of the 20 titles selected for the Romanian Shorts Competition in the "Zilele Filmului Românesc" (Romanian Days) section, three are animated films - a strong signal that adult animation is finally being acknowledged as part of the country's vibrant cinema landscape.

The selected animations are:

• Fracti (dir. Lavinia Petrache) – the winner of Best Romanian Film at Animest 2024 (screened in Romanian Shorts III at Cinema Florin Piersic, June 20, 14:30 and Sapientia University, June 21, 16:45);
• Anchor (dir. Vilmos Péter) – a film produced by the National Theater and Film University in Bucharest (UNATC) (Romanian Shorts I, at Cinema Florin Piersic, June 20, 20:30 and Sapientia University, June 21, 10:45);
• Grandpa Is Sleeping (dir. Matei Branea) – the premiere screening of the acclaimed director and comics artist’s latest short film (Romanian Shorts II, at Cinema Florin Piersic, June 20, 17:30 and Sapientia University, June 21, 13:45);

In addition to the competition entries, Magicianul (The Magician) by Bogdan Mureșanu will be screened out of competition, adding further weight to the animation presence at TIFF.

This rich inclusion of animation within the country’s most prestigious film festival signals a crucial shift. For decades, animation in Romania has largely been boxed into the realm of children’s entertainment, sidelined from the serious conversations around cinematic art. But this year’s TIFF selection helps normalize a broader understanding: animation is a versatile, expressive medium capable of telling powerful, mature stories that speak to adult audiences.

The growing presence of animation in festival competitions like TIFF is a reflection of both increased production quality and a wider appetite for visual storytelling that breaks boundaries. With continuous recognition from major festivals like Annecy, GoEast, Sarajevo and last but not least, Animest, young directors and established voices in animation alike are finding new ways to connect with local audiences.

Romanian animation is ready to be seen, and TIFF is giving it the spotlight it deserves.

See you at the movies!