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FESTIVALS Romania

Haneke’s Funny Games U.S. to open Transylvania

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Austrian director Michael Haneke’s Funny Games U.S., his American remake of his 1997 cult thriller, will be the highlight of the Opening Gala of the seventh edition of the Transylvania International Film Festival (May 30-June 8) in Cluj Napoca.

Funny Games U.S. is Haneke’s first Hollywood film, in which Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Michael Pitt have replaced the little-known Austrian actors in a shot-for-shot, line-for-line re-shoot of the original. Haneke’s presence in Cluj has not yet been confirmed, though TIFF organizers are working hard to have him as a guest star.

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TIFF has made a habit of having wacky films in special sections to show cinema’s strange ways – and 2008 is no exception. Remade in Bollywood will feature Indian re-makes to famous Hollywood films, while Real Time will offer a panorama of no-cut, single-take features from all over the world.

There will also be tough Competition, most probably with Radu Muntean’s Boogie as one of the main contenders for the Transylvania Trophy or at least the Romanian Days Feature Prize. The regular showcases Hungarian Day, Supernova, 3x3, No Limits, Shadows, Doc’n’Roll will keep this year’s spirits up as well.

The full programme will be announced on the official Festival website.

Traditionally held at the beginning of June, TIFF has grown rapidly to be the most important festival event in Romania. While its permanent host is the Transylvanian town of Cluj Napoca, in 2007 the festival’s format was extended, with then-European Capital of Culture Sibiu becoming a second home to the festival screenings.

In 2008, however, Sibiu will only host a follow-up, open-air screening session from June 11 to June 15.

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