The International Documentary Film Festival DocumFest 2008, Timişoara. A brief presentation

DocumFest 2008 International Festival is organized by TVR Timişoara (the local branch of the national TV station broadcasting for the South-Western area of Romania), with the help of The City Hall and the City Council of Timişoara, and co-organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute, in partnership with The French Cultural Centre and The German Cultural Centre of Timişoara.

The Festival wishes to promote the diversity of the documentary genre and to contribute to inform on new ways of approaching reality.

What is the difference between creative documentary (documentaire de creation) and journalistic, television documentary? In theory, things seem rather simple. On one hand, we have the filmmaker's (artist's) view on a topic he or she approaches in a very personal and original way. On the other hand, we have the journalist's work drawing attention upon the chosen topic and providing us with relevant information about it. Yet, in practice things are rather more complex. A close look at documentary films reveals the multilayered nature of the two genres and even the existence of documentaries which make it difficult to put a label on. We do hope that DocumFestwill generate interesting debates on this issue.

DocumFest aims at promoting both creative documentary (documentaire de creation) and journalistic, television documentary, focusing on the relationship between the two genres.

Organizers of the Festival are interested in supporting documentaries on kids and teen issues, as well as documentary films made by students.

Any topics are welcome, and every year an award will be given for films that deal with the theme suggested by organizers. Thus, 2008 is the year of Intercultural Dialogue, while 2009 focuses on Revolutions in Eastern Europe, in order to commemorate 20 years since the events that took place in 1989.