Taifas Festival

10/03/2026

For the third consecutive year, TAIFAS invites young researchers to apply to its Research Fellowship Program, which supports innovative research aligned with the festival’s annual theme.

This year, TAIFAS focuses on history and memory in Balkan cinema. The theme explores how film reconstructs, interprets, and contests the past, providing a space for dialogue between archives, personal memories, fictional reconstructions, and debates on the politics of memory. Research may address both major historical events and “small histories” – biographies, communities, or forgotten destinies – investigating how cinema shapes what we understand as “historical truth.”

The 2026 edition emphasizes marginalized or omitted histories and films that experiment with time, archives, and montage to bring overlooked narratives to the fore. Fellows are encouraged to explore these intersections and deepen their understanding of the past through cinema.

The fourth edition of TAIFAS – The Balkan Film and Culture Festival will take place October 12–18, 2026, in Timișoara, Romania.

Possible Research Topics

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

History, Memory, and Film

Film as a medium of collective memory and remembrance
Post-socialist and post-Yugoslav histories on screen
War, conflict, and trauma in Balkan cinema
Archives, found footage, and the reuse of historical images
Cinema as historical witness
Transnational histories and regional connections
Balkan Film Festivals: Programming and Audience Engagement

The role of programming in shaping the visibility and reception of Balkan films
Film literacy and educational initiatives as tools for audience development
Comparative or case-study approaches to audience engagement strategies across different festival contexts
Eligibility

Open to students (BA, MA, PhD) and graduates under 35 from Europe, regardless of field of study.

Two scholarships will be awarded, one for each topic. If there are no applications for a particular topic, two scholarships will be awarded for the topic with the most applicants.

Application Timeline

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
Review Period: May 1 – May 31, 2026
Research Completion Deadline: November 8, 2026
Fellowship Details

Format: Research residency during the festival (October 12–18, 2026) and submission of a final research paper by November 5, 2026
Language: English; Romanian
Value: 1000 EUR per selected candidate
Additional Support: Accommodation and travel covered; some meals provided; all entries to films and festival events are included
Final Research Paper

Length: 30,000 – 50,000 characters (including spaces)
Deadline: November 5, 2026 (strict)
Publication: Selected papers will be published in a collective volume by Contrasens Publishing House in 2027
Application Requirements

Applicants must submit by April 30, 2026:

Abstract (2000–2500 characters, Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 line spacing)
Research outline
Selective bibliography
Academic CV
Letter of recommendation
→ Submit applications here: https://forms.gle/wyfyCFbWF3KN9qtp7

Selection Criteria

Alignment with research themes
Originality and innovative approach
Clear, focused research objectives with a strong methodology
Contribution to Balkan cinema or festival studies
Selected applicants will be notified by email.

Contact
https://taifasfestival.ro/open-call-taifas-research-fellowship-2026-timisoara/
For inquiries: [email protected]

Taifas Film Festival is a multi-annual project for 2025-2027, supported through the “Landmarks in Culture” Program, funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Projects Center, Centrul de Proiecte Timișoara, and The Administration of the National Cultural Fund AFCN

04/03/2026

Open Call for Filmmakers: TAIFAS Film Residency Program – Timișoara (Romania), October 12-17, 2026

TAIFAS – Balkan Film and Culture Festival is an annual autumn event that brings Balkan cinema closer to the public, connects diverse communities, and promotes a new generation of filmmakers. The first edition, New Beginnings, took place in 2023 in Timișoara, during the year the city held the title of European Capital of Culture. The second edition, in October 2024, followed, with Freedom as its central theme, explored through the lens of Balkan culture. The third edition took place last year, focusing on Tolerance, Inclusion, and Acceptance, with a special emphasis on stories and perspectives from marginalized communities across the region.

This year’s festival, themed History, will occur from October 12th to 17th, 2026, in Timișoara, Romania. The International Film Residency Program, hosted during the TAIFAS festival, provides young filmmakers with hands-on experience. The program aims to foster meaningful connections, future collaborations, and enhanced visibility for Balkan cinema.

About the Residency
The residency includes:
Practical 6-day workshops guided by film director Ivana Mladenovic. (subject to change; any updates will be communicated promptly)
Meet-and-greet sessions with directors, producers, and actors invited to the festival.
Access to all screenings and connecting events.
Participants will develop their work-in-progress in a collaborative and creative environment.

Eligibility
We are looking for young filmmakers under 30 or film students with a short film project in development.

Participants must be residents of a Central or Eastern European country.
Participants must have a minimum B2 level of English proficiency.
Projects can be at the script stage or any other phase of production.
Completed short films are not eligible, as projects will be developed further during the residency in collaboration with the mentor.

Selection Process
The Taifas Film Festival team will review applications. Selection will be based on the project’s originality, feasibility, and alignment with the residency’s goals.

What do we offer?
Accommodation during the festival
Coverage of transportation and Visa costs
Breakfast & Lunch
Access to all screenings and connecting events

How to Apply
Deadline: May 1st, 2026.
To apply, submit your work in progress along with any supporting materials (e.g. script, mood board) via this link: https://forms.gle/CMzLvEoSMQDEBYTL7

Contact Us
For any questions, feel free to contact:
📧 [email protected]
or
Sînziana Pintean – Film Residency Coordinator
📧 [email protected]
📞 +40 748 779 730

Taifas Film Festival is a multi-annual project for 2025-2027, supported through the “Landmarks in Culture” Program, funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Projects Center Centrul de Proiecte Timișoara, and The Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN

09/02/2026

Felicitări partenerilor noștri de proiect Taifas Festival, Bad Unicorn, Monica și Ștefan, pentru premiul obținut la Berlin, un important premiu european — Cei mai buni distribuitori de film!
BRAVO 🙌

Începem săptămâna cu vești grozave: este distribuitorul european al anului! 🥳
Mulțumim , mulțumim și mai ales mulțumim celor peste 900,000 de spectatori care au fost alături de noi în toți acești ani! 🙏🙏🙏

30/12/2025

🌟✨🌟✨

17/12/2025

Between October 13 and 18, Timișoara became the place where stories, ideas, and new voices from European and Balkan cinema came together. The Film Residency brought together young and emerging filmmakers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, in a collaborative environment mentored by director Ivana Mladenović, and included a series of meet & greet sessions with directors, producers, and actors invited to the festival.

Meet Raul Petrușe, one of the 2025 Film Residency fellows, part of the Taifas Festival.
Raul Petrușe is a filmmaker drawn to life’s essential themes: memory, humour, death, time, and the everyday moments that define us as human beings. In his films, he seeks to portray life as it is, with honesty and sensitivity.
He holds a Master’s degree in Documentary Filmmaking from the Faculty of Theatre and Film in Cluj-Napoca and has worked on several film projects across both fiction and non-fiction formats.

The Taifas Festival is organized by the Cultural Association Contrasens and Bad Unicorn and is funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Project Center, under the “Cultural Landmarks” program.

15/12/2025

Between October 13 and 18, Timișoara became the place where stories, ideas, and new voices from European and Balkan cinema came together. The Film Residency brought together young and emerging filmmakers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, in a collaborative environment mentored by director Ivana Mladenović, and included a series of meet & greet sessions with directors, producers, and actors invited to the festival.

Meet Sofia Nelega, one of the 2025 Film Residency fellows, part of the Taifas Festival.
Based in Cluj, Sofia Nelega is a slowly blooming director shaped by a cinematic sensibility marked by melancholy and subtle melodrama. She studied Cinematography at the Faculty of Theatre and Film in Cluj, later continuing with a Master’s degree in Documentary Filmmaking.
During her participation as a director at the Aristoteles Workshop, she directed News of Love, a short documentary exploring the intimate bond that can form between a manicurist and her clients. Her work often centers on portraying women and their inner worlds.
Alongside filmmaking, Sofia has worked for several years as a projectionist, finding joy in being constantly close to the screen and rows of velvety cinema chairs. Inspired by the projection booth itself, she created Projection Booth Diary, a film made for the European Film Festival in Bucharest.

The Taifas Festival is organized by the Cultural Association Contrasens and Bad Unicorn and is funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Project Center, under the “Cultural Landmarks” program.

05/12/2025

Between October 13 and 18, Timișoara became the place where stories, ideas, and new voices from European and Balkan cinema came together. The Film Residency brought together young and emerging filmmakers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, in a collaborative environment mentored by director Ivana Mladenović, and included a series of meet & greet sessions with directors, producers, and actors invited to the festival.

Meet Radek Ševčík, one of the 2025 Film Residency fellows, part of the Taifas Festival.
Radek Ševčík is a documentary directing student at FTF VŠMU in Bratislava, Slovakia. His work uses a poetic cinematic language to explore deep emotions and contemporary social themes. He has participated in film residencies in Taipei (Taiwan) and Melgaço (Portugal), and his films have screened at festivals worldwide, including Ji.hlava, Kassel Dokfest, Filmschoolfest Munich, the International School Film Festival in Uruguay, Kashish PRIDE Film Festival Mumbai, and Shorts México. He is currently developing his debut feature documentary, which uncovers the untold history of q***r individuals during the Holocaust, and writing a fiction feature for children focused on accepting the loss of an unborn sibling. Radek recently completed an Erasmus internship at the Danish production company GotFat Productions in Aarhus, where he worked as a junior producer, TV director, and script editor.

The Taifas Festival is organized by the Cultural Association Contrasens and Bad Unicorn and is funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Project Center, under the “Cultural Landmarks” program.

03/12/2025

Anul acesta, la Taifas Film Festival am adus pe ecran câteva dintre cele mai premiate și discutate filme ale momentului – un adevărat festin pentru cinefili.
FNE at Auteur Film Festival 2025 premiază câteva filme din Selecția Taifas 2025:
🏆 „Aleksandar Petrović“ Grand Prix Award for Best Film
🎬 Sorella di clausura (România, Serbia, Italia, Spania)
Regia: Ivana Mladenović
Premieră națională la Taifas 2025!
O coproducție microFILM & Dunav 84, cu sprijin din partea Romanian National Film Centre, Film Center Serbia, Ministerelor Culturii din Serbia și Italia, Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals și Eurimages. Un film despre granițele fragile dintre intimitate, vinovăție și libertate.
🎬 Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master / Otapanje vladara (Muntenegru, Italia, Franța, Croația, Serbia)
Regia: Ivan Salatić
Premieră națională la Taifas 2025!
Produs de Meander Film, în coproducție cu Nightswim, Bocalupo Films, Dinaridi Film, Non-Aligned Films și Radio Television of Montenegro – un film hipnotic, cu o atmosferă rară.
✂️ „Marko Glušica“ Award for Best Young Editor
🎬 78 Days / 78 Dana (Serbia)
Montaj: Jelena Filipović
Regia: Emilija Gašić
Premieră națională la Taifas 2024!
Un film care demonstrează cât de mult poate face un montaj inteligent pentru ritmul și respirația unei povești.
🎬 Iar închiderea festivalului a adus în prim-plan premiera națională a filmului Yugo Florida, debutul în lungmetraj al regizorului sârb Vladimir Tagić, produs de Sense Production (Serbia), în coproducție cu Adriatic Western (Muntenegru), Eclectica (Croația) și Contrast Films (Bulgaria). Un film care surprinde perfect neliniștea unei generații prinsă între nostalgie și tranziție.
Premieră națională la Taifas 2025!
Felicitări Cătălin Olaru pentru selecție!
Ne vedem la Taifas 2026!

🤫 toate aceste filme se vor vedea în reluare anul viitor, fii pe fază!

BELGRADE: Serbian-Romanian director Ivana Mladenović's Sorella di Clausura won the main award in the International Competition of the 31st Auteur Film Festival (21 – 28 November 2025). Stefan Đorđević won Best Director for Wind, Talk to Me (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia). The closing ceremony ...

26/11/2025

Between October 13 and 18, Timișoara became the place where stories, ideas, and new voices from European and Balkan cinema came together. The Film Residency brought together young and emerging filmmakers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, in a collaborative environment mentored by director Ivana Mladenović, and included a series of meet & greet sessions with directors, producers, and actors invited to the festival.

Meet Andreea Ghica, one of the 2025 Film Residency fellows, part of the Taifas Festival.
“I’m Andreea Ghica, a storyteller at heart, constantly drawn to the emotions that lie beneath words and images. With over a decade of experience in copywriting and digital marketing, I’ve developed a keen understanding of how to craft narratives that truly connect with people.
My journey into creative writing has taken shape through courses at Fundația Calea Victoriei, and under the mentorship of Daniel Zărnescu at Școala de Scris. Today, I’m channeling this passion into a new ambition: screenwriting. Currently, I work in book publishing industry, where storytelling is the foundation of everything I do.”

The script she is currently developing was co-written with Alex Pintică, marking a new collaborative chapter in her creative journey.

The Taifas Festival is organized by the Cultural Association Contrasens and Bad Unicorn and is funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Project Center, under the “Cultural Landmarks” program.

24/11/2025

Between October 13 and 18, Timișoara became the place where stories, ideas, and new voices from European and Balkan cinema came together. The Film Residency brought together young and emerging filmmakers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, in a collaborative environment mentored by director Ivana Mladenović, and included a series of meet & greet sessions with directors, producers, and actors invited to the festival.

Meet Andreea Iliescu, one of the 2025 Film Residency fellows, part of the Taifas Festival.
Andreea is a London-based 3D designer and filmmaker whose work moves fluidly between architecture, film, and digital art. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London (2022), she explores how moving image, spatial storytelling, and immersive design can examine social and political structures, systems of power, and marginalized voices. Her projects bring together CGI, animation, and experimental worldbuilding to create spaces that reflect, critique, and imagine alternative realities.

She has contributed to projects such as WORLDING (Ugly Duck, London, 2021), Speculative Nematode (Istanbul Technical University, 2022), and New Currency (Toronto, 2023), and has presented spatial research at The Nieuwe Instituut and TU Delft during the 12th JSBC Conference. As a Digital Producer and Exhibition Designer, she helped develop virtual and physical installations showcased both in the UK and internationally.

Currently part of the ScreenSkills Trainee Finder 25/26 programme, Andreea is expanding her practice within the UK Art Department for film and high-end television productions.

The Taifas Festival is organized by the Cultural Association Contrasens and Bad Unicorn and is funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Project Center, under the “Cultural Landmarks” program.

21/11/2025

Between October 13 and 18, Timișoara became the place where stories, ideas, and new voices from European and Balkan cinema came together. The Film Residency brought together young and emerging filmmakers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Greece, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, in a collaborative environment mentored by director Ivana Mladenović, and included a series of meet & greet sessions with directors, producers, and actors invited to the festival.

Meet Alex Pintică, one of the 2025 Film Residency fellows, part of the Taifas Festival.
Alex is a passionate filmmaker and a curious cinephile. As an editor, he has collaborated with acclaimed Romanian directors such as Tudor Giurgiu, Adrian Sitaru, and Paul Negoescu - experiences that shaped his understanding of cinematic structure and storytelling.

In 2022, he was nominated for a Gopo Award for his debut short film, the musical comedy No Singing After Eight. He is also the co-writer of ReGym, a workplace sitcom project that won the Creative Residency Award at Drama Room – TIFF 2025.

The script he is currently developing was co-written with Andreea Ghica, marking a new collaborative chapter in his creative journey.

The Taifas Festival is organized by the Cultural Association Contrasens and Bad Unicorn and is funded by the Municipality of Timișoara through the Project Center, under the “Cultural Landmarks” program.contrasens