The 25th TIFF Announces 2026 Lineup

Twelve films from around the world made by first- and second-time directors will vie for the coveted Transilvania Trophy and other accolades in the Official Competition, while ten works will compete for the top prize in the What’s Up, Doc? section.

“This year’s lineup is a mix as polarising as the world it comes from. Stark black-and-white minimalism and an overdose of blood and psychedelic colour. True stories and the wildest fabrications. Genre films flirted with, or genre films thrown into a blender. Heroes, anti-heroes. A straight line and a Möbius strip. Black comedy and full-blown farce. Absent fathers, eccentric mothers – or the other way around. Think of it as a game of Jenga where every film is a structural piece. Pull any one out and the whole thing collapses. Together they hold, but the instability is part of the point, ”Mihai Chirilov, Transilvania IFF Artistic Director, said in a statement.

Official Competition:

Feels Like Home / Itt érzem magam otthon (Hungary)
Directed by Gábor Holtai
Produced by CineSuper

My Father’s Shadow (UK, Nigeria)
Directed by Akinola Davies Jr.

Butterfly (Norway, Sweden, UK, Germany)
Directed by Itonje Søimer Guttormsen

Sicko (Kazakhstan)
Directed by Aitore Zholdaskali

No One Will Know / Le Roi Soleil (France)
Directed by Vincent Maël Cardona

Lionel (Spain)
Directed by Carlos Saiz

The Night is Fading Away / La noche está marchándose ya (Argentina)
Directed by Ezequiel Salinas, Ramiro Sonzini

A Useful Ghost / Pee Chai Dai Ka (France, Thailand)
Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

Truly Naked (the Netherlands, Belgium, France)
Directed by Muriel d’Ansembourg

Our Father  / Oče naš (Serbia, Italy, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Directed by Goran Stankovic
Produced by This and That Productions
Coproduced by Nightswim, PomPom Film, Dream Factory, Kino, Srđan Novi Film, Cineplanet
Supported by Film Center Serbia, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Culture of Italy, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the Film Centre of Montenegro, the North Macedonia Film Agency, Film Fund Sarajevo, MEDIA Creative Europe, the RE-ACT Fund

The Red Hangar / Hangar rojo (Chile, Argentina, Italy)
Directed by Juan Pablo Sallato

Titanic Ocean (Greece, Germany, Romania, France, Spain, Japan)
Directed by Konstantina Kotzamani
Produced by HomemadeFilms

Coproduced by Wunderlust, deFilm (defilm.ro), Manny Films, Frida Films, Happinet Phantom Studios, Mam Film, Bayerischer Rundfunk, ERT, Vodafone TV, and Onassis Culture, in association with Quiddity and Finite Films (UK), Felony (Cyprus), ARTE, Avanpost Media (Romania)

Supported by Eurimages, the Romanian Film Centre (CNC), FFA, Film-und Medienstiftung NRW, the French CNC, Île-de-France, The CNC and the GFC – French-Greel Co-Production Fund, the Romanian Government, Media Investment Communication, Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals Generalitat de Catalunya, Creative Europe MEDIA, the Romanian Public Television (TVR), Xunta de Galicia.

The Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF) officially marks its 25th anniversary this year, solidifying its position as the most significant cinematic event in Eastern Europe. What began in 2002 as a brave initiative to revive Romanian film culture has blossomed into a world-class festival that blends high-art cinema with the vibrant, medieval energy of Cluj-Napoca. From June 12th to June 21st, 2026, the city of Cluj transforms once again into a sprawling open-air theater. For this silver jubilee edition, the festival organizers have curated a program that honors the “Romanian New Wave” pioneers while aggressively pivoting toward the future of storytelling, including AI-driven narratives and immersive virtual reality experiences.

The Grand Opening at Unirii Square

The festival kicked off with its traditional gala in Unirii Square, where a record-breaking crowd of over 3,500 spectators gathered under the stars. This year’s opening film was a digitally restored masterpiece of early Romanian cinema, accompanied by a live symphonic orchestra—a nod to the festival’s long-standing tradition of cine-concerts.

Key Pillars of the 2026 Program

TIFF 2026 has expanded its competitive sections to reflect the changing landscape of global film production.

• The Official Competition: Continuing the tradition of supporting emerging talent, this section features 12 first or second-time directors competing for the coveted Transilvania Trophy.

• Romanian Days: This remains the heartbeat of the festival, showcasing the latest domestic productions. In 2026, there is a noticeable shift toward genre films—thrillers and sci-fi—marking a departure from the “kitchen-sink realism” of previous decades.

• Focus: Nordic Cinema: This year’s guest region brings a selection of dark comedies and breathtaking documentaries from Iceland, Norway, and Denmark, highlighting the shared melancholy and humor between Transylvania and the North.

Cinematic Landmarks: Beyond the Theater Walls

TIFF is famous for its unconventional locations, and the 2026 edition has pushed this concept further than ever:

1. Bánffy Castle (Bonțida): The “Versailles of Transylvania” hosted the legendary Full Moon screenings, where horror enthusiasts watched premieres in the eerie, candlelit shadows of the castle ruins.

2. The Turda Salt Mine: Located deep underground, this unique saline cathedral hosted a series of sci-fi screenings, utilizing the natural acoustics and otherworldly atmosphere of the mine.

3. The Hoia-Baciu Forest: For the first time, a “Midnight Trek” cinema experience was organized in the world’s most haunted forest, blending environmental art with suspenseful short films.

Innovation and the Industry: Transilvania Pitch Stop

The industry component of TIFF has matured into a powerhouse of European co-production. The Transilvania Pitch Stop 2026 saw over 50 projects from across the Balkans and the Black Sea region seeking funding. A new “Innovation Lab” was also introduced, focusing on the ethical use of AI in screenwriting and post-production, sparking intense debates among visiting critics and filmmakers.

A Green and Accessible Jubilee

In line with 2026 global standards, TIFF has achieved its “Net Zero” goal this year. All festival transport is electric, and the “TIFF Card” has gone entirely digital, integrated with the city’s public transit system. Furthermore, the EducatiFF section has expanded to offer free filmmaking workshops for children from rural Transylvanian communities, ensuring that the next 25 years of cinema will have fresh, diverse voices.