Following its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, 3 Days in September, the independent comedy directed by Tudor Giurgiu, will make its Romanian debut at the Opening Gala of Transilvania IFF’s 25th edition, taking place on Friday, June 12, in Cluj-Napoca’s Unirii Square. Shot last autumn, the film stands out as a bold cinematic endeavor, brought to life with the support of a crew drawn largely from colleagues who are also involved in producing and organizing the festival itself. All of them will take the stage in Unirii Square in a moment dedicated to the team, the audience, and everyone who has spent 25 years building and championing the most important film event in the region, according to Romania Journal.
The evening will open on a thrilling note with an exclusive preview of NADIA, a work-in-progress documentary about the life and career of the world’s greatest gymnast. Nadia Comaneci has already confirmed her attendance.
Tickets for the TIFF.25 Opening Gala are on sale now at tiff.eventbook.ro.
Nadia Comaneci will open TIFF.25 in a year the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee has dedicated to her, marking 50 years since gymnastics’ first perfect 10. Audiences will be treated to an exclusive first look at the work-in-progress documentary chronicling her life and career. An ambitious project from the same trio behind Nasty — Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu, and Tudor D. Popescu, alongside producer Cosmin Hodor — Nadia promises unprecedented access to Comaneci’s world, both on and off the mat. Drawing on archival footage and exclusive interviews with the gymnast and dozens of figures from the worlds of sport and art, the documentary is set for release in 2027.
Beyond the Gala, TIFF.25 will also honor Comaneci with a dedicated exhibition, and she will take part in a TIFF Talk open to the public. Further details will be announced in due course.
3 Days in September — A Film by the TIFF Team
Built around a single 65-minute long take, 3 Days in September is an emotional rollercoaster — a romantic comedy laced with dark humor. While vacationing on the coast ahead of their wedding, a couple’s plans are upended on the eve of the celebration when a mysterious woman appears and delivers a shocking revelation to the bride-to-be about her partner. What follows is an intense night that forces the protagonist to confront her deepest fears and hardest choices.
The film was shot in September 2025 in Eforie Sud, as part of the Arome Creative Camp, with many of those both in front of and behind the camera being TIFF team members from departments spanning production, partnerships, programming, and industry.
Joining the crew and director Tudor Giurgiu on the red carpet will be the film’s cast: Andreea Vasile, Adela Popescu, Conrad Mericoffer, Mirela Zeța, and Emilia Popescu.
3 Days in September will also screen later in the festival as part of Double Takes, a playful cinematic matchmaking exercise that pairs films which rhyme, complement, or — entirely by coincidence — enter into conversation through shared themes or narrative threads. In this new TIFF section, 3 Days in September will be presented alongside the film that inspired it: Saturday (Sábado, 2003), Chilean director Matías Bize’s debut about a wedding gone wrong, also shot in a single unbroken take.
Three further pairings round out Double Takes: Balearic (dir. Ion de Sosa, Spain) & 18 Holes to Paradise (dir. João Nuno Pinto, Portugal) — both set poolside among privileged families, though in strikingly different genres; Fully Agreed (dir. Panu Suuronen, Finland) & Winter in Russia (dir. Patric Chiha, France) — two razor-edge documentaries about Russians living in or exiled to other countries since the start of the war; and The Blow (dir. Ivan Zulueta, Spain) & The Last Strike (dir. Marta Medina & Enrique Lopez Lavigne, Spain) — the first a supremely rare cult object from the 1980s, cryptic, unclassifiable, reputedly cursed, and famously Almodóvar’s favorite horror film; the second a 2025 documentary that attempts to unravel its mysteries.
For over two decades, Transylvania has traded its mythical vampire lore for the silver screen every June. This year, the transformation is more historic than ever. From June 12 to June 21, 2026, Cluj-Napoca welcomes the 25th anniversary of the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF.25), solidifying its status as Romania’s premier cinematic event and a vital hub for Central and Eastern European film.
What began in 2002 as a brave, alternative gathering for cinephiles has matured into an international powerhouse. Over the course of 10 days, the entire city will turn into a living, breathing movie set, expecting to draw over 100,000 attendees to open-air squares, historic castles, and local theaters.
The Jubilee Edition: What to Expect
The silver jubilee is not just about looking forward; it is about honoring the past while pushing artistic boundaries. The TIFF 2026 lineup skillfully blends retrospectives of the masters who shaped contemporary cinema with the bold voices of tomorrow.
| Feature Category | Program Highlight for TIFF.25 | Cinematic Significance |
| Special Program | 25 Years Later (După 25 de ani) | A nostalgic trip back to 2001, screening cult classics and masterpieces that defined the turn of the millennium. |
| Country Focus | The Netherlands (Țările de Jos) | A curated selection of Dutch cinema, showcasing award-winning contemporary debuts alongside historical cult favorites. |
| Director Retrospective | Corneliu Porumboiu | A full retrospective celebrating one of the foundational directors of the Romanian New Wave. |
| Innovation & Youth | Teen Spirit Competition | A highly anticipated competitive section dedicated to films exploring the raw realities of the new generation. |
Beyond the indoor screenings, the festival’s crown jewel remains Piața Unirii (Union Square). Underneath the neo-Gothic shadow of St. Michael’s Church, giant open-air screens will host massive evening galas where thousands of spectators gather under the stars.
Where Music and Silent Cinema Meet
One of the most anticipated elements of the 25th edition is the expanded Cine-Concert program, which bridges the gap between early 20th-century avant-garde cinema and modern live music. This year, audiences will experience live musical scores performed alongside three distinct masterpieces from different eras and regions:
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Meandre (Directed by Mircea Săucan)
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Nopți albe (White Nights)
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Parisul doarme (Paris Asleep, Directed by René Clair)
Additionally, the festival will proudly present its brand-new Janovics Jenő Award, named after the pioneer of Cluj’s early film industry, signaling a deeper commitment to honoring regional film heritage.
TIFF.25 Fast Facts
| Metric | Details |
| Festival Dates | June 12 – June 21, 2026 |
| Main Core Competitions | Official Competition (1st/2nd time directors), What’s Up, Doc?, Romanian Film Days |
| Signature Experience | Open-air screenings at Piața Unirii and Banffy Castle (Bonțida) |
| Beloved Sidebar | Film Food — merging cinema with live gourmet culinary experiences |
A Cultural Catalyst
More than just a showcase for high-brow art, TIFF has historically served as an economic and cultural engine for Cluj-Napoca. Over the past quarter of a century, it has fostered the global rise of the Romanian New Wave, offered networking platforms through its industry program (Romanian Days / Industry Events), and trained the next generation of filmmakers through initiatives like Let’s Go Digital!.
As volunteers put on their official festival shirts and the local cafes brace for the annual influx of international critics, actors, and directors, one thing is certain: Cluj-Napoca is ready to blow out its 25 candles in true, cinematic style.
If you are anywhere near Transylvania this June, make sure your calendar is clear. The “Sheriff” of European film festivals is back in town.
Aidan Gillen is part of the Official Competition Jury at Transilvania IFF.25
