On the occasion of Europe Day 2026, the cultural centres and consulates of the European Union Member States accredited in Manchester and Edinburgh will each organise an event dedicated to short film screenings, designed to reflect and celebrate the humour, creativity, and cultural specificity of each European nation.
The event aims to highlight Europe’s cultural diversity through cinema, offering audiences the opportunity to discover different artistic perspectives and stories that represent the identity of each participating country and takes place under the auspices of EUNIC.
As part of this Europe Day initiative, the Romanian Cultural Institute London, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Romania in Manchester and the Consulate General of Romania in Edinburgh, will participate with the screening of the short film “Zimnicea”, directed by Bogdan Naumovici and produced in 2020.
The film presents an episode inspired by recent history, treated with sensitivity and subtlety. It highlights how cinema can serve as a tool for reflection on collective memory and European identity.
Through its participation in this cinematic programme, Romania aims to contribute to European cultural dialogue and the exchange of ideas through film, offering audiences in Edinburgh and Manchester the opportunity to discover a Romanian production that combines historical dimension with contemporary artistic expression.
Zimnicea (2020)
Genre: Drama
Director & Screenplay: Bogdan Naumovici
Producer: Hi-Fi Production – Laura Baron
Director of Photography: Silviu Stavilă
Cast: Dan Aștilean, Mihai Călin, Gavril Pătru, Iulia Verdeș, Dana Tapalagă, Daniel Stanciu, Marius Tomescu
Duration: 16 minutes
Language: Romanian, with English subtitles
Premiere: 03.08.2020
The film tells the true story of what happened in Zimnicea, Romania, on 4 March 1977, the day of the major earthquake. For the entire community, it appeared that the town had been destroyed by approximately 80%, and this belief persisted for more than 35 years. However, the truth—concealed for decades—only came to light in 2012: it was not the earthquake, but the communist regime that razed Zimnicea, forever changing the lives of its inhabitants.
Bogdan Naumovici (b. 1968) is one of the best-known creative professionals in Romania’s advertising industry, working as a creative director, entrepreneur, and film director. He graduated from the Politehnica University of Bucharest and began his career in advertising in the 1990s, initially in client service and later as a copywriter. In 1997, he joined Leo Burnett Romania, where he quickly became Creative Director and later partner. Under his leadership, the agency won numerous major awards in the communications and marketing industry, being repeatedly named “Agency of the Year” in Romania and Central and Eastern Europe. In 2007, he founded 23 Communication Ideas, an “ideas shop” focused on developing creative and unconventional communication solutions for the business environment. Throughout his career, Naumovici has been involved in numerous advertising, branding, and media projects, being recognised for his innovative approach and his contribution to modernising Romanian advertising. In addition to his work in communications, Bogdan Naumovici has also developed film and media projects, including the short film Zimnicea (2020) and Țăndări (2025), works that reflect his artistic sensitivity and interest in stories with historical and cultural depth.
