Photos: Mandragora Movies
The Romanian Cultural Institute presents the Gala Screening of the acclaimed drama Francesca, followed by Q&A session with director Bobby Paunescu and leading actress Monica Birladeanu.
The event is part of the Romanian Ambassador's official visit in Northern Ireland (between 12-17 March) for the opening ceremony of the Honorary Consulate of Romania.
One of the opening films of the 2009 Venice Film Festival, acclaimed drama Francesca is the debut of Bobby Paunescu, a leading Romanian film-maker. Francesca is a young kindergarten teacher whose dream is to leave Romania and migrate to Italy for a better life. She is relying on her boyfriend Mita to join her in Italy as soon as he finishes a small business he's involved in, but her plans are threatened as painful truths come to light. Paunescu expertly builds a tragic sense of entrapment around Francesca's flight.
Cast: Monica Birladeanu, Doru Boguta, Luminita Gheorghiu Released: 2009 Run Time: 1 hour 34 minutes In Romanian with English subtitles.
The screening is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in partnership with Ulster Museum, with kind support from the Embassy of Romania, Queens Film Theatre and Romanian Self Support Group.
A photographic exhibition with images from Romania will be hosted by the Ballymena Borough Council between 12 March - 30 April 2010. With photos by Petrut Calinescu, Dan Dinu, Silviu Ghetie, Romeo Huidu, Pawel Mazur, Marian Plaino, Maciej Szal.
When: 14 March 2010, 7 pm; Where: Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast; Tickets: http://www.queensfilmtheatre.com/films/francescagalaulstermuseum