The 34th edition of the Alter-Native International Short Film Festival, which will take place from 4 to 8 November at the Palace of Culture in Targu Mures, will present audiences with major premieres and internationally award-winning productions.

The event offers audiences a diverse programme which, alongside the traditional short film competition, includes 'Hungarian and Romanian feature films and documentaries, as well as international co-productions,' the organisers announced in a press release on Monday.

According to the same source, this year's programme places particular emphasis on cultural interaction, offering meetings with filmmakers and actors and giving audiences the opportunity to speak directly with those involved in making the films.

One of the festival's highlights, according to the organisers, will be the preview screening of the Romanian feature film 'You Don't Belong Here,' directed by Florin Serban. The production, which won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival, will be shown in Targu Mures ahead of its cinema release.

The film follows the life of a hospital director raising his teenage son alone and 'explores family relationships, trust and responsibility.'

The feature film selection covers a wide range of genres and themes, from international productions to innovative thrillers and comedies. The announced titles include 'Mambo Maternica,, directed by Borbala Nagy, and 'Mayflies,' directed by Emília Goldberg, both starring Targu Mures-born actress Orsolya Torok-Illyes, as well as the drama 'Milk Teeth,' directed by Mihai Mincan, which is set during the final months of the communist dictatorship. The screening will be followed by a discussion with actress Marina Palii.

The programme also includes 'The Samca File,' directed by Horia Cucuta and George ve Ganaaard, described as the first Romanian fake true-crime thriller; the romantic comedy 'One More Wish,' directed by Kata Dobo and Fanni Szilagyi; the tragicomedy 'Ground Floor,' directed by Gabor Reisz; and the films 'Mommy Blue,' directed by Bernadette Mayer, 'All the Stars,' directed by Renato Olasz, and 'Hen,' directed by Gyorgy Palfi.

Another highlight is '3 Days in September,' directed by Tudor Giurgiu, a production also selected for Camerimage, regarded as the world's leading festival dedicated to cinematographers.

The documentary section features two notable titles: 'Kurtag Fragments,' by Golden Bear-winning director Denes Nagy, an intimate portrait of composer Gyorgy Kurtag as he celebrates his 100th birthday, and 'Yalla-yalla,' directed by Laszlo Csibi, which explores migration and integration.

The organisers point out that this year's edition will offer film enthusiasts a diverse range of stories about family relationships, identity, social pressures and expectations, as well as the possibility of a fresh start.

The Alter-Native Festival is organised with the support of its partners, Ariel Theatre for Children and Young People, the University of Arts in Targu Mures and the Hungarian Cultural Centre in Bucharest. It is funded primarily by Targu Mures City Hall, the Communitas Foundation and the National Centre of Cinematography. Full programme details are available on the festival's official website, while tickets and passes are already on sale through the relevant platforms. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dorina Matis; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)

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