Key Highlights
The Transilvania Intl. Film Festival (TIFF) concluded its industry awards ceremony on June 21, 2026, in Cluj, Romania, with two Romanian projects from the Works in Progress program sharing the inaugural Transilvania HBO Award. Cristi Iftime's The Fear’s Artist and Marius Olteanu's We Won’t Get Old Together each received €15,000 (about $17,200) from the total €30,000 prize.
Details of the Winning Projects
'We Won’t Get Old Together'
Directed by Marius Olteanu, this sophomore feature is a pandemic-era drama about a man striving to rebuild his life amid collapse. Olteanu's debut, Monsters., premiered at the Berlin Film Festival's Forum section in 2019, where it won the Tagesspiegel Audience Award.
'The Fear’s Artist'
Directed by Cristi Iftime, this marks his first feature in nearly a decade since his debut Marita was honored at Karlovy Vary in 2017. No further plot details were disclosed.
Other Awards at Transilvania Pitch Stop
The co-production forum handed out several prizes:
- Grand Prize (Chainsaw Europe): Fathers by Bulgaria's Martin Iliev, produced by Angel Ivanov. The film follows a young director facing a life-threatening diagnosis and confronting generational trauma during a journey with his father.
- TPS Development Award (Avanpost): Times New Roman by Ukrainian director Philip Sotnychenko, produced by Valeria Sochyvets and Sashko Chubko. The story revolves around a Ukrainian artist reenacting political assassinations across Europe.
- CNC Moldova Award: Another Story About My Son by Adrian Silișteanu (Romania), produced by Iriana Adnana and Maya Vitkova Kosev. It portrays a Roma community leader helping a film crew recreate the ethnic conflict that killed his son.
- Connecting Cottbus CoCoLab: East-West Award: Sun Offspring by Octavian Șaramet, produced by Mara Crăcăleanu. A folk horror about two lovers seeking parenthood in a secluded wellness community with a terrifying belief.
- Luno Award: Decebal’s Wedding by Matei Lucaci-Grünberg, produced by Gabriela Suciu. A comedy about a traditional Romanian family's tech-challenged attempt to attend their son's New York wedding.
Drama Room and Book to Screen Awards
In the Drama Room for original Romanian series, Stay in School! by Rodica Dominteanu won best series project, including a development agreement with PRO TV. A creative residency at Bethlen-Haller Castle went to The Story of a Lost Boy by Gabriel Corneanu.
The new Book to Screen program awarded a one-year option agreement with PRO TV to Greu de pătruns în pădurea de mesteceni by Ruxandra Burcescu, and a €1,000 ($1,100) prize to Tot ce i-am promis tatălui meu by Ioana Maria Stăncescu.
Alex. Leo Șerban Scholarships
Two scholarships were awarded: to Marius Papară for Ibida and Ana-Maria Comănescu for Paradox.
FAQ
Which films won the Transilvania HBO Award?
Cristi Iftime's The Fear’s Artist and Marius Olteanu's We Won’t Get Old Together shared the inaugural Transilvania HBO Award, each receiving €15,000.
What is the Transilvania Pitch Stop?
It is a co-production forum at the Transilvania Intl. Film Festival where projects compete for development awards from industry partners.
When does the Transilvania Intl. Film Festival take place?
The festival runs from June 12 to June 21, 2026.