In their short films and video art, filmmaker Cristina Iliescu teases the boundaries between real life and informatic technology by creating a both strong and nostalgic gaze.
Their hybrid film practice interweaves reality, fiction and a digitally native take throughout a mindful sense of observation. They are known for their short film “AIPoetries of Female and Non-female Beings in Gas Stations at Night” (2022) which has been screened at multiple film festivals including Glasgow ISFF 2023 in ‘Do You See What (A)I See’ programme dedicated to films which are using AI technologies and won The National Short Film Competition at BIEFF 2022. Their newest short film, “A Flat is Born” (2023), won The Award for Best Visual Concept in BIEFF 2023 and it is yet to have its International Premiere.
They are a PhD candidate, writing their thesis on the impact that the internet has on cinema, at UNATC Bucharest, by focusing both on AI text-to-video technologies and TikToks. They also teach as a TA along with film critic and professor Irina Trocan in Film Studies department. They are a "Young Hope" nominee for the 2024 Gopo Awards and have been selected to participate in Sarajevo Talents Directors Summit 2024.
Actress, playwright, educator, and co-founder of the non-hierarchical educational centre for children Flori, fete și băieți. She has a BA in Acting at UNATC Bucharest, a master’s degree in Acting and a second MA in Dramaturgical Writing at the same university. She is interested in political theatre and theatre as a tool to empower and raise awareness of the issues women deal with. She is a Macaz Political School alumni.
As a trainer and educator, she likes using elements of Forum Theatre, free-flow writing, Reggio Emilia and Montessori inspired activities. She coordinates the Ukrainian theatre group Djerelo, formed in April 2022.
Ruxandra Simion is a cultural producer and manager, and also a playwright based in Bucharest, Romania. She holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Bucharest and an MA in Dramaturgical Writing from the National University of Theatre and Film I.L. Caragiale.
Her creative approach integrates satire, musical theatre, and community-engaged art to address pressing issues such as climate change, labor, migration, housing, and mental health. As one of the co-founder of Rhea, Ruxandra actively contributes to the independent Romanian cultural sector, leveraging her curatorial expertise and experience as a cultural manager and producer.
