I’ve been craving to visit Cluj for years

Not just a passing wish, but a heart-level longing. This summer, it finally happened, and what better time to explore the city than during the Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF)?

This was not only my first time at TIFF but also my first visit to Cluj-Napoca, and the experience unfolded like a film itself: layered, emotional, funny, unpredictable.

From Berlinale to TIFF: A Different Kind of Intimacy

As someone who’s loved festival films for years (and occasionally scores tickets to Berlinale, when the stars align), TIFF had been floating in my orbit for a while. Berlinale is its own beast, exhilarating, yes, but also full of frenzy and strategy. TIFF, on the other hand, felt more personal, more open-hearted. I went with no agenda other than curiosity and a desire to feel. And feel I did.

Let me be clear: I’m not a film critic. I’m not here to dissect camera angles or editing transitions. I’m writing as a human, a light-hearted, empathetic woman looking for meaning in art and connection. What follows is simply how these films landed in me.

The Films That Moved Me

Engrossed in the winemaking process, we rose with the first rays of dawn, uniting as a multi-generational team of six, each driven by a shared commitment. Handpicking the grapes was just the beginning. From there, we hauled our bounty back to my grandparents’ humble abode, where we crushed the fruit to extract the juice. The culmination was the storage of the juice in wooden barrels, patiently awaiting its transformative journey from raw produce to a finely aged wine, eagerly anticipated for our enjoyment in the months ahead.

Roots

The roots of the vineyard, I came to learn, ran as deep as my own history, with the very vines having taken root two years before my own existence. Perhaps during those early years, I had been a mere presence, soaking in the crisp countryside air while my parents and kin tirelessly planted the seeds that would one day yield the sweet nectar. 

Gratitude

The fragrant amalgamation of countryside air, ripe grapes, bustling wildlife, and the comforting crackle of the fireplace – these scents are etched forever in the corridors of my memory, serving as a constant reminder of the profound gratitude I hold for such wondrous experiences.