Out of competition films
The Magic Mountain
The Magic Mountain
by Anca Damian – Romania, France, Poland, 2015
(85', V. Originale con sottotitoli in italiano)
In the form of an animated docu-drama, the biography of Adam Jacek Winkler wonders through nearly half a century of history. A Polish refugee in Paris, Adam lived a boundless life, wanting to change the world. His adventurous life takes a radical turn in the 80s, as he visions himself a knight of the 20th century and leaves France to fight with both amateurism and courage, alongside commander Massoud against the Soviets in Afghanistan. In the light of September 11th, 2001, his fate mirrors the individual's destiny in relation with the history unfolding and also the introspection of a man on his own fate.
Anca Damian
Anca Damian studied at the Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Bucharest where she majored in cinematography and later obtained a Doctor's degree in Film. She has worked as the director of photography for two feature films and many other documentary films. Her first feature film as a director- Crossing dates (2008)- participated in numerous film festival competitions such as Pusan Film Festival, Chicago, Goteborg, Cottbus, Goa and Rome. Her second feature as a director, screenwriter and producer Crulic - The Path to Beyond (2011), was selected at Locarno, BFI London, Annecy, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Pusan, New Directors/New Films, totaling more that 150 festival selections. The movie also received the Cristal Award in Annecy, and more than 35 prizes at other notable film festivals. Her third feature as a director, screenwriter and producer A Very Unsettled Summer/O vara foarte instabila (2013), a Romanian-Czech-Swedish-UK coproduction, received three prizes from at the Romanian Filmmakers' Union annual Awards and was screened in Warsaw IFF, Goteborg IFF, Febiofest (Prague), East End Film Festival (London). The international cast included Jamie Sives, Ana Ularu and Kim Bodnia. "The Magic Mountain" a docu-drama animation is her 4th feature film.