A unique documentary film festival in Romania and in the region, fARAD explores diverse forms of cinematic representation of reality, as well as modes of transcending formal and national boundaries, and offers documentary, hybrid, and experimental films that have been recognized in recent major international festivals.
fARAD is organized by an experienced team that includes the programmers and producers of Making Waves, the Romanian film festival in New York, and of the Transilvania International Film Festival in Cluj. It was founded in 2014 at the initiative of Corina Șuteu, the president of the festival, and of Film ETC., in partnership with the Arad Municipal Culture Center. Under the patronage of the Arad City Hall, fARAD is produced and curated by Insula 42 (formerly Film ETC Association, with Oana Radu, festival manager, artistic director Dimitris Kerkinos, and programming consultant Mihai Chirilov), and in partnership with Institut Francais Timișoara and the West University of Timișoara. Co-founders: Mona Nicoară and 111 Film. The ninth edition is made possible with the support of Groupama, Romanian National Film Center (CNC), and the Romanian Filmmakers Association (UCIN).
The festival extends, this year, to the neighbouring city of Timișoara, with two special screenings organised in partnership with the Institut Francais Timișoara.
The fARAD Lab also returns, for its 7th edition, to its traditional in-person format.