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    • New Talents Open Call
      Eastern Neighbours Film Festival (ENFF) began in The Netherlands in 2008 with the idea to offer Dutch and international audiences a unique glimpse into the cinema of their neighbors from Eastern and Southern Europe. This annual event presents the most recent, exciting, and thought‐provoking films, from countries with small, but often powerful film industries, that… Read more: New Talents Open Call
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      Unable To attend the festival in person? No problem! From November 27th to December 3rd, we’re thrilled to bring you a curated selection of this year’s films available for online viewing! Catch our captivating Opening Film Ivan’s Land, or the touching Closing Film Seventh Heaven. Or explore a collection of shorts from the New Talents Competition! Follow along… Read more: ENFF 2023 On Demand!
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      We talked with Monika Lošťáková about contemporary Slovak cinema.
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      In Work in Progress, emerging filmmakers and artists will present their works in development to the audience and engage in discussions with Dutch experts.
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      Every year, ENFF brings special musical guests who bring beauty to the program and further represent the rich cultures of their countries to a Dutch audience.
    • Film Marathon
      Join us for the Film Marathon, a new concept in which we merge two components, Short Films, Big Stories, and New Talents Competition into a whole-day screening of short films!

Toto and His Sisters

DirectorAlexander Nanau
ProducerValeriu Nicolae, Alexander Nanau, Catalin Mitulescu, Hanka Kastelicova, Marcian Lazar – Strada Film, HBO Europe, Alexander Nanau Production
WriterAlexander Nanau
EditorAlexander Nanau, George Cragg, Mircea Olteanu
CameraAlexander Nanau
ScreeningSa. 12 Nov. 19:30 hrs.
Ma. 14 Nov. 19:30 hours
Original TitleTOTO SI SURORILE LUI
Year2014
Length93 min
CountyRomania/Hungary/Germany
SubtitlesEnglish
SectionFOCUS: On the Fringes of Society

One of the best documentaries of Europe. An observational masterpiece that won over 30 awards and got distributed in cinemas in several countries. A compelling human drama that makes us feel, think and remember.

SYNOPSIS

Ten-year-old Totonel and his sisters, Andreea (15) and Ana (17), are waiting for their mother to come back home from prison. As they grow up, each of them learns how to survive on their own, hoping that when their mother returns, their family will be reunited. Toto passionately learns dancing, reading and writing, while his sisters try to keep the family together in a world that has long forgotten what the innocence of childhood should be. The director points out: ’’An important element sustaining the story’s intimacy is the video material that Andreea shot herself, documenting their life. It is a film made with them, not only about them.’’

Een van de beste documentaires van Europa. Een observationeel meesterwerk dat meer dan 30 prijzen won en werd vertoond in bioscopen in verschillende landen. Een meeslepend menselijk drama dat ons laat voelen, denken en herinneren.

VERHAAL

Tienjarige Totonel en zijn zussen Andreea (15) en Ana (17) wachten op hun moeder die wordt vrijgelaten uit de gevangenis. Terwijl ze opgroeien leren de kinderen hoe ze zelfstandig moeten overleven. Ze hopen dat hun familie wordt herenigd wanneer hun moeder terug is. Toto leert dansen, lezen en schrijven. Ondertussen proberen zijn zusters om de familie bij elkaar houden in een wereld die niet meer weet wat de onschuld van de kindertijd inhoudt. De regisseur vertelt: “De intimiteit van de film komt vooral dankzij het videomateriaal dat Andreea zelf van haar ervaringen maakte. Het is een film die we mét hen maakten, niet alleen over hen.”