Opening film. The festival’s opening film, Decoding Hate (dir. Simon Klose, Denmark – 2025), reveals how social media platforms tolerate, and sometimes even encourage, hate speech, as it often proves highly profitable. Beyond the tensions and manipulations behind digital platforms, the film also tells a story about courage, ambition, and the power to expose evil. This is where the conversation begins.

AF Junior. Continuing a cherished tradition, the festival will also host AF Junior, the best educational documentary program for children and teens, featuring films for three age categories (6+, 11+, and 15+), comic book contests inspired by real stories from the screen, and a storytelling workshop designed for those who want to create engaging social media posts.

Industry 2025. The industry events at Astra Film Festival 2025 will be organized in partnership with Ex Oriente Film, an international training program. The workshops will focus on the development and financing of creative documentary films.

DocTalks. The first debate, Neo-fascism Online and Offline: The Algorithm of Hate, will be moderated at the festival’s opening by Ioana Ciurlea. Her guests: Emilia Șercan and Florin Negruțiu. Other DocTalks debates include: Swimming Against the System (moderated by Cristian Leonte, with guests Deputy Prime Minister Barna Tánczos, Astra Museum manager Ciprian Ștefan, and journalist Alex Dima); When Does Femicide Begin (moderated by Paula Herlo, featuring artist Erika Isac, journalist Ramona Ursu, and Eniko Gall from the A.L.E.G. Association); War Seen in the Intimacy of the Enemy (moderated by journalist Răzvan Marcu, with guests writer Radu Vancu, military strategy expert Hari Bucur Marcu, and military historian Florin Șperlea); and How to Protect Boys from the Tate Phenomenon (moderated by Anca Suciu, with writer Ștefan Baghiu, professor Ionela Băluță, and journalist Costi Rogozanu). More about DocTalks: https://astrafilm.ro/doctalks/.

Each film is worth seeing. The festival addresses crucial social themes such as Woman/Mother – At What Cost?, #occident: A Critical Perspective, Dictatorships: A Survival Guide for Their Possible Return, On Both Sides of the Bloody Front, Masculinity in Crisis, Art as a Tool for Self-Exploration and Healing, Neo-Fascism Online and Offline, Becoming an Adult, Becoming a Parent, When the Press Turns into a Fake News Factory, and Our Lives Online.