Astra Film Chișinău, now in its fifth year: three days of documentaries for children, teenagers and the general public

From 11 to 13 November, the Odeon Cinema is hosting a selection of documentaries that spark conversations about artificial intelligence and technological responsibility, bringing to the public the films recently awarded at Astra Film Festival 2026 in Sibiu and exploring the world of shepherding and people’s relationship with nature. 

Funded by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova, part of the Romanian Government, Astra Film Chișinău is offering the public free admission, subject to availability. Audience members are invited to book their seats in advance. Booked tickets are held in your personal account; there is no charge and no fees are added. Full details: https://astrafilm.ro/chisinau/tickets.

The evening programme is structured around three distinct themes. The first day features the documentary ‘Elon Musk Unveiled’, followed by a discussion on artificial intelligence. The second day offers the chance to see three of the films that received the most prestigious awards at this year’s Astra Film Festival edition. On the final day, two documentaries by Dumitru Budrala offer an insight into the world of shepherds and the tradition of transhumance, in a year in which the United Nations is marking the International Year of Pastures and Shepherds. Full programme: https://astrafilm.ro/chisinau/program/calendar.

11 November. Artificial intelligence: between promise and responsibility

The official opening of Astra Film Chișinău takes place at 6.00 pm, followed at 6.30 pm by the screening of the film ‘Elon Musk Unveiled’ (dir. Andreas Pichler, Germany – 2025, 90 mins). The documentary investigates the vision behind Tesla and the promise of the self-driving car, weighing up technological ambition, innovation and the human cost of errors. Through journalistic investigations and testimonies from within the company, including the story of a former Romanian female engineer at Tesla, the film examines the internal culture and the decisions made in the name of progress. The screening will be followed by a discussion on artificial intelligence.

12 November. Award-winning films from Astra Film Festival 2026

The second day is dedicated to films that were recognised and awarded prizes at this year’s Astra Film Festival edition in Sibiu. The selection brings to Chișinău powerful stories about community, memory, the way people defend their place in the world, as well as self-confidence and freedom of expression.

• ‘The Mountain’ (dir. Biljana Tutorov and Petar Glomazić, Serbia, France, Montenegro, Slovenia – 2026, 105 mins) is the winner of the Best Documentary Award in the Central and Eastern Europe Competition. In the mountains of Montenegro, Gara and her daughter, Nada, lead a life closely tied to their sheepfold and the rhythm of nature. When plans to militarise the region threaten their farm and way of life, Gara becomes a strong voice for the community and publicly defends her land.

• “Every Day the Same Train Passes By and Never Stops” (dir. Vlad Petri, Romania – 2026, 65 mins) was named Best Documentary by the jury of the Romania Competition at Astra Film Festival 2026. In an isolated village in Bistrița-Năsăud, the rituals surrounding the death of a community member bring people together and reveal the bonds between them. The gravediggers, the barber’s shop where stories and confessions are shared, the funeral songs, the jokes and moments of intimacy paint a portrait of a world where sadness, humour and solidarity coexist naturally.

• “Uninhibited Spartans” (dir. Maud Mascre, Germany and New Caledonia – 2026, 78 mins) won the Best Documentary Award in the DocSchool section. In New Caledonia, a choreographer introduces women of different ages and backgrounds to the art of burlesque, preparing them for her dance school’s anniversary show. Throughout this experience, the participants confront their insecurities and learn to accept their own bodies.

13 November. Stories of pastoral life and transhumance

The third day is dedicated to the pastoral world, in keeping with the United Nations’ International Year of Pastures and Shepherds 2026. The two films screened explore both the continuity of practices and knowledge passed down through generations, and the challenges of a life in which distance, hard work and the care of animals shape the existence of herding families.

• ‘La drum’ (dir. Dumitru Budrala, Romania – 1997, 43 mins) is a documentary that has become a classic, one of those ‘must-see’ films. Every year, the shepherds of the Carpathians set off on their transhumance, travelling hundreds of kilometres in search of pastures. Beginning with the story of a family who must carry on tending a flock following the violent death of its owner, the film captures the harsh life of the transhumant shepherds, the long journeys, the nights spent under the open sky, and their encounters with the unexpected dangers and trials of the journey.

• ‘The Milk Trail’ (dir. Dumitru Budrala, Romania – 2026, 120 mins), final cut. A father and son traverse the hills with thousands of sheep, sleep under the open sky and brave the cold, whilst, up in the mountains, the mother looks after the livestock and runs the household. The film delves into the private life of a family for whom shepherding represents heritage, survival and, at times, separation. Without idealising the shepherds’ lives, Dumitru Budrala captures the harshness of their daily existence, the humour and joy of their encounters, as well as the knowledge passed down through the centuries, for which the present leaves ever less room.

Astra Film Junior, the programme dedicated to pupils in the Republic of Moldova

The Astra Film Junior programme, Romania’s most comprehensive documentary film education programme, returns this year to Chișinău with a particularly enticing cultural and educational offering. The organisers invite pupils to discover the world through the experiences of other children, through stories of courage, creativity, friendship, diversity and responsibility. The selection is organised by age group and includes packages of short films, as well as feature-length documentaries suitable for primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school pupils. Each set of screenings is followed by discussions in which young viewers are invited to take part, and the debates can continue in the classroom.

AFF Junior 6+. For the little ones, the organisers have put together four highly diverse film packages. It’s hard to choose between them, and those who watch them all will gain the most.

• The ‘Imaginary Worlds’ package brings together two short films: ‘Hug Me, Sue’ (Japan, 2025) and ‘Ryuji Tells a Story’ (Japan, 2023). Su-chan, a little girl who has undergone numerous surgical procedures, transforms her difficult experiences into creativity by making soft toys for other children in hospital. Meanwhile, Ryuji keeps the traditional Japanese art of rakugo storytelling alive, using nothing but a fan, a piece of fabric and his imagination.

• The No Rulebook package explores the courage to try new things, creativity and the joy of doing things for others. In ‘Game Over’ (Portugal, 2023), Simão follows his passion for drawing and creates a comic strip through which he encourages his classmates to discover the world beyond their screens. In ‘At Basma’s Table’ (Italy, 2025), an 11-year-old girl with a passion for cooking prepares a meal for her neighbours, discovering that the initiative requires organisation, imagination and the ability to find solutions.

• ‘Big Dreams’ follows two very different stories, united by the same idea: a dream begins to take shape when you have the courage to put it to the test. In “Stella’s Dream” (Italy, 2025), Stella dreams of one day working in a mountain refuge and sets out to discover what life there is really like. Meanwhile, in “Mixi & Kiki” (Serbia, 2025), Mixi wants to adopt a dog and learns, step by step, just how much care and responsibility this wish entails.

• ‘Without Limits’ follows two children whose desires, passions and challenges may be familiar to viewers. Vítek, the protagonist of *Through the Darkness, by Touch* (Czech Republic, 2025), shows us that the absence of a sense can open up new avenues of perception. Benet, from “Benet’s Goal” (Germany, 2024), loves football and longs to score his first goal, even though his small stature presents him with obstacles his teammates do not face.

AFF Junior 11+. For secondary school pupils, the organisers have put together a dedicated package and a special screening. 

• “Ready for Anything” brings together two stories about children who follow their passions and learn to face challenges through practice, perseverance and self-belief: “Riding the Wave with Debora” (Vladimir Balko, Slovakia, 2024) and ‘Anna the Firefighter’ (Ales Zemlja, Slovenia, 2024). Debora and Anna share something essential: both learn that preparation means practice, patience and the courage to try again. Debora is training to kayak down a mountain river and discovers that strength alone is not enough when fear and panic set in. Anna is preparing for a challenging competition alongside her older teammates, in an event that tests her speed, strength and teamwork.

• The documentary film ‘Heroes of the Galaxy’ (Mirjam Marks, Netherlands, 2026, 40 mins) tells the story of refugee children living temporarily on a ship that has been converted into a refugee centre.  Whilst waiting and hoping for a permanent home in the Netherlands, the children try to find their place: they make friends, play football on the ship’s vast car deck, learn to swim and dream of a secure future. With one foot in their new life and the other still tied to the past and the stories that have shaped them, they navigate between two worlds.

AFF Junior 15+. Secondary school pupils are invited to watch two feature films that were highly acclaimed at the most recent edition of the youth film festival held in Sibiu at the end of October. Both films are recommended for all age groups. 

• ‘We Are Strong!’ (Germany, 2026) is a film about six teenage girls from different corners of the world, their choices and the power to find their own voice. The six stories seek to answer the same question: to what extent can you decide for yourself how to live your life? Whilst some struggle with the pressure to look ‘perfect’, others face traditions that could change their lives forever.

• The documentary *Wild Delta* (Romania, 2026) is a journey into the world of the Danube Delta, one of Europe’s most important wetlands. The unique story of this fabulous place, told through the voice of the element that makes it all possible: water. 

About Astra Film Festival

Founded in 1993, Astra Film Festival is Romania’s longest-running documentary film festival and one of Europe’s most important events dedicated to non-fiction cinema. Astra Film Festival Chișinău, now in its fifth edition, is a leading cultural event in the Republic of Moldova, initiated and funded by the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova – Government of Romania and organised by the Astra Film Foundation and CNM Astra.

Media
partners: TVR Moldova, Radio Chișinău, Star TV, Realitatea, One TV, Vocea Basarabiei.