Friday, October 2: A day dedicated to Alexandra Gulea

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 will be dedicated to Romanian director Alexandra Gulea, winner of the 2026 Darko Bratina Award.

At 15:00, the films Valea Jiuliu - Notes and Moromeții 3 will be screened, followed by a public event (a masterclass) at 17.30. It will be moderated by Donatello Fumarola, where Alexandra Gulea will talk about her journey as an artist and filmmaker, the cinematic culture from which she comes, what she seeks to achieve through cinema, and how a certain artistic practice—one that falls outside the commercial and popular norms as defined by the industry—can still be meaningful today. During the masterclass, Alexandra Gulea will also screen one of her recent short film—a surprise for the Gorizia audience—prior to the award ceremony at 20:00, where the 2026 Darko Bratina Award will be presented alongside the prizes for the short films in the First Crossings competition section, created by students of film schools, in a dialogue across generations that we hope will inspire future filmmakers. 

The evening will conclude at 20:30 with Alexandra Gulea’s latest feature film, MAIA - PORTRAIT WITH HANDS (Romania, 2024, 90’), a refined and playful (self)portrait of a people, a culture and a woman.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT FOR THE MASTERCLASS AND AWARD CEREMONY HERE

Programme, October 2, 2026 

15.00 | Palazzo del Cinema (Kinemax)
Valea Jiuliu - Notes
directed by: Alexandra Gulea (Romania, Germany, 2018, 13')
Moromeții 3
directed by: Stere Gulea (Romania, 2024, 112')

17.30 | Palazzo del Cinema (Kinemax)
Masterclass: Alexandra Gulea, Darko Bratina Award 2026 awardee

20.00 | Palazzo del Cinema (Kinemax)
Darko Bratina and First Crossings ceremonial award presentation
followed by
Projection of the awarded short film
followed by
Maia – Portret cu mâini (Maia – Portrait with Hands)
directed by: Alexandra Gulea (Romania, 2024, 90')

RESERVE YOUR SEAT FOR THE MASTERCLASS AND AWARD CEREMONY HERE