12:08 East of Bucharest / A fost sau n-a fost?
Romania , 2006.

Directed by: Corneliu Porumboiu
Script: Daniel Burlac
Producer: Corneliu Porumboiu
Cinematography: Marius Panduru
Editing: Roxana Szel
Music: Rotaria Group
Cast: Mircea Andreescu, Teodor Corban, Ion Sapdaru

Format: 35mm, COL
Running time: 89'

Synopsis
And where were you when the communist government in Romania collapsed??? This is the question posed in the appraised debut film by a director whose country, after liberating itself from repression, has become a nest of appraised young authors and interesting films. On that fatal day, December 22, at 12:08, nearly the whole nation was petrified in front of their TVs watching Nicolai Ceausescu abdicating, appropriately by helicopter, and his residence being attacked by furious mob. About sixteen years later the same event is the subject of a TV show where main roles belong to Manescu, a heavy alcoholic and history teacher, and to Piscoci whose occupation is – Santa Claus. Telling the stories about their heroic actions at the historic moment, they manage to “upset” viewers who call and complain about the truth of their alleged “tall tales” so that finally the actual question is: 'Who actually did hurry up eight minutes after noon to the main city square to yell against Ceausescu’s dictatorship?'

Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2006., Camera d’Or, Label Europa Cinemas
International Film Festival Transsilvania 2006, Audience Award, Best Romanian Film, Transsilvania Trophy.

Directors Biography
Corneliu Porumboiu was born in Vaslui, Romania. He studied directing at the Academy of Drama Arts in Bucharest. Aside from the feature debut '12:08 East of Bucharest', he has made several shorts: 'Graffiti' (2000), 'Love…Sorry' (2001), 'Gone with the Wine' (2002), 'Liviu's Dream' (2003) and the awarded 'A Trip to the City' (2004).

Location and screening schedule:
matinee: Kino SC, Friday, October 20th at 9.00
premiere: Kino SC, Friday, October 20th at 20.00
reprisal: Kino Europa, Saturday, October 21st at 13.00