Cristian Mungiu was in the Official Competition with his latest film R.M.N. A few days before Christmas, having quit his job in Germany, Matthias returns to his multi-ethnic Transylvanian village. He wishes to involve himself more in the education of his son, Rudi, left for too long in the care of his mother, Ana,
and to rid the boy of the unresolved fears that have taken hold of him. He’s preoccupied  with his old father, Otto and also eager to see his ex-lover, Csilla. When a few new workers are hired at the small factory that Csilla manages, the peace of the community is disturbed, underlying fears grip the adults, and frustrations, conflicts and passions erupt through the thin veneer of apparent understanding and calm.

A non-judgmental analysis of the driving forces of human behavior when confronted with the unknown, of the way we perceive the other and on how we relate to an unsettling future.

The third Romanian filmmaker, Radu Jude, presents the world premiere of his short film “Potemkinists” in the “Directors” Fortnight section. In 1905, the sailors on the battleship Potemkin are given political asylum in Romania – an act of defiance against Russia. In 2021, a sculptor wants to create an artwork inspired by the event.
A comedy about art, history, memory and cinema, which film critic Andrei Gorzo describes as "a cross between a Caragiale sketch and a Mark Rappaport video essay".

Cosmina Stratan is also in Cannes this year in French director Arnaud Desplechin Frère et soeur, which screens in the Official Competition. In the film, she stars alongside famous French actress Marion Cotillard.

Asociația Secvențe is bringing 12 short films to Cannes, which will be presented in the Romanian Short Waves programme.