| Discover bold new voices, award-winning films, and special guest appearances by Romanian filmmakers |
| April 29 – May 6, 2026Los Angeles |
The South East European Film Festival Los Angeles (SEEfest) returns for its 21st edition, taking place from April 29 to May 6, 2026, continuing its mission as one of the leading platforms in the United States dedicated to cinema from South East Europe. This year’s edition places a special emphasis on Romanian cinema, highlighting a curated selection of films that reflect the originality, depth, and growing global visibility of contemporary Romanian filmmaking, while fostering cultural exchange and amplifying voices that engage with pressing social realities and evolving cinematic languages. The Romanian Cultural Institute in New York is pleased to mark this new edition and to continue its longstanding commitment to this valued partnership.
The festival will officially open with Catane, directed by Ioana Mischie, presented in the presence of the director. Inspired by real events, the film is a sharp and darkly comic exploration of moral ambiguity, social pressures, and the fragile boundary between truth and appearance, showcasing Mischie’s distinctive voice at the intersection of cinema and innovative storytelling.
The Romanian presence continues with Comatogen, directed by Igor Cobileanski, a multilayered narrative that examines the complexities of human relationships in a world shaped by financial interests and hidden agendas. Told from intersecting perspectives, the film offers a compelling and nuanced portrait of contemporary society. Screenings will take place in the presence of actress Daniela Nane.
Complementing these feature films, the program also includes a diverse selection of Romanian and Romanian-affiliated productions: the fiction short The Road Home by Marian Fărcuț, the documentary short Hollowgram by Laura Iancu (Romania / U.S.), and the documentary Electing Ms Santa by Raisa Răzmeriță, a Republic of Moldova–Romania co-production. Together, these works highlight the breadth of voices and formats through which Romanian filmmakers engage with personal, social, and political narratives.
The presence of Romanian directors at this year’s edition is supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York. More details about the festival will soon be available at https://seefilmla.org/.
