Romania Named AFM’s First Country of Focus

Romania will receive a dedicated spotlight at the 2026 American Film Market, with filmmaker Cristian Mungiu among the delegates attending the November 10–15 event at Los Angeles’s Fairmont Century Plaza. The initiative is being organized with Creative Romanian Filmmakers, an industry group that has taken Romanian producers to international markets since 2016.

The delegation will have exhibition space to meet global film purchasers and other industry professionals. Eleven Romanian companies are listed as participants, including Augmented Films, Idea Film, Nomad Films Global and Sýmbolon.

Four Romanian productions are scheduled for screenings at AMC Century City 15: Igor Cobileanski’s psychological drama “Comatogen,” Andrei Dascalescu’s documentary “Gone Guy,” Ligia Ciornei’s “Grounded,” set as war begins in Ukraine, and Valeriu Andriuta’s thriller “The Circle.”

Mungiu, whose “Fjord” is Romania’s official submission for the Academy Award for best international feature film, will join a November 14 panel about Romania as a production partner. The discussion will cover filming in the country, working with Romanian producers and accessing production incentives. Other participants include Romanian film officials and producers.

Mungiu said Romanian cinema could find audiences beyond festivals and noted that the country’s cash rebate is operating again. He said discussions with Romanian authorities are underway about providing upfront financing for the rebate, with results hoped for as early as 2027. AFM organizer Jackie Brenneman described the country’s selection as recognition of its contribution to world cinema.