“Kino Kombat” is the motto of this year's edition of One World Romania, and what a powerfully suggestive motto it is!

It's been almost 25 years since the Romanian Revolution and the international human rights documentary film festival decides to look back on a quarter of a century full of struggles, ideals, losses and victories. Between March 17 and 23, Bucharest's cinemas will be once again vibrating with the spirit of personal and social rebellion.

Considering the events which marked Romania last year, it's no wonder that this edition looks more 'radical' than usual. Always at the pulse of current events, the festival dedicates its current festival to the tireless fighter. The section “Rebels with a Cause” focuses mainly on the connection between rebellion and art and is thus a great compliment to the festival itself, reflecting on the social and political side of art and the artist's responsibility in such ultra-divisive issues as Pussy Riot, Femen or Roșia Montană.

Speaking of actuality, ”Rules of Corruption“ is just as valid for Romania as for other states in which it may be less obvious while another ultra-urgent and shattering section is aptly and simply called „Love Is a Human Right“. What may sound as an obvious fact becomes a bitter struggle when the freedom to love is tested by homophobia, refugee politics, and racial issues.

An absolute highlight is the Hungarian production Judgment in Hungary, showing in the “Specials“ section, a tense, shattering look at a trial of Hungarian right-wing extremists who committed a series of attacks on members of the Roma community in several Hungarian villages, killing entire families.

Contemporary issues are met by those of the past in the revelatory films of 25 Years After, all centering on the democratic process, or lack of it, in former communist countries after the fall of the regime.

The side events are equally exciting, and it's a privilege to hear one of Poland's most prolific documentarists, Marcel Łoziński, explain his approach to shooting documentaries and finding the right balance between artistic and personal responsibility.

Łoziński is also present with a new feature, the lovely Father and Son on a Journey, a moving and touchingly honest account of a father and son (the director himself and his son Paweł), both film directors, who use a long car trip to Paris as a chance to ask the other one everything they ever wanted to ask.

So if you find some time this week, you should definitely catch at least a few events and you will be rewarded with some of the most powerful films and poignant discussions a cultural initiative can offer.

By Ioana Moldovan, columnist, ioana.moldovan@romania-insider.com