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Dumitru Marian: We are cinematographers without cinematography /INTERVIEW

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Soon Moldova will celebrate 25 years from the declaration of independence. Accordingly, Moldova.ORG launched a new category named “Moldova at 25”. We discuss with experts from different domains and try to learn how or if the latter develop during these years of independence.

The first to be interviewed was the filmmaker and ALTfilm director Dumitru Marian, who told us about what happened to the Moldovan cinematography in the period of independence.

The Moldovan cinematography is now, after 25 years, somehow dead.
We will never be able to build what we once had, surely we won’t resurect the cinema industry at those levels, but we can build something completely different. We are in the 90ies yet, the money are still lacking, there is still enthusiasm, only the generations and the technical possibilities changed. Once we had the technological revolution, the film as an art became pretty affordable, I’d say.

The only way to survive as a cinematographer

There was a period, when Moldova-Film was the only studio that made movies in this country. Then, the financing decreased severely, although due to the desire to make films, people chose the cheapest ways. The documentary is basically the cheapest genre of films. I believe it is good that the cinematographers managed to rethink themselves, to maintain the professionalism somehow and to stay in their jobs. This was the only solution to survive as cinematographer.

There are no people that make a living from film.
The problem is a bit larger, as the mass-production emerges when there is a notion of industry. Thus, when there is a well-made mechanism in a country- somebody makes a film, takes it to festivals, shows it in cinemas and then sells it to TV channels. In these conditions, the filmmaker can program his professional cycle. We don’t have this. In Moldova, people make a movie because they wanted it badly and they found a camera and some free friends, they made it, but it can’t last for a long time. The people are immersing in the adventure of making a movie, the movie of their lives, once and forever. This is the problem, this is why there is no perpetual cinematography. There are no people who can live from film making.

People want to come to movies
We see on TV the Oscar, the Golden Globe Awards, we know who is Brad Pitt, who is Angelina Jolie, we know who is Aki Kaurismäki, Akira Kurosawa, we had projected at some point the cartoons of Hayao Miyazaki and realized that an entire cinema hall knew his art, there were people who wanted to watch it in the cinema. We, Moldovans, are film consumers. As we have access to illegally downloaded movies, we managed to maintain the passion towards the cinematography and the desire to watch movies. There is proof that people come to watch Moldovan films too, for example, Viorica Meșină’s “Colors”, a social film that lots of people came to see. There is “What a wonderful world” of Durbală and Cumatrenco, Moldovan film, made pretty well, that attracted a big part of the Moldovan public. People want to come to the cinema, people surely would want to watch movies, if they are offered qualitative products and good conditions for watching.

People capable of film-making are starting to appear.
The National Center for Cinematography was basically created. Our vision was that after 5-10 years of the Center, we would be able talk about cinematography. There are some other factors that changed the normal way of things. We know about the political situation, the financial one and others that have an influence. Thus, the things might not happen as easily as expected. Nevertheless, they are starting to move. Actually, it is already possible, people can find partners abroad. We have proof, Igor Cobâleanski’s “La limita de jos a cerului” and then “Afacerea Est”. There is Mircea Bobână who made a movie with Germans, Ana Felicia Scutelnicu who does the post-production with a German production studio. There are plenty of this kind of examples, which are proof that the cinematography develops and there are people who are able to make movies. The problem is that we have to build this system as quickly as possible and we need to grow in people the feeling of belonging to the Moldovan cinema. This is what we have to do, because we are all cinematographers without cinematography.

Movies for students.
Recently, ALTfilm did a little research for a project in which we tried to see how many historical movies coincide with the school programme at History and Romanian. Only in the high school level, we found 20 Romanian and foreign movies, that, I guess, students would like to watch with good sound and images. It would be great if a historian came to tell them about Ștefan cel Mare from the movie and that from the reality, or about Moromeții, who was shown differently from the book.

The only advantage of AMTAP (Academy of Music, Theatre and Plastic Arts)
There is the so-called “academic center of Moldovan culture”. Whenever you want to do a project regarding developing the cinematography and you need people to test on or to involve in, you will always think about the Academy of Music, Theatre and Plastic Arts. This would the first and sadly only advantage of AMTAP. Say, the Film Faculty produces more professionals than the market needs.

What I wish you at 25…
I believe Moldova needs patience, I think Moldova should reset the values system, and I think that now, Moldova needs the most young people to make this reset. I wish Moldova to return its young people, the brains that left this country. I wish Moldova a mass-return of Moldovans. That’s what I wish to Moldova…

Correspondent reporter of Moldova.org Focus: Transnistrian conflict settlement, Eastern Partnership. Inquiries at [email protected]

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Society

“They are not needy, but they need help”. How Moldovan volunteers try to create a safe environment for the Ukrainian refugees

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At the Government’s ground floor, the phones ring constantly, the laptop screens never reach standby. In one corner of the room there is a logistics planning meeting, someone has a call on Zoom with partners and donors, someone else finally managed to take a cookie and make some coffee. Everyone is exhausted and have sleepy red eyes, but the volunteers still have a lot of energy and dedication to help in creating a safe place for the Ukrainian refugees.

“It’s like a continuous bustle just so you won’t read the news. You get home sometimes and you don’t have time for news, and that somehow helps. It’s a kind of solidarity and mutual support,” says Vlada Ciobanu, volunteer responsible for communication and fundraising.

The volunteers group was formed from the very first day of war. A Facebook page was created, where all types of messages immediately started to flow: “I offer accommodation”, “I want to help”, “I want to get involved”, “Where can I bring the products?”, “I have a car and I can go to the customs”. Soon, the authorities also started asking for volunteers’ support. Now they all work together, coordinate activities and try to find solutions to the most difficult problems.

Is accommodation needed for 10, 200 or 800 people? Do you need transportation to the customs? Does anyone want to deliver 3 tons of apples and does not know where? Do you need medicine or mobile toilets? All these questions require prompt answers and actions. Blankets, sheets, diapers, hygiene products, food, clothes – people bring everything, and someone needs to quickly find ways of delivering them to those who need them.

Sometimes this collaboration is difficult, involves a lot of bureaucracy, and it can be difficult to get answers on time. “Republic of Moldova has never faced such a large influx of refugees and, probably because nobody thought this could happen, a mechanism of this kind of crisis has not been developed. Due to the absence of such a mechanism that the state should have created, we, the volunteers, intervened and tried to help in a practical way for the spontaneous and on the sport solutions of the problems,” mentions Ecaterina Luțișina, volunteer responsible for the refugees’ accommodation.

Ana Maria Popa, one of the founders of the group “Help Ukrainians in Moldova/SOS Українці Молдовa” says that the toughest thing is to find time and have a clear mind in managing different procedures, although things still happen somehow naturally. Everyone is ready to intervene and help, to take on more responsibilities and to act immediately when needed. The biggest challenges arise when it is necessary to accommodate large families, people with special needs, for which alternative solutions must be identified.

Goods and donations

The volunteers try to cope with the high flow of requests for both accommodation and products of all kinds. “It came to me as a shock and a panic when I found out that both mothers who are now in Ukraine, as well as those who found refuge in our country are losing their milk because of stress. We are trying to fill an enormous need for milk powder, for which the demand is high and the stocks are decreasing”, says Steliana, the volunteer responsible for the distribution of goods from the donation centers.

Several centers have been set up to collect donations in all regions of Chisinau, and volunteers are redirecting the goods to where the refugees are. A system for processing and monitoring donations has already been established, while the volunteer drivers take over the order only according to a unique code.

Volunteers from the collection centers also do the inventory – the donated goods and the distributed goods. The rest is transported to Vatra deposit, from where it is distributed to the placement centers where more than 50 refugees are housed.

When they want to donate goods, but they don’t know what would be needed, people are urged to put themselves in the position of refugees and ask themselves what would they need most if they wake up overnight and have to hurriedly pack their bags and run away. Steliana wants to emphasise that “these people are not needy, but these people need help. They did not choose to end up in this situation.”

Furthermore, the volunteer Cristina Sîrbu seeks to identify producers and negotiate prices for products needed by refugees, thus mediating the procurement process for NGOs with which she collaborates, such as Caritas, World Children’s Fund, Polish Solidarity Fund, Lifting hands, Peace Corps and others.

One of the challenges she is facing now is the identifying a mattress manufacturer in the West, because the Moldovan mattress manufacturer that has been helping so far no longer has polyurethane, a raw material usually imported from Russia and Ukraine.

Cristina also needs to find solutions for the needs of the volunteer groups – phones, laptops, gsm connection and internet for a good carrying out of activities.

Hate messages

The most difficult thing for the communication team is to manage the hate messages on the social networks, which started to appear more often. “Even if there is some sort of dissatisfaction from the Ukrainian refugees and those who offer help, we live now in a very diverse society, there are different kind of people, and we act very differently under stress,” said Vlada Ciobanu.

Translation by Cătălina Bîrsanu

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Important

#WorldForUkraine – a map that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against Russian aggression

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The international community and volunteers from all over te world have launched #WorldForUkraine as a platform that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against the Russian aggression. In a digital world – it is an interactive map of public support of Ukrainians under the hashtag #WorldForUkraine – rallies, flash mobs, protests around the world. In the physical dimension – it is your opportunity to take to the streets and declare: “No to Putin’s aggression, no to war.”

„Today, along with the political and military support, emotional connection with the civilized world and truthful information are extremely important for Ukraine. The power to do it is in your hands. Join the #WorldForUkraine project and contribute to the victorious battle against the bloodshed inflicted on Ukraine by the aggression of the Russian Federation”, says the „about the project” section of the platform.

Go to the streets — Tell people — Connect and Unite — Become POWERFUL

Volunteers have launched #WorldForUkraine as a platform that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against Russian aggression. In digital world – it is an INTERACTIVE MAP of public support of Ukrainians worldforukraine.net under the hashtag #WorldForUkraine – rallies, flash mobs, protests around the world. In the physical dimension – it is your opportunity to take to the streets and declare: “No to Putin’s aggression, no to war.” There you may find information about past and future rallies in your city in support of Ukraine. This is a permanent platform for Ukrainian diaspora and people all over the world concerned about the situation in Ukraine.

So here’s a couple of things you could do yourself to help:

* if there is a political rally in your city, then participate in it and write about it on social media with geolocation and the hashtag #WorldForUkraine

* if there are no rallies nearby, organize one in support of Ukraine yourself, write about it on social media with geolocation adding the hashtag #WorldForUkraine

The map will add information about gathering by #WorldForUkraine AUTOMATICALLY

Your voice now stronger THAN ever

All rallies are already here: https://worldforukraine.net

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Important

How is Moldova managing the big influx of Ukrainian refugees? The authorities’ plan, explained 

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From 24th to 28th of February, 71 359 Ukrainian citizens entered the territory of Republic of Moldova. 33 173 of them left the country. As of this moment, there are 38 186 Ukrainian citizens in Moldova, who have arrived over the past 100 hours. 

The Moldovan people and authorities have organized themselves quickly from the first day of war between Russia and Ukraine. However, in the event of a prolonged armed conflict and a continuous influx of Ukrainian refugees, the efforts and donations need to be efficiently managed. Thus, we inquired about Moldova’s long-term plan and the state’s capacity to receive, host, and treat a bigger number of refugees. 

On February 26th, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Moldova approved the Regulation of organization and functioning of the temporary Placement Center for refugees and the staffing and expenditure rules. According to the Regulation, the Centers will have the capacity of temporary hosting and feeding at least 20 persons, for a maximum of 3 months, with the possibility of extending this period. The Centers will also offer legal, social, psychological, and primary medical consultations to the refugees. The Center’s activity will be financed from budget allocations, under Article 19 of Provision no. 1 of the Exceptional Situations Commission from February 24th, 2022, and from other sources of funding that do not contravene applicable law.

The Ministry of Inner Affairs and the Government of Moldova facilitated the organization of the volunteers’ group “Moldova for Peace”.  Its purpose is to receive, offer assistance and accommodation to the Ukrainian refugees. The group is still working on creating a structure, registering and contacting volunteers, etc. It does not activate under a legal umbrella. 

Lilia Nenescu, one of the “Moldova for Peace” volunteers, said that the group consists of over 20 people. Other 1700 registered to volunteer by filling in this form, which is still available. The group consists of several departments: 

The volunteers’ department. Its members act as fixers: they’re responsible for connecting the people in need of assistance with the appropriate department. Some of the volunteers are located in the customs points. “The Ministry of Inner Affairs sends us every day the list of the customs points where our assistance is needed, and we mobilize the volunteers”, says Lilia Nenescu. 

The Goods Department manages all the goods donated by the Moldavian citizens. The donations are separated into categories: non-perishable foods and non-food supplies. The volunteers of this department sort the goods into packages to be distributed. 

The Government intends to collect all the donations in four locations. The National Agency for Food Safety and the National Agency for Public Health will ensure mechanisms to confirm that all the deposited goods comply with safety and quality regulations. 

The Service Department operates in 4 directions and needs the volunteer involvement of specialists in psychology, legal assistance (the majority of the refugees only have Ukrainian ID and birth certificates of their children); medical assistance; translation (a part of the refugees are not Ukrainian citizens). 

According to Elena Mudrîi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, so far there is no data about the number of  Covid-19 positive refugees. She only mentioned two cases that needed outpatient medical assistance: a pregnant woman and the mother of a 4-day-old child. 

The Accommodation Department. The volunteers are waiting for the centralized and updated information from the Ministry of Labor about the institutions offering accommodation, besides the houses offered by individuals. 

The Transport Department consists of drivers organized in groups. They receive notifications about the number of people who need transportation from the customs points to the asylum centers for refugees.

The municipal authorities of Chișinău announced that the Ukrainian children refugees from the capital city will be enrolled in educational institutions. The authorities also intend to create Day-Care Centers for children, where they will be engaged in educational activities and will receive psychological assistance. Besides, the refugees from the municipal temporary accommodation centers receive individual and group counseling. 

In addition to this effort, a group of volunteers consisting of Ana Gurău, Ana Popapa, and Andrei Lutenco developed, with the help of Cristian Coșneanu, the UArefugees platform, synchronized with the responses from this form. On the first day, 943 people offered their help using the form, and 110 people asked for help. According to Anna Gurău, the volunteers communicate with the Government in order to update the platform with the missing data. 

Translation from Romanian by Natalia Graur

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