From September 4 to 7, 2025, Bucharest hosts the highly anticipated fifth edition of the Bucharest Feminist Film Festival (BFFF), titled CARE. This unique cultural event, held at the iconic Peasant Museum Cinema, promises to be an evocative celebration of cinema that explores the theme of care in its various forms. Organised by A.R.T. Fusion, the festival is a significant platform that advocates for gender equality, human rights, and social justice through the powerful mediums of film and art.
The Feminist Film Festival Theme for 2025: CARE
CARE is the central thread uniting this year’s diverse film program and events, focusing on the physical, emotional, and social labour often associated with caregiving, work that remains largely invisible, undervalued, and predominantly undertaken by women and marginalised communities. In a world marked by rising social inequalities, climate crises, and political instability, the festival invites audiences to rethink traditional systemic structures and the distribution of care responsibilities.
A Rich Film Program
The festival opens with the documentary The Day Iceland Stood Still (2024) by Pamela Hogan, which recounts the historic feminist strike of October 25, 1975, when 90% of Icelandic women stopped work to demand recognition for their labour, igniting a social revolution. This inspiring story sets the tone for the festival’s commitment to highlighting collective action and feminist resilience.
Films span across five continents and include:
- Tomorrow I Leave (2024), which follows a Romanian home caregiver abroad, shedding light on the emotional and economic challenges of caregiving in migration contexts.
- Ms. President (2024), portraying Slovakia’s first female president and her battle against misogyny and political hostility while balancing motherhood.
- The French feature Queen Mom (2024) by Manele Labidi closes the festival, telling the vibrant story of Amel, a Tunisian immigrant in France, as she fights to protect her family and maintain her identity.
Additionally, the festival presents thematic short film blocks exploring dimensions of Care & Resistance, Intimate Care, and Care & Control, illustrating diverse stories about the challenges and politics surrounding care work.
Engaging Events and Discussions
Beyond film screenings, BFFF 2025 offers enriching experiences that include panels, Q&A sessions, and participatory art projects. Notably, the panel Women, Care & Feminism gathers co-authors of the 2024 anthology How I Became a Feminist – Cum am devenit feministă to discuss the societal expectations placed on women, feminist solidarity, and the invisibility of unpaid labour.
The festival also features an interactive art exhibition, Feminist Art Dialogues, which invites attendees to create artwork using the traditional Turkish Ebru technique, thereby fostering community engagement and creative expression.
Accessibility and Partners
Films screened at BFFF 2025 feature subtitles in both Romanian and English, ensuring accessibility for both local and international audiences. Tickets and festival passes are available for purchase, with discounts for students and pensioners.
This edition is supported financially by Swimathon București and organised in partnership with the Embassy of Canada in Romania, the Romanian Peasant Museum, and other cultural collaborators.
The Bucharest Feminist Film Festival is more than just a film showcase; it’s a platform for awareness, dialogue, and activism. No subject is off-limits, and people of all genders and orientations are invited to participate.
The festival emphasises collaboration with feminist groups and organisations, reinforcing that feminism is a shared cause, one that transcends borders.
Note: Visit the festival website to purchase tickets for non-admission shows.
