Romania, France, Belgium 2022Language:EnglishDirector:Anca DamianWriter:Anca Damian, Augusto Zanvello inspired by the theatrical play "The Island" by Gellu Naum and by the concert "The Island" by Ada Milea & Alexander BălănescuCinematographer:2D Animation: Gilles Cuveillier, Radu C. PopEditor:Dana BunescuMusic:Alexander Bălănescu & Ada MileaSound:Gert JanssenWith:Voices by Alexander Bălănescu, Ada Milea, Cristina Juncu, Lucian IonescuProducer:Anca DamianProduction Company:Aparte FilmDistributor:BFF - Best Friend Forever84 min, Colour

Robinson is a doctor, and his lonely life on an island is self-imposed. One day he rescues Friday, the sole survivor of a boat carrying refugees. THE ISLAND is a surreal re-interpretation of Daniel Defoe's ROBINSON CRUSOE, a bitterly serious and, at the same time, blackly humorous examination of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Mediterranean. With exuberant visual ingenuity, director Anca Damian has created a film that is moving and will continue to resonate many days after watching. The music was composed by Alexander Balanescu and Ada Milea back in 2011 for the play on which the film is based. They received the "Gopo Award Best Original Music" at the Romanian National Film Awards 2023.

Director's Biography:Anca Damian was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 1962. She works as a director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. At the 35th BIFF, her animated film MARONAS'S FATASTIC TALE (2019) screened in the "Children's and Youth Films" series.

Director's Filmography:
2019 MARONAS FANTASTIC TALE
2018 MOON HOTEL KABUL
2013 A VERY UNSETTLED SUMMER
2012 CRULIC – THE PATH TO BEYOND