Cluj-Napoca, Romania – June 2026. SIGNIS Romania is launching a new international training initiative for emerging members of Ecumenical Juries, taking place during the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF), from 13 to 21 June 2026 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
The program is developed for the Cinema Desk of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication, in collaboration with INTERFILM, the International Interchurch Film Organisation and a long-standing partner of SIGNIS in forming Ecumenical Juries. INTERFILM brings together mainly Protestant, but also Orthodox, Anglican and Jewish members, and shares with SIGNIS a commitment to dialogue between cinema, faith and culture.
Conceived as an intensive one-week training experience, the program combines mentorship, critical reflection, festival immersion, and hands-on jury practice. It aims to support a new generation of young professionals interested in film criticism, cultural journalism, theology, communication, and film studies, who wish to explore cinema as a space for dialogue, ethical reflection, and spiritual inquiry.
The initiative will bring together emerging international participants aged 25–35 proposed by both SIGNIS and INTERFILM. In order to apply, candidates must submit a recommendation from SIGNIS or INTERFILM, depending on their affiliation. Since all training activities will be held in English, applicants are required to have a good command of the language. Selected participants will benefit from the training program free of charge, with board and accommodation covered, as well as a travel allowance to support their participation.
During the program, participants will take part in workshops and meetings with film critics, festival professionals, and experienced members of Ecumenical Juries. In the final days of the festival, they will also form a jury for the local short film competition, allowing them to apply their training directly in a real festival context.
The program will offer participants an introduction to the work of Ecumenical Juries at major international film festivals, where they have been present for more than 50 years. The training will focus on the criteria and values that guide ecumenical film evaluation, including artistic quality, spiritual depth, ethical and social responsibility, and the universal human impact of cinema.
The initiative is named in memory of Guido Convents, Belgian film historian, anthropologist, curator, researcher, and tireless advocate for the preservation of cinematic memory. A deeply respected figure within OCIC and SIGNIS, he devoted his life to uncovering overlooked film histories, especially African cinema, independent cinema, and film traditions outside dominant production centres. As Director of the Afrika Film Festival in Leuven, he built bridges between cultures, critics, filmmakers, archives, and audiences, while remaining a generous mentor to younger generations of film professionals.
By naming this training program in his memory, SIGNIS Romania wishes to honor both his legacy and his lifelong commitment to transmitting knowledge, encouraging young voices, and keeping alive the deeper mission of cinema within SIGNIS.
The initiative comes at a meaningful moment for SIGNIS and its international cinema work. Financed and implemented by SIGNIS Romania, the program aims to create a concrete framework for renewal, formation, and continuity within the global network of Ecumenical Juries.
Taking place during the 25th anniversary edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival, the program will benefit from the dynamic environment of one of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading film festivals, offering participants direct access to screenings, debates, industry guests, and a vibrant international festival community. Further information about the festival is available here.
Through this initiative, SIGNIS reaffirms its commitment to supporting a new generation of jurors capable of carrying forward the ecumenical tradition in cinema, in dialogue and collaboration with INTERFILM: a tradition rooted in artistic discernment, openness to dialogue, and attention to the human and spiritual dimensions of film.
Applications for the program are now open. Candidates are invited to apply by completing the form below and submitting the required materials.
The deadline for applications is the 25th of May, 2026.
The number of places is limited, and participation is based on a selection process.
For further information about the training program, please contact us at [email protected]
Adriana Racasan
Chair of the SIGNIS World Cinema&TV Desk