Mihai Dragolea
Directing
Biography
Mihai Gavril Dragolea (b. 1989) is a film director, screenwriter and cinematographer; he works and lives in Bucharest, Romania. Dragolea's documentaries focus on the world of the marginalized and those who are not represented in the media, trying to bring the viewer a new version of reality. His artistic practice aims at observational modes of expression, their use to generate empathy between the viewer and the social actors on the screen, through a direct involvement of the audience in the film. He is currently developing projects and working in the fields of cinematography and independent journalism, the last such project being focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, a web series called EuRoPandemic, which is broadcasted on the independent journalism platform dela0.ro. His films have participated in international festivals including: Docuart Fest, Bucharest (2015); One World Romania, Bucharest (2016); Jihlava International Film Festival (2017); Pärnu International Documentary Film Festival (2018); TIFF, Cluj-Napoca (2018, 2020); CREA Conference, Kathmandu (2019). In addition, he is working on a theoretical research that took the form of a doctoral dissertation, entitled "Representations of the marginal in the Romanian observational documentary" and teaches practical courses and seminars at the Faculty of Theater and Film, Department of Cinematography, Photography and Media. His films include: The Golden Robot 2015, produced by Vagabond Film; PhoeniXXX 2017, produced by Vagabond Film; One month of their life 2017, produced by dela0.ro and Totul pentru Riana 2020, produced by Vagabond Film and deFilm. His films have participated in international festivals including: Astra Sibiu International Film Festival, Sibiu, Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival, Jihlava, 2017, Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival, Belgrade, 2018, Parnu International Film Festival, RIga, 2018, Film broadcast at the international conference for women's rights CREA, Kathmandu, 2019, TIFF, Cluj Napoca, 2018, One World Romania Kine Dok selection, Bucharest, 2016, Film Festival of Independent Producers, Bucharest, 2016.
Known For
The life and death of socialist architectural monsters. An epic fairy-tale in five chapters.
Palace for the People
The story of two women, who had to reinvent and recalibrate themselves for others in order to escape poverty and reach their goals. In the end, both seem to get what they want, but the erotic chat industry took its toll on one of them.
PhoeniXXX
Two filmmakers follow a businessman turned eco-activist as he exposes Romania's timber mafia. Their journey takes a dramatic turn when, in the middle of a forest, the three are attacked by a group of 12 angry men. The cameras are destroyed, and all footage is lost. Faced with this harsh reality, each of them tries to manage the situation as best they can, confronting their own doubts and limitations.
Tooth and Nail
Aurica just escaped from prison. Living in the middle of a corn field he befriends a chained dog and kills an abusive man.
Aurica, a Dog's Life
32 year old female boxer Steluta Duta tries to buy her own home by winning boxing match after boxing match only to find her life is a continuous loop. As she trains for her European Boxing Cup, Stela revisits the past dramas of being an abandoned, institutionalized child.
Golden Robot
Kalo, a 24-year-old man roams Italy selling fake iPhones and Samsung phones on street corners to other neighborhood boys, generally immigrants. Amalia, a young mother fights for the life of her newborn daughter Riana, in a hospital in Bucharest. She hopes that her daughter will be sent as soon as possible to Milan, where Riana can have heart surgery to survive. In Everything for Riana we find out how everything will end for the young family.