Cannes Film Festival Starts On May 11
Five Romanian films compete in various sections of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival held between May 11 and 22, 2016.
‘Sierranevada,’ a new feature of director Cristi Puiu and ‘Baccalaureat’ by Cristian Mungiu have been selected for the official competition. ‘Dogs’ by Bogdan Mirica runs in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section. Two short films add to these, ‘4:15 pm. The end of the world’, co-directed by Catalin Rotaru and Gabi Virginia Sarga, in the relevant competition, and ‘All rivers flow into the sea’ by Alexandru Badea in the Cinefondation section.
Producer Anamaria Antoci will participate in the ‘Cannes Producers On The Move’ workshop.
The most recent feature of Cristian Mungiu, ‘Baccalaureat’ will have its premiere in Romania on May 19, the same day of its screening in Cannes. (Romania Libera)
Romania May Boost Guarantee Ceiling For First Home Program By RON500M
Romania’s Finance Ministry has proposed supplementing by RON500 million the guarantee ceiling for this year’s government-guaranteed mortgage lending First Home program, in response to the requests of potential beneficiaries of the program.
A total 13,100 guarantees, worth RON1.2 billion, were granted until May 1, 2016, compared with guarantees of nearly RON668 million and of RON536 million, respectively, granted in the same periods in 2015 and 2014.
Over 178,000 guarantees have been granted from the start of the program, in 2009, until May 2016, representing a total volume of guarantees of nearly RON15 billion, which corresponds to financings worth RON29.8 billion. (Romania Libera)
Competition Council Looks Into Possible Abuse Of Dominant Position By Netcity Telecom
Romania’s Competition Council has opened an investigation into a possible abuse of dominant position by Netcity Telecom, the operator of the Bucharest fiber optic network.
The watchdog said it is looking into a possible discriminatory conduct on the market of services for the access to infrastructure associated to electronic communication networks.
Sudden investigations represent a preliminary stage within the procedures aimed at investigating a possible anti-competitive conduct, according to the Competition Council.
Netcity is an underground fiber optic network founded at the initiative of the Bucharest City Hall to eliminate aboveground cables. (Puterea)
Central Bank Governor: VAT Cuts Affect More Than 80% of Consumer Basket
Successive cuts in the value-added tax affect more than 80% of the consumer basket and the most recent VAT cut in January targeted about half of the consumer basket, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Tuesday at the presentation of the bank’s quarterly inflation report.
Romania lowered VAT on food items to 9% from 24% in June 2015 and cut the standard rate to 20% on January 1, 2016.
“The fuel market is registering a decline in nominal terms, which has steepened in the first quarter mainly due to the drop in international oil prices. The US dollar has weakened versus the euro and the leu,” said Isarescu.
He added the European food market continues to register excess supply due to restrictions imposed on Russia. (Adevarul)
Robert Negoita Seeks Re-election As Bucharest District 3 Mayor
Bucharest district 3 mayor Robert Negoita is running for a new term and he officially announced his candidacy within an event organized at Rin Grand Hotel.
The event was attended by social democrat head Liviu Dragnea, social democrat candidate for Bucharest mayor, Gabriela Firea, as well as other social democrat leaders.
Negoita said he would not engage in any election bickering and wrote the following Facebook post: „Good luck to my entire team in the election campaign! Thanks you all for your support! We shall win because we love district 3!”. (Puterea)