“You want your films to have truth in them,” says Bogdan George Apetri. “As a byproduct—because you’re not shooting in air, you’re shooting in Romania—[there will be social critique]. You don’t start with that, but hopefully you end with that.”
Set in a small, mountain town in northern Romania near the border of Ukraine, Unidentified and Miracle are the first two films in a planned trilogy from director, writer, and producer Bogdan George Apetri. Both have a crime at the center but are ultimately character studies, or a “microcosmos” of life in Romania—and both are playing at the Wisconsin Film Festival this week.
For today’s show, Bogdan George Apetri speaks with WORT news reporter Nate Carlin about his own creative process, the role of storytelling and music in film, and the importance of making room for all kinds of films and not just blockbusters.
Unidentified is showing at the Wisconsin Film Festival on Wednesday, April 13th at 5:00 PM and Thursday, April 14th at 12:00 PM. Both screenings are at AMC Madison 6. Tickets and information here.
Miracle is showing at the Wisconsin Film Festival on Wednesday, April 13th at 8:00 PM and Thursday, April 14th at 3:00 PM. Both screenings are at AMC Madison 6. Tickets and information here.
The director is scheduled to attend all four screenings for Q&A.
Bogdan George Apetri is a Romanian-born director, writer, and producer based in New York City. He is assistant professor of professional practice at Columbia University, where he teaches courses in filmmaking.
Cover images courtesy of the Wisconsin Film Festival guide
