Bucharest, August 31, 2012 – September’s must-see movie in theatres is the comedy Of Snails and Men, which will have its national premiere on September 14, reaching 22 cities during its first week, on approximately 40 screens. Thus, during the first weekend, the film will screen in: Bucharest, Bacău, Arad, Cluj, Timisoara, Iaşi, Constanţa, Tulcea, Brasov, Pitesti, Satu Mare, Slatina, Rîmnicu Vîlcea, Baia Mare, Târgu Mureş, Oradea, Brâila, Ploieşti, Craiova, Sibiu, Bistriţa and Hunedoara.
The distributors, Transilvania Film and Ro Image, have put together an impressive promotion campaign, aiming to register a record number of viewers for a Romanian production and, at the same time, intending to bring this film to the audiences in towns and areas which lack cinema theatres, by using alternative screening options. To that effect, 3 mobile teams were put together to screen Of Snails and Men in different Romanian towns, in theatre halls and cultural centers, according to a screening programme which will be announced in advance.
In addition to the traditional promotion means (outdoor, print, TV), the distributors have decided to invest in a massive on-line campaign, in the making of personalized video materials and clips, in sampling activities and in setting displays and unconventional materials (e.g. snail cans with the film’s main characters), wishing to catch the attention and trigger the interest of the viewers.
Gala opening nights with the participation of the actors, the directors and crew members will take place in Bucharest, Târgovişte, Oradea, Cluj, Arad, Timişoara, Bacău, Iaşi, Constanţa, Galaţi, Brăila, Ploieşti, Târgu Mureş, Alba Iulia and Sibiu.
The movie’s official website, http://despreoamenisimelci.ro/?lang=en, includes both extensive material from the shooting period and news, details on the unconventional campaigns ran and testimonials with filmmakers, cast and crew. Here, visitors can also check the weekly screening programme in cinema theatres or the special locations for their respective cities.
On the film
1992, Cîmpulung Muscel, Romania. The ARO car factory is bankrupt and about to be privatized in one week. It’s going be sold to a French company which means to turn it into a snail farm. Out of the 3,000 workers employed here, only 300 will keep their job. Everything changes however when one of the guys finds an original solution meant to save his mates from unemployment and the factory from bankruptcy.
This is Tudor Giugiu’s second feature film, after his Love Sick debut (starring Maria Popistaşu, Ioana Barbu, Tudor Chirilă), which premiered in Romania in 2006.
In Of Snails and Men, audiences will have the chance to enjoy performances by well-loved Romanian actors such as Andi Vasluianu, Dorel Vişan, Monica Bîrlădeanu, Andreea Bibiri, Valeria Seciu, Ovidiu Crişan, Ion Grosu, Clara Vodă and Alina Berzunţeanu, as well as the renowned French actor Jean François Stevenin and his son, Robinson Stevenin. Jean François Stevenin played important parts in films by directors such as François Truffaut, Jacques Rivette, Bertrand Blier, Jacques Demy and Jean-Luc Godard, this being his first role in a Romanian movie.
The script belongs to Ionuț Teianu, who moved to France in 1991, after he graduated the Film and Drama University in Bucharest. Cinematography is signed by Vivi Drăgan Vasile and Vlaicu Golcea is the film’s music composer.
On shooting
The shootings took place in various locations in Bucureşti, Călaraşi, Amara, Târgovişte, Breaza and Ploiesti and it lasted 6 weeks. The film received financing from the National Film Center (CNC) in the 2010 summer Call for projects and benefited from financial support from Eurimages and the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. Moreover, South Eastern Cinema Network (SEE Cinema Network) granted it a prize for script development. HBO Romania has also contributed to the financing process.
Of Snails and Men is a Romanian-French co-production, produced by Libra Film (Romania) and Agat Films (France).
The film is scheduled to premiere on September 14th in theatres across the country.
The film is distributed in theatres by Transilvania Film in collaboration with Ro Image.
The promotion campaign was supported by: Vodafone, Kiss FM, Ringier, Grand Digiplex Baneasa, Baneasa Shopping City, Fan Courrier, Carrefour, Olay, Fertilia, Petrom
Theatrical distribution was supported by: Ringier, Grand Cinema Digiplex and Băneasa Shopping City.
The promotion partners are: Cinemagia, Evenimentul Zilei, Zile şi Nopți, Cinematique, Cinema Rx, Cinefan, Film Reporter, Hip Mag, B365, Metropotam, Feeder, Tpu.ro, Mixtopia.