Apa ca un bivol negru

Presented by Ruxandra Fulger, Head of Collections, Cataloguing, and Research at the Romanian National Film Archive.

A Romanian cult film and the manifesto of a remarkable generation of filmmakers, Water Like a Black Buffalo is one of the most important Romanian documentaries. It was the debut of a group of recent film school graduates who later became major personalities of the national film industry.Shot in the aftermath of the catastrophic flooding of 1970 in Romania, Water Like a Black Buffalo provides an authentic account of the events based on the testimonies of the people affected by them. On the thin line between documentary and poetic essay, the exquisite cinematography and the stories behind the images transport the viewer into the core of the calamity, generating an unprecedented cinematic experience.

Restoration: Romanian National Film Archive.

The Romanian National Film Archive (ANF) is the country’s main institution dedicated to preserving, researching, and promoting Romania’s cinematic heritage. The Archive safeguards a vast collection of Romanian and international films, spanning fiction, documentary, animation, and newsreels, as well as film-related materials.
Through careful archival practices and ongoing digitization and restoration efforts, the Romanian National Film Archive ensures that historically and artistically significant works remain accessible to future generations.
Beyond preservation, the Archive plays an active cultural and educational role. It supports film research, collaborates with scholars and filmmakers, and organizes public screenings, retrospectives, and special programs.