The Ro-IFF (September 26 to October 4, 2009) presents a special Focus program for acclaimed Serbian director Emir Kusturica. Kusturica and his Non Smoking Orchestra will also open the festival with a concert on Saturday, September 26.

The idea of Focus is to dedicate a program to the opera of a special personality in film. The films presented this year include OTAC NA SLUZBENOM PUTU (When Father Was Away on Business; 1985), DOM ZA VESANJE (Time of the Gypsies; 1988), ARIZONA DREAM (1993), UNDERGROUND (1995), CRNA MACKA, BELI MACOR (Black Cat, White Cat; 1998), SUPER 8 STORIES (2001) and ZIVOT JE CUDO (Life Is a Miracle; 2004).

The first Ro-IFF takes place in the City of Arad and will screen films in some of the oldest and most beautiful movie theatres of Romania.

The official competition of the Ro-IFF – called CineBlackSea – focuses solely on films that have been produced in either Russia, Republic of Moldavia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece or Romania. A competitive international section focuses on Women in Cinema – competing are feature films and documentaries, directed by women.

After the festival in Arad the films will be screened in other Romanian cities, such as Bucharest, Ramnicu Vâlcea and Mangalia. In 2010 the program will move to Pecs in Hungary as a part of the initiatives of the European Capital of Culture.