The opening of B-EST International Film Festival 2009, 5th edition, will take place on March 23rd, at Studio Cinema Hall.
The event will commence with VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, directed by Woody Allen, thus keeping the festival’s tradition of presenting for the first time in Romania films that have achieved recognition in famous film festivals around the world.

The film tells the story of two American women (Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson), who are spending their summer in Spain, where they subsequently become the object of affection of a charming latino (Javier Bardem), but also of his beautiful and neurotic ex-wife (Penelope Cruz).

Starting with its premiere within Cannes Film Festival in 2008, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA had an excellent festival run, once again acknowledging the incredible comedic talent that is Woody Allen. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, viewed by film critics as „the work of a mature artist” (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle), „Allen’s funniest film since Small Time Crooks” (Scott Foundas, Village Voice), „ sexiest film ever made by Woody Allen”( Peter Travers, Rolling Stones), etc., has received many awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay.

Moreover, a large number of these awards – the Independent Spirit Award, the BAFTA award and the Oscar for Supporting Actress – went to Penelope Cruz, whose character, Maria Elena, the artist „always on the verge of a breakdown”, collected both praises and awards from film critics associations in Boston, Kansas City, Los Angeles and New York.
Check the live coverage fro B-EST on fest21.com