DOUBLE OF NOTHING (2024) – comedy film online

Directed by: Mihai Pîrcălabu
Script by: Mihai Pîrcălabu
Cast: Cătălin Babliuc, Alec Secăreanu, Lucian Iftime, Nicu Banea, Radu Stoian, Ștefan Lupu, Cosmina Olariu, Ștefan Mihai, Mircea Băluță, Johnny Bădeliță, Emanuel Bighe, Doru Pîrcălabu, Marina Palii
Producer: Adriana Bumbeș, Elena Alexe, Adrian Pîrcălabu, Mihai Pîrcălabu
Cinematography by: Adrian Pîrcălabu
Edited by: Andrei Bălășoiu
Sound: Răzvan Rizea
Music: Florin Mura
Year: 2024
Category: Short film
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Duration: 15 minutes

PLOT SUMMARY

While enjoying some beers with his friends following an exhausting 22-hour shoot, Dragan receives an unexpected call from Lucian, the producer overseeing the marathon filming session, offering him another assignment. Learning that the shoot is already underway at the time of the call, Dragan decides to increase his fee as a tactic to avoid taking the job. Surprisingly, Lucian agrees to the escalated payment terms, prompting Dragan to quickly finish his beer and head off to work. It is only the next day that Dragan finds out that by accepting the deal, he becomes the key witness in a million euros heist.

AWARDSS

• 2024 – ȘI Festival – Best Screenplay Award
• 2024 – BRIFF – Best Cinematography Award

FESTIVALS

• 2024 – TIFF – Off Competition
• 2024 – Filmul De Piatra – Official Competition
• 2024 – ȘI Festival – Official Competition
• 2024 – BRIFF 2024 – Official Competition
• 2024 – Romanian Film Days – Off Competition
• 2024 – Sunwaves Film Festival – Off Competition

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“The reason I made this film is the people behind the camera — those who aren’t seen, but who dedicate themselves to every project, whether it’s a commercial or a film, often finding themselves in unusual, even absurd situations. Their stories often go untold, and this film is my way of bringing them to light and thanking them.” – Mihai Pîrcălabu, for cinepub.ro

CRITICAL REVIEWS:

“We have high hopes for Mihai & co.; we believe he’s a screenwriter and director with a bright future. His small independent film — clean, well-written and directed, funny and free of unfounded pretensions, professionally crafted at every level of production, made with (some) home-grown funding that nonetheless delivered high production values — is a promise in this regard. Mihai has learned a lot from this industry, which is so highly developed today — a world entirely different from the one of poverty in which my generation was raised.” – Lucian Georgescu, cinepub.ro

TRIVIA:

• Born in Cluj-Napoca 1989 and based in Bucharest, Mihai Pircalabu graduated from UNATC Film School, Film and Television Directing Studies in 2016. Since then, Mihai has worked as an independent writer, director and producer.
• The director’s filmography includes the following films: “8”- a thriller short film that premiered at TIFF in 2018 and has been worldwide distributed by Gonella Productions; “The Match” – a dark comedy that has been presented at the “CinemaIubit” International Student Film Festival, and it has been granted a “Special Jury Mention”. The film has also been selected for Vila Do Conde International Film Festival; “What God Wants” – a dark comedy that has been premiered at Cannes Film Festival – Short Film Corner in 2015; “U-MOR”, presenting the history of the prestigious humor group Divertis, and four fiction short films, all very welcomed by festivals and the public.
• Mihai works across all media sectors, directing not only short films but also commercials and music videos. His work can be viewed at mihai-pircalabu.com

LINES:

 • “We’ve seen movies before. If you don’t understand what’s going on, I’ll step in and explain it to you.” – The Narrator (Nicu Banea)
• “Did I mess something up? Did those guys complain about me?” – Drăgan (Cătălin Babliuc)
• “Legally speaking, this meeting isn’t happening.” – Daniel (Alec Secăreanu)
• “At 8 o’clock, I was having a spritzer.” — Drăgan (Cătălin Babliuc)
• “And I just had my… I don’t know how many beers.” — Drăgan (Cătălin Babliuc)
• “I’ll pay you cash. No contract, nothing.” – Lucian (Radu Stoian)
• “Yeah, man, yeah, it’s all under the table.” – Lucian (Radu Stoian)
• “That’s right, when you watch TV, you don’t realize how many people are behind the scenes.” – The Narrator (Nicu Banea)
• “A public service announcement.” – The Narrator (Nicu Banea)
• “DP. Pawnshop? It’s not Director of Photography. It’s Dragoș Petrescu, a pawnshop owner.” – Daniel (Alec Secăreanu)
• “What fucking industry? This cinematic agriculture with major problems?” – Cristi (Lucian Iftimie)

ARTICLES:

• The most important recent Romanian films are screening at TIFF, 2024 – agenda.liternet.ro
• And a festival. And theater. And film. And the sea – 2024 – revistascena.ro
• The 2025 Gopo Awards: Over 120 Romanian productions in the running for nominations. Organizers announce the jury members – ceascadecultura.ro
• Mihai Pîrcălabu – aarc.ro
• Mihai Pîrcălabu, Director – mihai-pircalabu.com

This premiere is part of a national archive project supported by the Romanian National Film Centre.
Special thanks goes to the Romanian Filmmakers Union and to the Romanian Film Archive.

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