Collective, a documentary directed and produced by Alexander Nanau, co-produced by Samsa Film Luxembourg and HBO Europe, will have its World Premiere at Venice International Film Festival – the first Romanian documentary to be selected for the prestigious festival.

Collective is a feature-length documentary about the events that followed the fire that destroyed the Colectiv Club in Bucharest, Romania, in October 2015 resulting in the death of 64 people and the injury of a further 146.

The film equally follows the authorities and the journalists over the course of a year, in a permanent effort to find and expose the truth. It is a movie about the system versus the people, about truth versus manipulation, about personal interests versus the public interest, about courage and individual responsibility.
Alexander Nanau, the director of the documentary, says: “Having spent my entire life between cultures and countries, I never felt like I belonged anywhere. In November 2015, the emotion of thousands of people who were shouting ‘COLECTIV’ in one voice made me want to understand how people who dedicate their whole lives to their communities are built. I have discovered journalists, whistleblowers and activists who through their actions have contributed to the destruction of some painful lies in our society. At the same time, I have found people and systems that are trampling all over the dignity, freedom and even the lives of others, from a powerful political or financial position. These people and systems are dishonest and manipulative, and they are distorting the truth and the law.”