Major performing arts companies, famous Romanian and foreign directors, as well as critics and spectators, will all come together in this Romanian town, the European cultural capital in 2007, to celebrate artistic creativity. According to the organizers, the 2012 edition of the festival aims at encouraging artists, and anyone with an interest in culture, to provide some respite from the difficult times that the world is currently is going through. Indeed, the motto of the festival is: “Crises. Culture makes the difference”.

This year too, the public will have the opportunity to watch exceptional productions staged in the medieval part of town, in churches and historical sites. There will be theatrical dance, flamenco, contemporary dance, puppet shows, circus and pantomime performances, along with conferences, workshops, exhibitions and book launches. One of the most eagerly awaited events is ‘Faust Fantasia’, a melodrama for voice and piano by the German director Peter Stein.

The famous Maxim Gorki Theatre in Berlin will be performing ‘Prince Friedrich von Homburg’, directed by Armin Petras. Actor, playwright and director Wajdi Mouawad, an artist associated with the Theatre Festival in Avignon, and winner of many international awards, is bringing his one-man show called ‘Alone’ to Sibiu. The Israeli dance company Vertigo returns to Sibiu with two fascinating shows: ‘Mana’ and ‘Null’. Meanwhile, Jose Soriano will enchant flamenco lovers with his performance ‘Heart Pounding out of the Chest’. Among the guests is the ‘Close Act’ Company, from the Netherlands, which will give two performances: ‘Invasion’ and ‘Water Land’.

These shows will turn the town center into a fantastic world, inhabited by giant mythological creatures. Also, the public will have the opportunity to watch the premiere of a grandiose acrobatics and fire show called ‘The Stockholm Syndrome’, performed by a company from Sweden. For the first time, this year’s edition of the festival will host a film section, which will include four screenings: ‘Somewhere in Palilula’ directed by Silviu Purcarete, ‘Akropolis’ by Jerzy Grotowski, ‘In Thoughts and Images’, a documentary by Liviu Ciulei, and ‘Goldfish Games’ by Jan Lauwers. Music lovers will also be able to enjoy performances by some of the best-known Romanian pop performers: Stefan Banica Jr, Voltaj, Horia Brenciu and Smiley.