Moldox 2024: A Celebration of Democracy Through Documentary Film and Dialogue

During November 27 and December 1, 2024, the 9^th edition of the Moldox International Documentary Film Festival took place in Chișinău. The event brought together 27 documentaries from around the world. Having ‘Democracy’ as the main theme, it addressed topics such as human rights, gender equality, and the lives of marginalized communities. Organized for the first time in Chișinău, Moldox saw significant participation, with over 1500 spectators, and highlighted local film productions, presenting eight films from Moldova.

The festival launch was marked by the screening of the film “In the Shadow of War” – a film created by a group of Moldovan filmmakers who formed an ad-hoc collective to document the solidarity efforts of Moldovan volunteers and the realities experienced by Ukrainian refugees. The documentary captures the scale of humanitarian mobilization in Moldova, the impact of Russian disinformation on the country, and the story of the Moldovan and Ukrainian people in the shadow of this war.

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung supported the production of the film, as well as a series of public discussions that complemented the festival. In this regard, Moldox hosted discussions, moderated by the writer Vasile Ernu, addressing issues specific to Eastern European democracies, such as migration, freedom of expression, civic activism, and the role of intellectuals in society. Along with these guests, the general public engaged in a much-needed exercise of social dialogue and reflection on democratic values, freedom of expression, and cultural diversity.