In October 2015, a serious fire broke out at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest. It was one of the worst disasters in recent Romanian history, with 27 people killed and 180 injured. Fierce protests erupt when 37 of the injured subsequently die from wounds that were not life threatening. Director Alexander Nanau follows a team of investigative journalists at the newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor as they uncover a vast health care fraud that siphoned off urgent hospital funding and diluted disinfectants while enriching the country's most powerful moguls, hospital managers, doctors, and politicians. As the tide begins to turn with increased public awareness, Collective brings home the essential role of a free press in calling out corruption.
From 19 to 26 February, you can watch Collective (2019, 109 minutes, in Romanian with English subtitles) for free here. Streaming links are limited, and you can register on the website from today forward.
On Thursday 25 February at 18:30, we then invite you to join the panel discussion with:
Sara (Meg) Davis, Senior Researcher, Global Health Centre, the Graduate Institute, Geneva (moderator)
Lydia Gall, Senior Researcher, Eastern Europe and Western Balkans, Human Rights Watch
Alexander Nanau, Film Director
Catalin Tolontan, Investigative Journalist and Film Protagonist
“Extraordinary documentary that reveals a staggering degree of corruption running through Romania’s health system.” – The Guardian
The screening and panel discussion are organised in partnership with Human Rights Watch.
