Entertainment

Let yourself be guided by the voices of the locals through the most beautiful stories about Sulina. Discover the history, art, and craftsmanship of this unique town, hidden between the waters, and you will uncover authentic perspectives on daily life through the heartfelt stories of those who live here. Cu Drag Din Sulina (With love from Sulina) NGO highlights together with Ramona Gabriela Tudose, Sofia Ioana Tulbegian, Cristi Bâlea, Ana Costin, Ecaterina Olaru, Ana Maranda, Constantin Gabriel Obreja, Gheorghe Comârzan and Aurel Chiriac the talent and spirit of the locals in a visual story about nature, contrasts, and identity, in the heart of the Danube Delta. What binds us all together? The water and the local community, as our motto says: “We are between the waters, united for the community!”

Local photographer, Liviu Simioncencu has been capturing Sulina through his lens since the age of 16 and opens a window on a world where nature and people are interconnected in a continuous dance:
“People move with the times, only the Danube, the sky and the sea remain there, steady, unshakeable. It gathers the wrinkles of men into chills of the water and lets the seagulls fly their dreams over everyone.“
From the boats floating lazily on the waters of the Danube to the narrow streets and old houses steeped in history, the images tell a story about the city between the waters. The photographs invite the viewer to reflect on their own relationship with time and space, to explore the beauty hidden in the minute details and to appreciate each moment in its uniqueness.

The delta has a special way of touching people who look at it day after day, who depend on it from one season to the next, who include it in all their celebrations.
What do three deltas in three different countries – Romania, Turkey and Spain – have in common?
What is the rhythm of the locals surrounded by water?
How do the beauty of these fairytale worlds meet the fragility and challenges of everyday life?
The exhibition People and deltas, that has already toured the Danube Delta in Tulcea, Mahmudia, Sfântu Gheorghe, Sfântu Gheorghe, Chilia Veche, Sulina, Mila 23, answers these questions and returns to Sulina from September 12 to 14 at the Old Lighthouse.
«In 2023 and 2024 I photographed in the Danube Delta, the Kızılırmak Delta (Turkey) and the Ebru Delta (Spain). Deltas are generally associated with flora and fauna. This is confirmed by a simple search on Google Images. For all three deltas no locals appear on the first page of results; the few people who do appear are tourists. “People and deltas” looks at the inhabitants of these deltas, the environment they live in, their everyday life.» Dragoș Lumpan.

“People and Deltas” is a cultural program co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration.

It fades. It adapts. It integrates and becomes a space for a nature that grows ravishingly inside plastic bottles. It disintegrates. It never disappears. It enters the food chain.
The eternal unwelcome traveler in the waters of the Danube. Plastic.
An exhibition signed by Vlad Bâscă, a photographer from Tulcea, an eternal lover of the Dobrogan stepping stones.

White and Black is an exhibition that brings us face to face with the fragility of both the local people and the Danube Delta ecosystem. Through his sculptures, Constantin Gabriel Obreja tells the story of the waters, where “white” is the purity of untouched nature and “black” represents the pain of the Danube Delta’s pollution and the powerlessness of its inhabitants. A moving journey through the contrast between what the Danube Delta used to be and what it is in danger of becoming, a profound appeal to protect the beauties of the environment and local authenticity.

Memories from the future in a unique ecoperformance at the Danube Festival #WithCleanWaters.
Artist Alina Tofan brings Cassandra, from the gallery of ancient priestesses, to the Sulina promenade.
Through play, reflections, and observations, we’ll journey together into possible futures marked by climate upheavals and ecological disasters.
In the past, Cassandra’s prophecies, although true, were never heeded.
As the connection between humans, water, and community is constantly being (re)made, we give it a chance in the present, in the performance Echoes of Water.

A true master of artistic diversity, Vlad Benescu successfully combines his talents as an actor, dancer, choreographer, juggler and unicycle artist. With a juggling career spanning over 15 years, Vlad impresses and delights spectators with his outstanding skills and captivating performances. He juggles with up to 7 balls and 4 bowls and uses atypical juggling techniques that include unconventional objects and surprising combinations of elements. One of the best unicyclists in the country, he masterfully handles several types of unicycles: from classic and conventional to the oversized “giraffe” unicycle. The audience can always expect surprises and spectacular moments, all delivered with humor, joy and high energy.

With three years of experience in juggling and fire performance, Alex Simni is not only a talented artist, but also a true pioneer in the development of the Flowarts community in Bucharest. Fire performance, an art form that requires skill, coordination and a high level of concentration, has become one of his core specializations. Alex has studied and perfected his technique, exploring ways to captivate audiences with fluid and spectacular movements. His performances are not just demonstrations of skill, but true visual stories that combine art and energy in a unique way.

At the Danube Festival we change perspective and speed and synchronize with the rhythm of Sulina. Adventure Time team member, Cătălin Cosma, master of ceremonies in kayaking tours, helps us settle in. A lover of sports and of the Danube Delta, Cătălin has combined his passions, left behind the hustle and bustle of the city and has become a resident of Sulina:
“We all know that the Danube Delta is unique, but what you don’t really know are the stories and experiences of the Delta. Floating peacefully from the kayak, you suddenly discover the true face of the Delta, the wild, quiet, winding and natural face.“

Ecoperformative intervention, by artist Alina Tofan, about the importance of water quality and conservation of the Danube ecosystem.
We are water. The first direct contact we have with water is our body. Sometimes, we forget that all water flows into bigger water, we forget that we are part of Nature and that we leave our footprint everywhere we go. Directly and indirectly, just like the visible plastic that floats carelessly on the waters, just like the invisible microplastic that is everywhere.
We are invited to question, observe and become more aware of our own choices about the water we are, the water we drink, the water we use every day, the water we watch and listen to… the water we enjoy every day!