The central theme of this year’s MOLDOX Festival is COEXISTENCE, which we have chosen to approach not as a statement, but as an open-ended question: “Coexist?”
MOLDOX does not come with ready-made answers, nor does it seek to offer a formula for perfect coexistence. Through this year’s selection of documentary films and public discussions, we aim to create a safe and honest space for debate – a place where we can raise the questions we often avoid or consider uncomfortable.
Documentary filmmaking has the rare ability to take us beyond our own cognitive bubbles and bring to the screen realities we tend to overlook. It does not pass judgment; rather, it creates the physical and emotional space for us to pause and reflect together:
- Are we truly ready to move beyond mere coexistence towards genuine social cohesion?
- Do we actually live in a state of coexistence, or, when it comes to certain marginalised groups in society, have we yet to achieve even a minimum level of it?
- Do we genuinely want to move towards solidarity, or do we prefer the comfort of remaining isolated, offering nothing more than tolerance from a distance?
- What are the actual conditions and criteria for peaceful coexistence in Moldova today?
- Is authentic coexistence still possible in today’s global context, marked by wars, violence and deep polarisation?
This dilemma is not merely an abstract artistic theme – it directly concerns the way we function as a community and as a country.
This is also confirmed by data from the 2024 Moldova SCORE study (Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index), an annual research initiative conducted by SeeD and UNDP that measures levels of trust, safety and social connectedness in the Republic of Moldova.
The findings reveal a striking reality: people in the Republic of Moldova rate their sense of belonging to their local community highly, at 8 out of 10. However, trust drops dramatically to just 2.7 out of 10 when it comes to people outside their immediate circles – those belonging to different minority groups, ethnicities, language communities, regions or cultures. Moreover, over 60% of us interact exclusively with people who are similar to ourselves – those who speak the same language, share the same background or hold similar political, cultural and social values and opinions.
Thus, the question “Coexist?” becomes an invitation to a collective exercise: to look beyond the screen, reassess our own boundaries and explore what it truly means to share the same space in today’s world.
We look forward to welcoming you to the festival!
