Elena Vatamanu-Mărgineanu

Illustrated film poster with handwritten credits and a child sitting in front of a mirror; the title “Reflections” appears above

Film poster titled “To Be or Not to Die?” showing an elderly man standing in an open workshop holding a wooden board, with a garden in the background.

Film poster “first last month”: a girl leans out of a window overlooking a city at sunset.

Black-and-white image of a smiling person holding camera equipment in their hands.

A person in winter clothing stands next to a professional film camera on a tripod outdoors.

Key Facts

Nationality: Moldova
Area: Visual Arts, Cultural Management
Place of residence: Moldova
Recommending Institution: BMWKMS
Period: May – June 2026
Links: @eforelsket

Elena Vatamanu-Mărgineanu (b.2002, Chișinău) is a Moldovan filmmaker who believes in cinema as a powerful form of storytelling, one that should address important, sometimes painful or deeply personal stories. She sees film as a tool for change and believes that every film has a responsibility to use its voice.

In 2025, Elena received her BA in Cinematography and Post-Production at Warsaw Film School, Poland. During her studies, she was a scriptwriter, director, director of photography, editor and color-grader for her three short author films. Elena's internationally awarded dramas: ”Reflections”, ”First Last Month”, and "To be or not to die" tackle topics such as death and grief, puberty and menstruation, loneliness and human connections.

Recently, she returned to her homeland to contribute to the local film industry, work with professionals, develop herself, while also studying relevant subjects for her future films.

Project Info

Elena Vatamanu-Măgineanu is a fellow of the "Fokus International" program, launched in 2023 in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS). Young cultural professionals from Moldova (2026 – 2028) and South Africa (2025 – 2027) are invited to Austria to complete two-month internships at selected Viennese art institutions, gaining work experience while simultaneously enriching the host institutions through their contributions.

During her residency at MQ, Elena will work with Independent Space Index, a comprehensive directory of independent spaces for contemporary art in Vienna, as well as a networking channel between cultural spaces. During her stay, she will help organize the annual festival of independent spaces in Vienna (May 29–31), maintaining communication with participants, as well as providing guided tours for festival visitors. This opportunity reflects Elena’s interest in art as a tool for change.between private narrative and public systems, inviting viewers to consider how structures shape what we see, value, and experience.