John Malkovich and Sean Bean attend premiere in Bucharest

But why did Tim Burton also turn up?

Glamour and high culture rubbed shoulders in Bucharest on 1 November, as more than 4,000 guests flocked to the sold-out premiere of The Yellow Tie (Cravata Galbenă) at the grand Sala Palatului. The international biopic of legendary Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache drew a dazzling crowd, including Hollywood icons John Malkovich and Sean Bean, who star in the film, alongside director Serge Ioan Celebidachi and his production team.

Adding extra sparkle, visionary filmmaker Tim Burton made a surprise appearance. Enchanted by Romania since filming Wednesday there, he called the movie “wonderful,” expressing his affection for the country’s cinematic talent and creative spirit.

"A great Romanian"

After a standing ovation, Malkovich addressed the crowd: “We feel honoured to be part of a film about such a great Romanian.” Sean Bean echoed the sentiment, praising the nation’s warmth and artistry. Co-star Ben Schnetzer, appearing via video, described The Yellow Tie as a story born of Romania’s “spiritual strength.”

Directed by Celebidachi, the sweeping drama follows his father’s extraordinary life, from interwar Romania to global acclaim, with five orchestras recreating Celibidache’s most famous concerts. Boasting a stellar cast including Miranda Richardson, Kate Phillips, Anton Lesser, and Charlie Rowe, the production—one of Romania’s biggest to date—hits cinemas nationwide on 14 November.

(Michael Leahy. Source: Romania-Insider and Cannes-or-Bust. Photo: Oblique Media Film)