Manu Sorin

The Black Sparkle
Only 2 decades ago, Romania was one of the world’s biggest caviar producers. "The black sparkle" came from the only natural delta in Europe: the Danube's Delta. A remarkable ecosystem that not only hosts hundreds of species of fish (including sturgeon) but also represents a unique area.Twenty years have passed. Democracy came after Ceausescu’s fall. However, things got bad for the locals, as “the big fish ate the small fish”. Major investor’s interests prevailed and the local population from the Danube Delta was doomed to poverty. Later, sturgeon fishing was declared prohibited in Romania for ten years (2006-2016). Is this decision taken considering ecological reasons? When visiting Delta, anyone can see that the ecosystem is not protected in any wise way. Another interesting detail is that Romania’s neighbors, Bulgaria, Turkey and Ukraine, did not declare prohibition on sturgeon. Meanwhile, Romanian fishermen slowly became poachers. Even after 2006, they were forced to continue fishing sturgeons. Forced by the economical situation. Most of the national fishing infrastructure is ruined. So, they are fishing with primitive tools and without a systematic workflow. This is fishing for survival. Man versus Nature in a battle for survival. This documentary film aims to present an economical struggle between unequal forces and the result coming from this battle. Collateral damage only affects usual fishermen. It’s a story about poverty in European Union, social and human indifference surrounded by ecological issues. As the sun rises, a fisherman says: “We are the first to see the sunrise and the last to see justice”.

My Father's Name
There is a story behind every name. For some people Eugen Cicero represents a musical genius. For others he is totally unknown. His son Roger unveils the story behind his father’s name and music. “My Father’s Name” is all about musical legacy and a fascinating father-son relationship especially through their understanding of music. It turns on a stunning journey towards success - marked with adventure, ups and downs. On the one hand side it is the story of Eugen Cicero, an internationally acclaimed pianist for more than 3 decades. His son, Roger Cicero, reminds us about his father’s great musical talent. The documentary emphasizes two sides of Eugen Cicero: the first one is the style he innovated, with the help of his perfect and matchless piano technique combined Jazz and Classic - the other one is his way of understanding life. It will be the kind of story starting from a piece of music that makes you wonder What is behind? Who wrote and played it? . For that reason the film should be considered as a two-portrait documentary. “My Father’s Name” is based on emotions, life facts, history and most of all on great music. Eugen Cicero left behind a special musical inheritance which does not deserve to be buried in oblivion.

Joined Evolution Film Production as a producer and cinematographer since April 2004. He’s the producer and co-director of the company’s major projects so far: 2010 – “Home Alone – a Romanian Tragedy”, international co-production documentary. The project won the price “for the further development of an outstanding film project” from HBO Central Europe in June, 2008, during the Krakow Film Festival in Poland. He’s also a Director of Photography at the National Romanian Television since 2001.