Biography

Elena Dirstaru is known for Monashay (2013), But They Can't Break Stones (2015) and Bethnal Green (2012).

Her film But They Can't Break Stones was part of the official Selection at the International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra.

'But They Can't Break Stones' premiered in February 2015 at the University of Essex as part of the Centre for Film Studies and Essex Transitional Justice series of screenings. It was screened at the 2015 Manchester Metropolitan University Film Festival, 2015 Screening Rights Film Festival in Birmingham, 2015 London Feminist Film Festival. In 2016 it won an Award of Merit at the Indie Fest in California for Women Filmmakers, a Bronze Award at the Spotlight Documentary Awards in New York, and was nominated for a best documentary award at the Learning on Screen Awards at the BFI, London. It was also part of the official selection at Roma CineDOC Film Festival, the International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra, and "We Are the Peoples" Film Festival in London. It was also screened at international academic conferences.