Dickens 2012 is an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens that marks the bicentenary of his birth.

Although a writer from the Victorian era, Dickens’s work transcends his time, language and culture. He remains a massive contemporary influence throughout the world and his writings continue to inspire film, TV, art, literature, artists and academia.

The British Council is working with over 50 countries worldwide to coordinate an exciting range of educational and cultural events celebrating the bicentenary of the UK's most prolific and influential novelists: Charles Dickens.

Dickens on Film

Dickens film screenings

The Dickens film screenings in Bucharest took place on the 3, 4 and 7 February 2012 at the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Horia Bernea Hall and the British Council library (@British) as follows:

Friday, 3 February 2012, National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Horia Bernea Hall, Monetariei Street, no. 3

			18:00				Oliver Twist (Frank Lloyd, 1922 - silent film)
			20:00				Nicholas Nickelby (Douglas McGrath, 2002)

Saturday, 4 February 2012, National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Horia Bernea Hall, Monetariei Street, no. 3

			15:00				Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951)
			17:30				A Tale of Two Cities (Ralph Thomas, 1958)
			20:00				Great Expectations (David Lean, 1946)

Tuesday, 7 February 2012,  British Council library - @British, Calea Dorobantilor, no. 14

20:00

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951)

Contemporary in Dickens's world

Creative writing competition

The British Council organised a Creative Writing Competition to honour the bicentenary of Charles Dickens's birth. The competition aimed to select the best pieces of writing which illustrated the connection between Dickens and his readers.

The theme of the competition was: A day in Dickens’s world.

Participants had to identify themselves with one of Dickens’s characters and describe a day in their life from this perspective. They could choose to write about their home, their street or their town, the people around them, their daily routine, their feelings. Or they could write about a day that is out of the ordinary.

All views were welcomed and participants were encouraged to write their own personal interpretation of the topic.

Participation was open to students in grades 9 -12. The entries were evaluated by a panel nominated by the British Council.

Winners

			1st prize		Maria Alexandra Radu (Pitesti)		eBook Kindle Touch Wi-fi		Read the essay.
			2nd prize		Diana Andreea Stan (Constanta)		iPod shuffle		Read the essay.
			3rd prize		Aurelia Grajdieru (Bucharest)		Voucher for the Fischer bookshop of RON 50 + one Youth membership at the British Council library @British		Read the essay.
			1st honorable mention		Ruxandra Rogojinaru (Otopeni)		Books written by Charles Dickens, in English		Read the essay.
			2nd honorable mention		Miruna Maria Tupu (Iasi)		Books written by Charles Dickens, in English		Read the essay.