Cristian Mungiu

Cristian Mungiu
Cristian Mungiu at the 2012 edition of Cannes Film Festival
Born (1968-04-27) 27 April 1968 (age 56)
Iași, Romania
Alma materAlexandru Ioan Cuza University
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, producer
Years active1998–present
Children2
RelativesAlina Mungiu-Pippidi (sister)
AwardsPalme d'Or
2007: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

Cristian Mungiu (Romanian: [kristiˈan munˈdʒi.u]; born 27 April 1968) is a Romanian filmmaker. He won the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for his film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which he wrote and directed. He has also won the awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director, at the 2012 and 2016 Cannes Film Festivals, for his films Beyond the Hills and Graduation.

Early life

Mungiu was born in Iași. His sister is political analyst Alina Mungiu-Pippidi. After studying English literature at the University of Iaşi, he worked for a few years as a teacher and as a journalist. After that, he enrolled at the University of Film in Bucharest to study film directing. After graduating in 1998, Mungiu made several short films.

Career

In 2002, he debuted with his first feature film, Occident, which enjoyed critical success, winning prizes in several film festivals and being featured in Director's Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2007, Mungiu wrote and directed his second feature, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. The film was received enthusiastically, attracting critical praise and being selected in the official competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or for feature film,[1] marking the first time that prize was awarded to a Romanian filmmaker.

His 2012 film Beyond the Hills was screened in competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival,[2][3] where Mungiu won the award for Best Screenplay,[4] and Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan shared the award for Best Actress.[4] The film was also selected as the Romanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards,[5] making the January shortlist.[6]

In 2013, he produced Nae Caranfil's 6.9 on Richter.[7] In April 2013, he was selected as a member of the main competition jury at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.[8]

In 2016, he directed the tragedy Graduation, which premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where Mungiu won the award for Best Director. The film was in competition for the Palme d'Or.[9]

Mungiu was the Jury President of the Semaine de la Critique non-competitive section of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.[10]

At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Mungiu's feature R.M.N. was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or. The film's coproducers include the Dardenne brothers' Les Films du Fleuve.[11]

Influences and style

Mungiu has said that Miloš Forman and Robert Altman are important filmmakers who influenced him. He also respects the realism of Bicycle Thieves, among other famous realistic films.[citation needed]

Filmography

Year English Title Original Title Notes
2000 Corul pompierilor Short
Nicio întâmplare
Zapping
2002 Occident Debut film
2005 Lost and Found (segment Turkey Girl) Co-director
2007 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 4 luni, 3 săptămâni și 2 zile Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
2009 Tales from the Golden Age Amintiri din epoca de aur Co-director
2012 Beyond the Hills După dealuri Best Screenplay at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival
2016 Graduation Bacalaureat Best Director at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival
2022 R.M.N.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film Result
2007 Cannes Film Festival[12][13][14] Palme d'Or 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days Won
FIPRESCI Prize Won
Cinema Prize of the French National Education System Won
Chicago International Film Festival Best Feature Nominated
European Film Awards[15][16] Best Film (with Oleg Mutu) Won
Best Director Won
Best Screenwriter Nominated
Hollywood Film Awards Hollywood World Award Won
2008 Bodil Awards Best Non-American Film Nominated
César Awards[17] Best Foreign Film Nominated
Gopo Awards[18][19] Best Feature Film (with Oleg Mutu) Won
Best Directing Won
Audience Award Won
Best Screenplay Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards[20] Best Foreign Film Nominated
2009 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard Tales from the Golden Age Nominated
Goya Awards[21] Best European Film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days Won
2010 Gopo Awards Audience Award Tales from the Golden Age Won
2012 Cannes Film Festival Best Screenplay Beyond the Hills Won
Palme d'Or Nominated
Chicago International Film Festival Best International Feature Nominated
European Film Awards European Screenwriter Nominated
Mar del Plata International Film Festival Golden Ástor Won
2016 Cannes Film Festival[9] Palme d'Or Graduation Nominated
Best Director Won
Ghent International Film Festival Grand Prix for Best Film Nominated Nominated
2022 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or R.M.N. Nominated

Honours

See also

References

  1. ^ "Festival de Cannes: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days". Festival-Cannes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  2. ^ "2012 Official Selection". Cannes. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Cannes Film Festival 2012 line-up announced". timeout. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Awards 2012". Cannes. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Romania picks 'Beyond the Hills' for Oscar race". Variety. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  6. ^ "9 Foreign Language Films Vie For Oscar". Oscars. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Romania Announces Grants from 2012 Application Session". Archived from the original on 2013-06-29.
  8. ^ Saperstein, Pat (23 April 2013). "Nicole Kidman, Christopher Waltz, Ang Lee Among Cannes Jury Members". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  9. ^ a b "All awards". Festival de Cannes 2016. 21 May 2004.
  10. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (2021-06-07). "Cannes' Critics' Week Celebrates 60th Anniversary With French-Flavored Lineup". Variety. Archived from the original on 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  11. ^ Staff, F. N. E. "Cristian Mungiu Back in Cannes' Competition with R.M.N." www.filmneweurope.com. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  12. ^ Scott, A.O.; Dargis, Manohla (27 May 2007). "Romania rules at Cannes Film Festival". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007.
  13. ^ McCarthy, Todd (29 May 2007). "Croisette compromises". Daily Variety. p. 15.
  14. ^ Levy, Emanuel (10 July 2007). "4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days to be Shown in French Schools". Emanuellevy.com. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Abortion drama scoops two European awards". The Guardian. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  16. ^ Staff (5 November 2007). "European Film Awards nominees". Variety. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  17. ^ "The Césars go Hollywood". France24.com. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Nominalizari 2008". Asociaţia pentru Promovarea Filmului Românesc. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Castigatori 2008". Asociaţia pentru Promovarea Filmului Românesc. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Reitman's Juno among top contenders for Indie Spirit film awards". CBC News. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  21. ^ Rolfe, Pamela (1 February 2009). "'Camino' leads Goya Awards with six nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  22. ^ Crucea Casei Regale a României
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