Romanian Success at Berlinale

Radu Jude’s “Aferim!” starring Teodor Corban, Mihai Comanoiu and Toma Cuzin will have it’s World Premiere at the Berlinale Film Festival. It is the story of a “Gypsy slave” who escaped from his boyar and is said to have had an affair with his master’s wife. During his journey, he meets people of different nationalities and different faiths: Turks and Russians, Christians and Jews, Romanians and Hungarians. On all sides there are prejudices against the other. Prejudices that are passed on from generation to generation.

Radu Jude graduated from the University of Media, Bucharest in 2003. He worked as an assistant director with Costa-Gavras on the film “Amen”, then with Radu Muntean on the movie “Furia”. He also worked with Cristi Puiu for “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” (Moartea domnului Lăzărescu). He has won numerous film awards for his short film “The Lamp with the Hat” (Lampa cu căciulă) at Sundance, Uppsala, Vienna, Cracow and Hamburg Film Festivals. Jude was also awarded for his short fiction “Alexandra” with the Grand Prize of the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival. Jude also premiered “The Happiest Girl in the World” (Cea mai fericită fată din lume) at Berlinale 2009 where he was awarded with the CICAE Prize. His film “Everybody in Our Family” (Toată lumea din familia noastră) has won the grand prize of the Sarajevo Film Festival.

Tudor Giurgiu’s “Why me?” (De ce eu?), starring Emilian Oprea, Mihai Constantin, Andreea Vasile, Dan Condurache and Liviu Pintileasa will also participate at the festival. The young, ambitious prosecutor, Cristian, gets a surprisingly precarious case assigned to him, in which an older colleague is accused of corruption. The suspect protests the accusation but Cristian has to bring him to court even with a distinct lack of evidence. In an effort to bring the truth to light, Cristian aims to resolve this conspiracy.

Tudor Giurgiu studied film directing in Bucharest and founded the Transilvanian International Film Festival 16 years ago. He was president of Romanian Television between 2005 and 2007. He has worked as an assistant director for well-known Romanian directors like Lucian Pintilie, Radu Mihăileanu and Nae Caranfil. He created a number of music videos and short films, which have been shown at international film festivals. His feature film debut “Love Sick” was screened at the Berlinale in the Panorama section. His second feature “About Men and Snails” was a box-office success in Romania.