| Cristian Mungiu | |
| Birth Date: | 27 April 1968 |
| Birth Place: | Iași, Romania |
| Alma Mater: | Alexandru Ioan Cuza University |
| Occupation: | Director, screenwriter, producer |
| Years Active: | 1998–present |
| Awards: | Palme d'Or 2007: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days |
| Children: | 2 |
| Relatives: | Alina Mungiu-Pippidi (sister) |
Cristian Mungiu (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan 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.
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.
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.
Mungiu was the Jury President of the Semaine de la Critique non-competitive section of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.[9]
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.[10]
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.
| 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. | |||
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cannes Film Festival[11] [12] [13] | Palme d'Or | 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days | ||
| FIPRESCI Prize | |||||
| Cinema Prize of the French National Education System | |||||
| Best Feature | |||||
| European Film Awards[14] [15] | Best Film (with Oleg Mutu) | ||||
| Best Director | |||||
| Best Screenwriter | |||||
| Hollywood World Award | |||||
| 2008 | Best Non-American Film | ||||
| César Awards[16] | Best Foreign Film | ||||
| Gopo Awards[17] [18] | Best Feature Film (with Oleg Mutu) | ||||
| Best Directing | |||||
| Audience Award | |||||
| Best Screenplay | |||||
| Independent Spirit Awards[19] | Best Foreign Film | ||||
| 2009 | Tales from the Golden Age | ||||
| Goya Awards[20] | 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days | ||||
| 2010 | Audience Award | Tales from the Golden Age | |||
| 2012 | Cannes Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Beyond the Hills | ||
| Palme d'Or | |||||
| Best International Feature | |||||
| European Screenwriter | |||||
| Golden Ástor | |||||
| 2016 | Cannes Film Festival[21] | Palme d'Or | Graduation | ||
| Best Director | |||||
| Grand Prix for Best Film | |||||
| 2022 | R.M.N. |