Cristian Mungiu | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Mungiu in 2025 | |
| Born | (1968-04-27)27 April 1968 (age 57) |
| Alma mater | Alexandru Ioan Cuza University |
| Occupation(s) | Director,screenwriter,producer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Alina Mungiu-Pippidi (sister) |
| Awards | Palme d'Or 2007:4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days |
Cristian Mungiu (Romanian:[kristiˈanmunˈdʒi.u]; born 27 April 1968) is aRomanianfilmmaker. He won thePalme d'Or at the2007 Cannes Film Festival for his film4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which he wrote and directed. He has also won the awards forBest Screenplay andBest Director at the2012 and2016 Cannes Film Festivals for his filmsBeyond the Hills andGraduation.
Mungiu was born inIași. His sister is political analystAlina Mungiu-Pippidi. After studyingEnglish literature at theUniversity of Iaşi, he worked for a few years as a teacher and as a journalist. After that, he enrolled at the Film University inBucharest to studyfilm directing. After graduating in 1998, Mungiu made severalshort films.
In 2002, he debuted with his firstfeature film, Occident, which enjoyed critical success, winning prizes at severalfilm festivals and being featured at theDirectors' Fortnight during the2002 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 for the official competition at the2007 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 filmBeyond the Hills was screened in competition at the2012 Cannes Film Festival,[2][3] where Mungiu won the award forBest Screenplay,[4] withCristina Flutur andCosmina Stratan sharinh the award forBest Actress.[4] The film was also selected as the Romanian entry for theBest Foreign Language Oscar at the85th Academy Awards,[5] making the January shortlist.[6]
In 2013, he producedNae Caranfil's6.9 on Richter.[7] In April 2013, he was selected as a member of the main competition jury at the2013 Cannes Film Festival.[8]
In 2016, he directed the tragedyGraduation, which premiered at the2016 Cannes Film Festival, where Mungiu won the award forBest Director. The film was in competition for the Palme d'Or.[9]
Mungiu was the Jury President of theSemaine de la Critique non-competitive section of the2021 Cannes Film Festival.[10]
At the2022 Cannes Film Festival, Mungiu's featureR.M.N. was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or. The film's coproducers include theDardenne brothers' Les Films du Fleuve.[11]
In January 2025, Mungiu began working on his next film,Fjord, withSebastian Stan andRenate Reinsve in the lead roles andNeon acquiring the distribution rights for multiple territories including the United States and parts of Europe in May 2025.[12][13]
Mungiu has said thatMiloš Forman andRobert Altman are important filmmakers who influenced him. He also respects the realism ofBicycle Thieves, among other famous realistic films.[citation needed]
| Year | English title | Original title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Occident | ||
| 2007 | 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days | 4 luni, 3 săptămâni și 2 zile | Palme d'Or at the2007 Cannes Film Festival |
| 2012 | Beyond the Hills | După dealuri | Best Screenplay at the2012 Cannes Film Festival |
| 2016 | Graduation | Bacalaureat | Best Director at the2016 Cannes Film Festival |
| 2022 | R.M.N. | ||
| 2026 | Fjord | Post-production | |
| Year | English title | Original title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Traffic | Jaful Secolului |
| Year | English title | Original title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Corul pompierilor | ||
| Nicio întâmplare | |||
| Zapping | |||
| 2005 | Lost and Found (segmentTurkey Girl) | Omnibus film | |
| 2009 | Tales from the Golden Age | Amintiri din epoca de aur | |
