First Romanian Film
The first Romanian film, "Independence of Romania," directed by Aristide Demetriade, was released in 1906. This historical epic depicted the Romanian War of Independence and marked the beginning of Romanian cinema.
1906
1912
First Romanian Feature Film
"Amor Fatal," directed by Grigore Brezeanu, was released in 1912 and is considered the first Romanian feature film. It was a significant milestone in the development of Cinema of Romania.
1930
Introduction of Sound Films
The introduction of sound films in Romania began in the 1930s, transforming the Cinema of Romania and bringing new opportunities for filmmakers and actors.
1946
Nationalization of the Film Industry
In 1946, the Romanian film industry was nationalized under the communist regime, leading to state-controlled film production and distribution.
1957
The National Film Center (Centrul Național al Cinematografiei) was established in 1957 to oversee and support the production of films in Romania.
1965
Golden Age of Romanian Cinema
The 1960s and 1970s are considered the golden age of Romanian cinema, with directors like Liviu Ciulei and Lucian Pintilie gaining international acclaim for their work.
1989
Fall of Communism
The fall of communism in 1989 marked a significant turning point for Cinema of Romania, leading to greater creative freedom and the emergence of new voices in the industry.
2001
The early 2000s saw the rise of the Romanian New Wave, a movement characterized by its realistic and often minimalist approach to storytelling. Directors like Cristi Puiu and Cristian Mungiu became prominent figures in this movement.
2005
Cristi Puiu's "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu"
Cristi Puiu's film "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu" was released in 2005 and received critical acclaim, winning the Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
2007
Cristian Mungiu's "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days"
Cristian Mungiu's film "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, bringing international attention to the Cinema of Romania.
2010
Expansion of International Recognition
Throughout the 2010s, Romanian films continued to gain international recognition, with directors like Corneliu Porumboiu and Radu Jude receiving accolades at major film festivals.
2015
Radu Jude's "Aferim!"
Radu Jude's film "Aferim!" won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2015, further cementing the reputation of Romanian cinema on the global stage.
2016
Cristian Mungiu's "Graduation"
Cristian Mungiu's film "Graduation" won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, continuing the success of the Romanian New Wave.
2019
Corneliu Porumboiu's "The Whistlers"
Corneliu Porumboiu's film "The Whistlers" was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, highlighting the ongoing influence of Romanian filmmakers.
2020
Documentary Success
Alexander Nanau's documentary "Collective" received widespread acclaim and was nominated for both Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021.
