The feature film "Sieranevada" directed by Cristi Puiu was the big winner at the 11th edition of the Gopo Awards
The feature film "Sieranevada" directed by Cristi Puiu was the big winner at the 11th edition of the Gopo Awards Gala, an event venued by the I.L.Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest. "Sieranevada" won 6 Gopo awards for best film, best director, best script, best actress in a lead role, best actress in a supporting role and best editing. Selected in the official competition of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Cristi Puiu's forth feature film has been well received by the international media.
The British newspaper "The Guardian" described "Sieranevada" as "food for thought", while its author was deemed as one of the most influential cinematic voices of the century. The film's action is theatrically set mainly in one modest Romanian apartment where a large family has gathered for something between a memorial service and a wake for Emil, who has just died. The film focuses on his eldest son Lary (Mimu Branescu), a harassed, bearded, overweight doctor who turns up for the party having just had a huge row with his wife about getting his daughter the wrong Disney costume for her school play.
The family gathering does not unfold as expected. Ana Ciontea, who got the award for best actress in a supporting role, said upon receiving the award:
"I remember the day when I auditioned for this role. I was extremely nervous. I continued to feel that way throughout the entire film. I want to thank Cristi Puiu, as I found myself in his film. Sieranevada is family to me. I also want to thank each of my colleagues and crew members, all those who voted me and gave me the opportunity to be part of the large family of Romanian cinema."
In his turn, director Cristi Puiu, who also won the awards for best director and best script, thanked his family and director Lucian Pintilie:
"First of all, I want to thank my wife Anca and my girls. It's difficult to be a scriptwriter because this requires peace of mind and I have this at home. I also thank Lucian Pintilie, because back in 1999 he read the script that I wrote with writer Razvan Radulescu, the script that I later turned into film, and he encouraged me. I felt encouraged and kept on writing. I want to thank you as well."
Director Cristi Puiu dedicated the award for best director to actor Sorin Medeleni, who was part of the cast but who died before the film was released.
Actor Valentin Uritescu, aged 75, received a lifetime achievement award. Boasting an over 50-year long career in theatre and film, Valentin Uritescu has played a wide range of supporting roles such as Sergeant Saptefrati in the TV series "Lights and Shadows" directed by Andrei Blaier, the same character in Sergiu Nicolaescu's feature "We, on the Front Lines", or Vasile in the film "The Contest" directed by Dan Pita. A graduate of the "Ion Luca Caragiale" Institute of Theatre and Cinema in Bucharest in 1963, he was hired by the "Maria Filotti" Theatre in Braila, Eastern Romania, and five years later, he moved to the Youth Theatre in Piatra Neamt, Eastern Romania. He was an actor at that theatre for 13 years, which he deems as "the most important period of his life".
After he had been singled out by stage director Liviu Ciulei, Valentin Uritescu performed in the productions of the Bulandra Theatre in Bucharest. His maiden autobiographical volume "That's What I Am, a Fool" was launched by Humanitas Publishers in 2011. Two years later, his book of memoirs devoted to his father and entitled "Take Care of Your Good Nature" was brought out by the same publishing-house. In 2016, the artist's book of memoirs" Haunted by Other People's Lives" was launched by Ars Docendi Publishers.
Here is what Valentin Uritescu said at the 11th Gopo Awards Gala:
" I was a first-year student when I made my debut in the film "A Bomb Has Been Stolen" by Ion Popescu Gopo. I uttered just one line: "Let's go!". It's been over 50 years ever since and I have played dozens of film and theatre roles. My third book titled "Haunted by Other People's Lives" features all the characters that I played and haunted me. As I've just said, it's been over 50 years since I made my debut in Gopo's film and now, with this award, Gopo has returned to me. Let me thank those who sent him to me and let me thank you, who reward me with your applause and congratulate me 50 years after my debut."
Bogdan Mirica's debut feature was awarded five Gopo trophies, including the best supporting actor award, which went to Vlad Ivanov, and the best actor award won by Gheorghe Visu. 21 films were launched in 2016; two of them, the blockbusters "Selfie69" and "Two Lottery Tickets" were seen by over 100,000 spectators and had over 2 million lei worth of returns, receiving the audience award at the Gopo Awards Gala.
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