Cristian Mungiu, born in Iaşi, Romania in 1968, first studied English language and literature at the University in his hometown and worked for a while as a teacher and journalist – for written press, radio and TV. Later on he moved to Bucharest and studied film at the Film and Theatre Academy – shooting several short films after graduation.

His first feature, Occident, was premiered in Quinzaine des Realisateurs in Cannes in 2002 and was an audience hit in Romania.

In 2007, his second feature, 4 month, 3 weeks and 2 days, was awarded the Palme d’Or in Cannes. Several other awards followed, including the European Film Academy awards for best film and best director.

He returned to Cannes in 2009 as a producer with the collective film Tales from the Golden Age and as a writer-director in 2012 with Beyond the Hills – double awarded for Best Screenplay and Best actresses in Cannes 2012.