Liviu Ciulei, one of the most resounding names in the Romanian film and theatre industry will be the recipient of the Excellency Award at the ninth edition of Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF); three of his features will be presented in the TIFF's traditional 3x3 Section.
His spectacular career as director, actor and writer includes more than 20 features and also numerous theater productions, bearing the signature of Liviu Ciulei as director, costume and set designer or actor, constantly appreciated with prestigious awards. Besides his experience as director, actor, set designer or writer, he has proven himself as an exceptionally valuable artistic director; for more than ten years he has been the artistic director of Bulandra Theatre, and afterwards he was the artistic director of the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre, in Minneapolis. Liviu Ciulei has taught theatre at two of the most prestigious universities: Columbia University and New York University. He is currently the Honorary Director of Bulandra Theatre.
His filmography includes one of the titles that have distinctly marked the history of Romanian cinema: The Forest of the Hanged / Pădurea spânzuraţilor – a film that brought him the Directors’ Award at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival. Besides Waves of the Danube / Valurile Dunării (1959) and The Eruption / Erupţia (his debut in film directing, in 1957), The Forest of the Hanged will also be presented in the 3x3 Section. Liviu Ciulei is thus joining the other two directors Wim Wenders and Anurag Kashyap being paid homage to within this section at the ninth edition of the festival.
Waves of the Danube, the second film signed by Liviu Ciulei, as both director and actor, tells the story of three people forced to make a difficult journey, in August 1944, crossing the Danube on a barge full of armaments while having to avoid the mines placed by the Nazi. A love story scattered with moments of tension that was awarded the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in 1960. The TIFF 2010 audience will have the opportunity to enjoy the film one more time within an official screening event in the presence of the starring actress Irina Petrescu.
The feature The Forest of the Hanged will also be presented in an official event screening at TIFF 2010 in the presence of the well-known actors Victor Rebengiuc and Mariana Mihuţ.
The Excellency Award at TIFF 2010 for the director Liviu Ciulei is offered by Mercedes-Benz.
The 3x3 Section at TIFF 2010 is presented by HBO Romania.
