Cristian Mungiu, upon returning to the country: “We have some chances at the Oscars”. What reproaches the Romanian state
Director Cristian Mungiu, who received, on Saturday, at Cannes, the second Palme d'Or in his career, declared, upon his return from the country, at the Otopeni airport, that his film “Fjord” has “some chances at the Oscar”. At the same time, the director expressed his displeasure that the Romanian state does not respect its own law regarding cinema financing.
Cristian Mungiu said that he wants his film to be seen by as many people as possible. “The prize will help him to have a life in the world, to awaken the curiosity he needs to be discovered,” said the director.
He even mentioned that his film could enter the competition with a chance for an Oscar.
“The life of this film is just beginning with this Palme d'Or. We have some chances at the Oscars. I hope that the film will be supported by the American distributor and us in Romania (…) I hope that the film will have a campaign and go as far as possible, maybe even to the nomination for the Oscar. Not because these awards are more important, but in Romania they are perceived as more interesting than other distinctions”, said Mungiu.
Fears of political use of his film
The director hopes that his film will not be exploited in the country for political purposes. “Neither from the ultra-conservative camp, nor from the ultra-liberal one. It's an attempt to initiate a dialogue, not to strengthen camps. If everyone leaves the room with the same opinion they came with, then the film has not achieved its goal”, believes Cristian Mungiu.
At the same time, he criticized the way the state supports Romanian cinema. Mungiu admitted that he received funding from the state for his films, but complained about the lack of adequate infrastructure and promotion with support from the budget.
“We received the maximum legal support that can be given, but it is completely insufficient for a film of the type we made. If we look at the historical films of the past, with thousands of extras and complex productions, today we simply do not have the resources to do this,” said Mungiu
“I am asking the Romanian state to give more back to culture and cinema because we have done our part”, Cristian Mungiu continued, adding that there is no suitable premiere hall in Bucharest.
“The state to apply its own law”
He also mentioned the fact that the legislation stipulates that part of the taxes imposed on gambling should go to the National Cinematography Centre.
“The money is not paid and the state does nothing. I want the state to apply its own law. That's what I want. I already have a suitcase of medals and decorations,” said the director, who appreciated that compliance with the law would reduce problems related to the underfunding of cinema.
Also, the lack of cinemas and promotion made successful Romanian films more watched abroad than in the country. “It's not a good note for us. It's not about one film or another, but about the way distribution works and the interest in Romanian cinema here,” complained the filmmaker.
“Fjord” will be promoted with the support of the Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Culture introduced the film “Fjord”, recently awarded the Palme d'Or trophy at the Cannes Film Festival, to the list of strategic cultural projects to benefit from the financing of the Oscar Awards campaign.
“Upon the arrival in the country of the winner of the Palme d'Or award (Cristian Mungiu, no), the Ministry of Culture completes the list of strategic cultural projects in order to ensure the funding framework for the campaign for the Oscar awards (an old practice of one of Romania's most effective soft power tools). Thus, the Order of the Minister of Culture with no. 2621 of March 26 is completed by including the support of the film “Fjord” in the competition for the Oscar awards, within the paragraph on cultural diplomacy projects”, announced on Sunday, in a post on Facebook, the interim Minister of Culture, Demeter András István.
