Corneliu Porumboiu (born September 14, 1975) is an acclaimed, prize winning Romanian director, screenwriter, and producer.
Born in Vaslui, Vaslui County, Romania, Corneliu Porumboiu is the son of former Romanian language teacher and former football referee Adrian Porumboiu, now a businessman.
He attended the faculty of Management at ASE University Bucharest, between 1994 and 1998.
In 1999, he studied film directing at the National University of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography Bucharest, graduating in 2003.
His graduation short movie, “A trip to the city,” won second prize in the Cinefondation section of the 2003 Cannes Film Fest.
After graduating UNATC, in 2004, he realizes his first medium-length film, The Dream of Liviu.
Also in 2004 he sets up, together with Marcela Ursu, the production house 42 km FILM.
In 2005, Corneliu writes and directs his first feature, 12:08 East of Bucharest, selected in Quinzaine des Realisateurs where he earned the Camera d’Or Award. The film received over 20 prizes in festivals around the world and was distributed in more than 30 territories.
In 2009, Police, Adjective, the second film written and directed by Corneliu Porumboiu, won the Jury Award at the Cannes Film Fest in the Un Certain Regard section.
In 2013, the third feature When Evening Falls on Bucharest or Metabolism, signed by Corneliu Porumboiu, had its premiere at the Locarno Film Fest.
In 2014, he directs a sports documentary, The Second Game, which was presented in the Berlin Forum.
In 2015, his fiction film, The Treasure, is awarded with A Certain Talent in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Fest.
In 2018, he realizes a second documentary-Infinite Football, which premiered in the Berlin Forum section.
In 2019, he finishes his fifth film – La Gomera/The Whistlers which world premiered in the Official Competition of the 72nd Cannes Film Fest.
In October 2021, he was investigated for fiscal fraud and money laundering by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT).
Porumboiu is married to Arantxa Etcheverria, a visual artist of French origin, with whom he shares two children. Arantxa participated as artistic director on his feature films, The Treasure and The Whistlers.
Prizes
2004: SECOND Prize in the Cinefondation section at the Cannes Film Fest with his short-movie A trip to the City
2006: Caméra d’Or Prize and “Transilvania” Trophy at TIFF 2006 for the movie 12:08 East of Bucharest.
2007: Gopo Award for Best directing for the film 12:08 East of Bucharest.
2009: At the Cannes Film Fest, the movie, Police, adjective (2009) by Corneliu Porumboiu, was awarded with the FIPRESCI Prize and Jury Award at Un Certain Regard section.
2014: Winner in the Best Romanian film section in TIFF and nominations for Best Directing, Best Feature, Best Documentary in the Gopo Awards with The second game film.
2015: Winner in the Best Romanian film section in TIFF, A Certain Talent at the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes, FIPRESCI Award for Best Film and Best Screenplay award at Cairo Film Festival with The Treasure movie.
2018: Winner of the Best Documentary at the Jerusalem Film Fest with the movie Infinite Football.
2019: Winner of Best Screenplay at the Seville Fest with the film La Gomera/The Whistlers.
Filmography
As director
Pe aripile vinului (2002)
Călătorie la oraş [ro] (2003) (Second Prize of the Cinéfondation in 2004)
Visul lui Liviu (2004)
12:08 East of Bucharest (2006) (A fost sau n-a fost?)
Police, Adjective (2009)
When Evening Falls on Bucharest or Metabolism (2013)
The Second Game (2014)
The Treasure (Comoara) (2015)
Infinite Football (Fotbal Infinit) (2018)
The Whistlers (or La Gomera) (2019)
