Aferim! of Radu Jude wins silver bear for Best Director at Berlinale 2015

Director Radu Jude received the Silver Bear for "Aferim!", at the Berlinale 2015 Film Festival, on Saturday evening.

Photo: (c) Luo Huanhuan / Xinhua Flux

"If I knew I would win such a prize, I would have been more serious when shooting it," Radu Jude said on the Berlinale stage.

The Romanian film director underlined that the prize for Best Director belongs to the entire team he has worked with in this project and that he wished the Romanian authorities supported more the Romanian quality film in the future.
Regarded as one of the amplest Romanian cinema projects in the past years, Aferim! directed by Radu Jude is a historical film whose action is placed in the dawn of 19th century's Wallachia. The main character, a state tax collector employee (zapciu), played by Teodor Corban, accompanied by his son (Mihai Comanoiu), is searching for a fugitive gypsy slave (Cuzin Toma).

Aferim! is a Hi Film production, made in co-production with Klas Film Bulgaria, Endorfilm Czech Republic, Mulberry Development Romania, with the participation of Nu Boyana Film Studios, U-Films, Production XMG Media, Abis Studio, Division Camera, in association with EZ Films and the participation of HBO Romania.

The film was financed by the Romanian National Centre of Cinematography, the Bulgarian National Film Center, the Czech Cinematography Fund, the MEDIA Programme with the European Union and supported by Eurimages ? the Council of Europe's fund allotted to cinematography.

Radu Jude is the director of the short films Lampa cu caciula (Lamp with a Hat), Alexandra, O umbra de nor (Shadow of a Cloud), Trece si prin perete, some films which won several awards. His debut feature, Cea mai fericita fata din lume (Happiest girl in the world) was...