Gopo Awards Gala: 'Closer to the moon,' best feature film

"Closer to the moon" on Monday evening was awarded the best feature film prize in this year's edition of the Gopo Awards Gala and Nae Caranfil received the best director award for the same film.

Photo credit: (c) Silviu MATEI / AGERPRES PHOTO

"We had in this gala several films surveying the communist era, the years under communism. I am glad I was picked, because I believe it is an extraordinary source of inspiration, because this circus that took place in this part of the world shouldn't be forgotten and we usually clash against a prejudice which I hear very often and which upsets me, namely: we are fed up with so many films on communism. But how many are there? There had been many about communism, but before 1989. After 1989, there are only a few and, in the end, maybe tonight I should thank comrade Gheorghe Gheorghiu Dej and comrade Nicolae Ceausescu for having offered me the inspiration I needed so much," Nae Caranfil said upon receiving the Gopo statuette.

The award was handed by Culture Minister Ionut Vulpescu and National Theatre Director Ion Caramitru.

Also nominated in the best feature film category, together with "Closer to the moon," directed by Nae Caranfil, were Corneliu Porumboiu's "Al doilea joc" (The Second Game) and Andrei Gruzsniczki's "Q.E.D". The three directors were also nominated in the best director category.

The award for the best actor in a leading role went to Florin Piersic Jr. for the part of Alecu Voican of "Quod Erat Demonstrandum" (Q.E.D), while the distinction for the best actress in a leading role went to Ofelia Popii for the part of Elena Buciuman in the same film.

The other nominees in the best actor in a leading role category were: Mark Strong for the role of Max Rosenthal ("Closer to...