FILM DIRECTORS from Romania

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Romanian Film Directors of all time. This list of famous Romanian Film Directors is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Romanian Film Directors.

1. Jean Negulesco (1900 - 1993)

With an HPI of 61.06, Jean Negulesco is the most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 31 different languages on wikipedia.

Jean Negulesco (born Ioan Negulescu; 13 March [O.S. 29 February] 1900 – 18 July 1993) was a Romanian-American film director and screenwriter. He first gained notice for his film noirs and later made such notable films as Johnny Belinda (1948), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), Titanic (1953), and Three Coins in the Fountain (1954). He was called "the first real master of CinemaScope".

2. Sergiu Nicolaescu (1930 - 2013)

With an HPI of 55.83, Sergiu Nicolaescu is the 2nd most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Sergiu Florin Nicolaescu (Romanian: [ˈserd͡ʒju floˈrin nikolaˈesku]; 13 April 1930 – 3 January 2013) was a Romanian film director, actor and politician. He was best known for his historical films, such as Mihai Viteazul (1970, released in English both under the equivalent title Michael the Brave and also as The Last Crusade), Dacii (1966, Les Guerriers), Războiul Independenței (1977, War of Independence), as well as for his series of thrillers that take place in the interwar Kingdom of Romania, such as Un comisar acuză (1973, A Police Inspector Calls). Joanna Pacuła starred in his film Ultima noapte de dragoste (The Last Night of Love) in 1980 before eventually emigrating to the United States, where he went on to a very successful career.

3. András Kovács (1925 - 2017)

With an HPI of 50.05, András Kovács is the 3rd most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

András Kovács (20 June 1925 – 11 March 2017) was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter. He directed 30 films between 1961 and 1996. His 1968 film The Lost Generation was entered into the 6th Moscow International Film Festival. His 1978 film A ménesgazda was entered into the 29th Berlin International Film Festival. His 1981 film Temporary Paradise won the Silver Prize at the 12th Moscow International Film Festival. His 1985 film The Red Countess was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. He was also a member of the jury at the 5th Moscow International Film Festival in 1967 and the 1976 Cannes Film Festival.

4. Cristian Mungiu (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 50.02, Cristian Mungiu is the 4th most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 37 different languages.

Cristian Mungiu (Romanian: [kristiˈan munˈdʒi.u]; born 27 April 1968) is a Romanian filmmaker. He won the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for his film 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, which he wrote and directed. He has also won the awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director, at the 2012 and 2016 Cannes Film Festivals, for his films Beyond the Hills and Graduation.

5. Radu Mihăileanu (b. 1958)

With an HPI of 46.96, Radu Mihăileanu is the 5th most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Radu Mihăileanu (born 23 April 1958) is a Romanian-born French film director and screenwriter. In addition to his work in cinema, he published a book of poems in 1987 titled Une vague en mal de mer. His film The Source premiered in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

6. Liviu Ciulei (1923 - 2011)

With an HPI of 46.72, Liviu Ciulei is the 6th most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Liviu Ciulei (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈlivju tʃjuˈlej]; 7 July 1923 – 24 October 2011) was a Romanian theater and film director, film writer, actor, architect, educator, costume and set designer. During a career spanning over 50 years, he was described by Newsweek as "one of the boldest and most challenging figures on the international scene". Ciulei is known for winning the Best Director Award at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival for his film Forest of the Hanged. In 1992 he was elected corresponding member of the Romanian Academy. He received a star on the Romanian Walk of Fame in Bucharest on 13 December 2012.

7. Cristi Puiu (b. 1967)

With an HPI of 43.80, Cristi Puiu is the 7th most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Cristi Puiu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈkristi ˈpuju]; born 3 April 1967) is a Romanian film director and screenwriter. With Anca Puiu and Alex Munteanu, in 2004 he founded a cinema production company, naming it Mandragora.

8. Radu Jude (b. 1977)

With an HPI of 40.57, Radu Jude is the 8th most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Radu Jude (Romanian: [ˈradu ˈʒude]; born 28 March 1977) is a Romanian film director and screenwriter.

9. Corneliu Porumboiu (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 36.16, Corneliu Porumboiu is the 9th most famous Romanian Film Director.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Corneliu Porumboiu (Romanian: [korˈnelju porumˈboju]; born 14 September 1975) is a Romanian film director, screenwriter, and film producer.

10. Adina Pintilie (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 34.92, Adina Pintilie is the 10th most famous Romanian Film Director.  Her biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Adina Pintilie (born 12 January 1980, with the birth name Adina-Elena Pintilie) is a Romanian film director and screenwriter. Who is little known for her raw material work. Her decade-long creative multi-platform study on intimacy, current body politics, and the aesthetics of extended moving image creation encompasses performance, cinema, and virtual reality, and is supported by long-term partnerships and cross-disciplinary research. Her feature length debut film Touch Me Not was awarded the Golden Bear at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival as well as the GFWW Award for Best First Feature at the Berlinale 2018 and nominated at the European Film Award the same year. She also co-founded MANEKINO FILM, an independent production company based in Bucharest. Also credited for being the co-producer, editor and actress in her film Touch Me Not, Adina Pintilie is also known for her shorter works: “Don’t Get me Wrong” and her short film Oxygen. She has studied at the Ion Luca Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film.