Corneliu Porumboiu

Corneliu Porumboiu (Romanian: [korˈnelju porumˈboju] ; born 14 September 1975) is a Romanian New Wave filmmaker, screenwriter, and film producer. He is most known for his films 12:08 East of Bucharest (2006) and The Whistlers (2019).

Corneliu Porumboiu was born in Vaslui, Vaslui County, Romania. He is the son of a former Romanian language teacher and a former football referee Adrian Porumboiu [hu; it; ro] , currently a businessman.[ 1]

Between 1994 and 1998 he attended the faculty of Management at ASE University Bucharest.

In 1999, he started studying film directing at the National University of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography Bucharest, where he graduated in 2003. With his graduation short movie, A trip to the city, he gets prize II in the Cinefondation section at Cannes International Film Festival.

In October 2021 he was under investigation for fiscal fraud and money laundering by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT).[ 2]

After graduating UNATC, in 2004, he realized his first medium-length film The Dream of Liviu. Also in 2004 he sets up, together with Marcela Ursu, the production house 42km FILM.

In 2005, Corneliu wrote and directed his first feature film 12:08 East of Bucharest, which was selected for the Directors Fortnight section of the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Camera d'Or. 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, was launched, The film won the Jury Award at the Cannes International Film Festival 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 Festival.

In 2014, he directed a sports documentary, The second game, which was presented in the Berlin Forum.

In 2015, his next fiction film, The Treasure, was awarded with A Certain Talent in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival.

In 2018, he realized a second documentary, Infinite Football, which premiered in the Berlin Forum section.

In 2019, he finished his fifth fiction film, La Gomera/The Whistlers which had the world premiere in the Official Competition of the 72 edition of the Cannes International Film Festival.

Porumboiu is married to Arantxa Etcheverria, a visual artist of French origin. They have two children together. In the production of his newest feature films, The Treasure and The Whistlers, Arantxa participated as artistic director.

In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Porumboiu signed an open letter published in Libération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5]