The Minister of Culture, Demeter Andras Istvan, announced that the film Fjord by Cristian Mungiu, winner of the Palme d’Or, will be included in the list of strategic cultural projects in order to support the production in the competition for the Oscar awards.
“Upon the arrival of the winner of the Palme d’Or award in the country, the Ministry of Culture completes the list of strategic cultural projects in order to ensure the funding framework for the campaign for the Oscar awards (an old practice of one of Romania’s most effective soft power tools). Thus, the order of the Minister of Culture with no. 2621 of March 26 is to be completed by including the support of the film “Fjord” in the competition for the Oscar awards, in the content of the paragraph on cultural diplomacy projects“, announced the Minister of Culture on his Facebook page.
The following cultural diplomacy projects are included in the strategic funding program of the Ministry of Culture: “Reunion of Romanian Theaters” – Chisinau, the Frankfurt Book Fair, Romania’s participation in the Venice Architecture Biennale, Romania’s participation in cultural, economic and sports events organized under the auspices of Francophonie, Bilateral Cultural Seasons starting with the Romania – Italy Cultural Year 2026.
Director Cristian Mungiu said on Sunday, May 24, that “Fjord”, awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, is a brave film and that the award will help it reach a wider audience. He hopes that the film will also have an important Oscar campaign and criticized the lack of support from the Romanian state for cinematography.
“If we managed to get a Palme d’Or once again, he does not belong only to me, but to Romanian cinema. I have some expectations, but they are not only related to my film.
I have the request and demand that the Romanian state try to give a little more back to culture and cinema, because we have done our part. It’s a bit embarrassing that, 20 years after we won the first Palme d’Or, we’re coming back now and we still don’t have a premiere theater to present this film in Bucharest.
We cannot do something there alone. We need the state to do its job. For years there has been that law and the Lottery tax, but that money is not paid and the state does nothing.
That is my claim: that the state apply its own law. Because when the Lottery fund would contribute to the CNC fund (no National Cinematography Center), which is legal, we would no longer have financing problems. For the rest, medals and statements I already have a suitcase from last time. I’m fine, thanks.” said Mungiu upon returning to the country.
