The 2024 Gopo Awards
The 18th edition of the Gopo Awards Gala was held at the National Theatre
Corina Sabău, 18.05.2024, 13:13
The 18th edition of the Gopo Awards Gala, which aimed to celebrate the performances recorded by Romanian cinema in recent years, was held at the National Theatre, I. L. Caragiale” from Bucharest. “Liberty”, directed by Tudor Giurgiu, was the production that collected 10 Gopo statuettes, the most this year, including the award for best feature film. “Don’t expect too much from the end of the world” by Radu Jude, a film acclaimed by the international press, awarded with the Silver Leopard – Special Jury Prize at Locarno, Romania’s proposal for the Academy Awards 2024, won only two awards: the Screenplay Award, shared with “Liberty”, the favorite of this year’s Gopo Awards, and the Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which went to Ilinca Manolache. One of the most valuable actresses in Romania, Rodica Mandache, was honored at the Gala with the Gopo Lifetime Achievement Award. Among the most recent roles performed by Rodica Mandache on the big screens is Puzzle (directed by Andrei Zincă, 2012), where she plays alongside actors Dan Nuţu, Adrian Titieni and Ioana Pavelescu. In 2020, Rodica Mandache starred alongside István Téglás, Mădălina Craiu and Andi Vasluianu in the film “Luca”, directed by Horațiu Mălăele. For her role in this film, Rodica Mandache received the Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role from the Union of Romanian Cinematographers. Rodica Mandache was one of the most loved actresses of the National Theater in Bucharest and the Odeon Theatre, where she played in numerous shows. Actor Marius Manole was the one who handed her the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th edition of the Gopo Awards Gala. Here is Rodica Mandache:
“For me, for my generation and for the hundreds of students you had, who are now great actors on the country’s stages, you are the best benchmark that keeps the balance straight. You are the man who gives us courage, you are the man who shows us that energy never dies. You show us that when you perform in a show, even though you may seem like a leaf in the wind when you enter the stage, you become a mountain of power. In the moments when it’s hard for me and you take my hand everything becomes easier. Unfortunately, we no longer have the curiosity that you kept and it would be good to learn it again. You show us that you are willing to learn from anyone, listen to anyone and talk to anyone. Six decades of work, six decades of life truly devoted to this fascinating and beautiful job, which all of us here love. The most important advice I received from Rodica Mandache is the following: times are always hard, the season is always poor, but the public must never be deceived.”
Actor Dan Nuțu’s career spanning over five decades was rewarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th edition of the Gopo Awards Gala. The filmmaker is known for his memorable performances in “Sunday at 6” (directed by Lucian Pintilie, 1965), “Meander” (directed by Mircea Săucan, 1966), “The mornings of a good boy” (directed by Andrei Blaier, 1966), “100 lei ” (directed by Mircea Săucan, 1973) and “Beyond the sands” (directed by Radu Gabrea, 1974), as well as for the documentary productions made within the Aristoteles Workshop program, which he founded in 2006. With a rebellious attitude and often compared to James Dean or Tom Courtenay, Dan Nuțu abruptly interrupted his career at the end of the 70s to emigrate to the USA, returning to the country after the 2000s. Together with producer Cristina Hoffman, Dan Nuțu founded Aristoteles Workshop in 2006, a film workshop documentary dedicated to artists from around the world. To date, this project has produced more than 40 films, many of which have been selected and awarded at prestigious festivals. Actress Oana Pellea was the one who handed Dan Nuțu the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I want to thank Tudor Giurgiu for giving me the opportunity to speak in public about a great love of my life. A man whom the camera adored and adores. A man who at one point chose freedom, leaving an exceptional career behind. A man to whom God gave charm and beauty. I feel sorry for the new generations, who didn’t have the chance to fall in love with him. If I had immigrated to America at some point, I would have immigrated for him. I hadn’t discovered De Niro yet.”
The award for Young Hope was awarded to Niko Becker for the role of Dumitru in the film “Towards the North”. The production won another prize, Best Cinematography Award, which went to George Chiper-Lillemark. “Between the Revolutions”, directed by Vlad Petri, was designated the Best Documentary. In the short film category, the Gopo award went to the film “Where the boats don’t reach”, directed by Vlad Buzăianu.
