2019 Gopo Awards Gala

The I.L. Caragiale National Theatre in Bucharest played host to the 13th edition of the Gopo Awards Gala

Mihai Pelin, 20.03.2019, 13:19

The
film Moromete Family: On the Edge of Time / Moromeții 2, directed by Stere Gulea, was
the big winner of the 2019 Gopo Awards Gala, the most important event devoted
to Romanian cinema. Part of the same event, the film was also awarded for
sound, art direction, costume design, best editing, best cinematography and for
being the biggest box office hit. It was a film very difficult to make. It was
a highly expected production and, had we failed, disappointment would have been
huge, the film’s director Stere Gulea said. He also talked about the new generation
of actors. Stere Gulea:

I’ve been charmed by the actors from the young generation. It was a pleasure
for me to discover them and to see how they contributed to the energy that I
needed on set.

The
director is the one who brought into the spotlight Iosif Pastina, the winner of
the Gopo award for best debut. Iosif Pastina:

I want to thank Mr. Gulea for giving me this opportunity, for including
me in this project. It means a lot to me and I thank you for that. You are an
extraordinary person.

As
many as 19 feature films released last year were part of the competition. The
award for best director went to Constantin Popescu for Pororoca, a film also
awarded for best supporting actress, Iulia Lumanare and best actor in a leading
role, Bogdan Dumitrache.

I thank all those with whom I
worked on this film, especially to Constantin, for such a generous and complex
role. I dedicate this award to my muses, my daughters Mara and Zoe.

Cosmina
Stratan was designated best actress in a lead role, for her performance in
Love 1. Dog, directed by Florin Serban. The award for best script went to
Radu Jude, for the film I Do Not Care If we Go Down in History as Barbarians.
Apricot, directed by Alexandru Mavrodineanu, got the award for best
documentary, while Soldiers. Story From Ferentari, directed by Ivana
Mladenovici, was awarded for best debut. Christmas Carol, by Bogdan Muresanu
received the award for best short film.

The
Lifetime Achievement Award went to actress Ileana Stana Ionescu and the Achievement
Award to actor Constantin Dinulescu.

Special
awards were also granted at the gala: one to Ion Nica, master of lights, a former
collaborator of director Ion Popescu Gopo, an Audience Award for the biggest
Romanian box office hit, which went to Morometii 2 and a special prize for
supporting the independent film production, won by the film director Dan Chisu.

The
winners of the Gopo awards are designated by about 600 active members of the
Romanian film industry.