Europe Lends Hand to Romanian Moviemakers

The names Corneliu Porumboiu, Cristi Puiu, Florin Serban and Marian Crisan sound unfamiliar to most Romanians, despite the fact that their recent movies have garnered major awards at international festivals from Cannes, to Berlin or Locarno.

All are part of so-called “new wave” of Romanian moviemakers who have gained plaudits on the foreign stage but who have failed to stir much interest at home.

But the European Commission's decision on December 14 to give 80.6 million euro for Romanian cinema production may lead to a change, industry insiders say.

Film director Razvan Radulescu says the European grant, to be spread over three years, could give a shot in the arm to the struggling local cinema industry.

Original version or dubbed Hollywood movies have become increasingly popular in Romania in recent years. Last year, American blockbusters drew more than 90 per cent of Romanian moviegoers.

“Romanian cinema needs money, but also a better mechanism of distributing money," Radulescu said. "Money is also needed for developing a network of movie theatres dedicated to European movies or more generally to art films."

The European grant will boost a Romanian state scheme, aimed at giving interest-free loans and non-reimbursable loans for the production of Romanian movies.

Industry workers say Romania has until now lacked organized support for the film industry. State grants for film production and festivals were also often criticized for their alleged lack of transparency.

Twenty years ago, cinemas graced almost every town in Romania. Now the country has the smallest numbers of cinemas in Europe: only 74 for 21.5 million inhabitants, with a total of 182 screens.

Internet downloads, a greater choice of films available at DVD rental stores and the distribution of almost only American productions in multiplex cinemas in shoppping malls have all contributed to the decline in interest in Romanian films.