Cristi Puiu

Romanian director Cristi Puiu, born in 1967 in Bucharest, Romania, has been an active filmmaker since the mid-90s, primarily renowned for his work in the drama genre. Puiu's most famous films include his breakout feature "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu," which won the Un Certain Regard award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, and the critically acclaimed "Aurora" and "Sieranevada." His auteur style is characterized by his penchant for long takes, minimalistic storytelling, and his exploration of the mundane aspects of life, often laced with dark humor. Puiu, with his astute sense of realism and poignant social commentary, has firmly cemented himself as a beacon in the New Wave of Romanian cinema.