Consistent Romanian presence at Cannes 2016. Two feature films racing for Palme d’Or, one selected for Un Certain Regards and two for the shorts section

Two Romanian feature films by famous directors Cristian Mungiu and Cristi Puiu were shortlisted in the official selection of the 69^th edition of Cannes Film Festival due next month, the organizers announced on Thursday in a press conference.

Bacalaureat, Cristian Mungiu (Romania) and Sieranevada, Cristi Puiu (Romania) are racing for the Cannes’ Palme D’Or this year. Bacalaureat, also known as ‘Family photos’, is a film about compromises and the implications of the parent’s role.

“It’s a story which is linked to where I am in life now” he revealed. “It’s about compromise, parenting and children and understanding this relationship between what you say to your children and what they see you doing”, Mungiu told Screen Daily a year ago.

“It’s set in Romania again. People are always asking me if I’m going to make an English-language film but I want to make personal projects about things that I know.”

For the first time, the film will focus on a male character unlike his Palme d’Or winning 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, about a woman who helps a friend secure an illegal abortion, and the convent-set Beyond the Hills.

“Everybody thinks I can only do female protagonists and it’s not the case,” he said.

Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d’Or trophy at Cannes in 2007 with 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, a drama about illegal abortions during the Romanian communist regime.

The second film shortlisted at Cannes this year is “Sierra Nevada” by Cristi Puiu.

“Romanian maverick Christi Puiu delivered a brilliant curveball in 2010 with his three-hour thriller, Aurora, and we’re extremely excited for his return to the movie fray. Where Aurora barely contained a line of dialogue, his new one, Sierra-Nevada, looks to take the opposite tack, centring around a family gathering on the anniversary of a patriarch’s recent death, resulting in a whole lot of chatter,” the Little White Lies magazine describes Puiu’s movie.

Dogs (Caini) by Bogdan Mirica (Romania) is competing for Un Certain Regard section.

  2 short films on the list

“4:15 p.m. end of the world” short film directed by Cătălin Rotaru and Gabi Virginia Sarga was selected in the official short film competition at Cannes film festival 2016. Another Romanian movie, “All rivers run into the sea” directed by Alexandru Badea is joining the Cinéfondation section.

Cinéfondation section included 15 short and medium films produced within film school all over the world. Three films from this section will be awarded at the end of the festival.

The 69^th edition of the Cannes film festival is due May 11-22, with the awarding ceremony gala on May 22.

Last year, the Palme d’Or prize was awarded to “Dheepan” by French director Jacques Audiard.

Woody Allen‘s “Café Society” feature film will be screened in the opening of the 2016 edition on May 11.

Set up in 1946, Cannes Film Festival is considered one of the most presigious film events in the world, being held on May every year at Palais des Festivals et des Congres.