The UCIN Awards Gala (Romanian Filmmakers Union), one of the most important events dedicated to Romanian cinema stars, took place on April 24 2017 at the Studio Hall of The National Theatre of Bucharest. Every year since 1972, the Filmmakers Union has been awarding prizes for the best cinematography performances of the previous year.

This year, Sieranevada directed by Cristi Puiu, won the Grand Prize and UCIN Trophy and also received the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay. The Grand Prize was given by the State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and National Identity, Erwin Șimșensohn.

For this year’s edition there were two juries: one for nominations, formed of critics and film historians, members of the Union, and the jury of the current edition, composed of personalities of the Romanian cultural world.

Full list of the winners of 2017 UCIN Prizes:

Grand Prize and Romanian Filmmakers Trophy: Sieranevada (directed by Cristi Puiu)

Jury Special Prize: Scarred hearts (directed by Radu Jude)

Best Director: Cristi Puiu (Sieranevada)

Best Screenplay: Cristi Puiu (Sieranevada)

Best Cinematography: Andrei Butică (Dogs)

Best Costume Design: Dana Păpăruz (Scarred Hearts)

Best Production Design: Cristian Niculescu (Scarred Hearts)

Best Actress: Dana Dogaru (Nuşa in Sieranevada)

Best Actor: Gheorghe Visu (Hogaş in Dogs)

Best Supporting Actress: Ana Ciontea (Ofelia in Sieranevada)

Best Supporting Actor: Sorin Medeleni (Tony in Sieranevada)

Best Editing: Roxana Szel (Dogs)

Best Sound Editing: Sam Cohen, Sebastiam Zsemlye (Dogs)

Best Original Music Score: Cristian Lolea (Horizon)

Best Fictional Short Film: Norbert Fodor (The Projectionist)

Best Documentary and Short Documentary: Şerban Georgescu (Cabbage, Potatoes and other Demons)

Best Animation: Paul Mureşan (Mom, Dad, I want to tell you something)

Best TV Film: Cornel Mihalache (A film less joyful, sadder, poetical and wise)

Best Debut Prize – Opera Prima „Alexandru Tatos”: Bogdan Mirică (Dogs)

Best Makeup: Bianca Boeroiu (Scarred Hearts)

During the Award Gala, the President of The Romanian Filmmakers Union, Laurențiu Damian, also handed out two Academic Prizes. The first award was given to Eva Sîrbu, film critic and historian, and the second one was awarded in memoriam to Ilarion Ciobanu. Continuing the yearly tradition, the following Special and Excellence Prizes were also awarded:

Special Prize of the Union of Filmmakers: Mircea Vodă (for the remarkable contribution in the film makeup art)

Special Prize of The Filmmakers Union: Gheorghe Bălăşoiu and Marius Nedelcu for the album-book: București, filmăm! (Bucharest, action!)

Excellence Award of The Filmmakers Union: Aurel Miheleş, celebrating 70 years of cinematography

Excellence Award of The Filmmakers Union: Alexandru Gaşpar, celebrating 60 years of documentary film

Excellence Diploma of The Filmmakers Union: Ioan Albu, for the remarkable contribution in the Romanian cinematography

Romina Banu

Photographer and editor; she co-founded Dissolved Magazine together with Melissa. For Films in Frame she gathers film and TV series recommendations for lazy weekends and she writes about interesting projects from the film industry. Other than that, she likes traveling, chilling with her cats and sleeping.