Gopo Awards 2022 Act of courage reveals years of behind-the- scenes abuse

Ninety-six Romanian films, released either in cinemas, at national and international festivals or on VoD platforms in 2021, were in the race for nominations at this edition of the Gopo Awards, the event that celebrates the achievements of local cinema, which selected its award winners at the beginning of May.

By Oana Vasiliu

Mariana Mihut and Victor Rebengiuc

Photo: Miluta Flueras

Full house at Gopo Awards

“Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn,” written and directed by Radu Jude and produced by Ada Solomon, was named Best Film following a voting process attended by 650 professionals from the local film world. Its protagonist, Katia Pascariu, won the Award for Best Leading Actress.

Most of the trophies went to “Malmkrog,” who got the Best Direction Award for filmmaker Cristi Puiu, Best Picture for Tudor Vladimir Panduru, Best Makeup and Best Hairstyle for Dana Roseanu, Elena Tudor, and Manuela Tudor, Best Costumes for Oana Paunescu, and Best sets for Cristina Paula Ana Barbu.

The award for Best Actor in a Leading Role went to Bogdan Farcas, the protagonist of “Unidentified” (directed by Bogdan George Apetri), a film that also got a Gopo trophy for Best Screenplay.

Ioana Flora received the Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Otto The Barbarian” directed by Ruxandra Ghitescu, while Alexandru Potocean was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Poppy Field” (directed by Eugen Jebeleanu), also awarded at this edition for Best Debut.

“Wild Romania,” the film directed by Dan Dinu which explores the complexity of nature in our country, was nominated for Best Documentary and won two more Gopo trophies in the categories Best Original Music (Alexei Turcan) and Best Sound (Dan Stefan Rucareanu, Ioan Filip, and Matei Vasilache).

In the short film categories, the awards were handed out to “Love Stories on the Move” (Carina Gabriela Dasoveanu), nominated for Best Fiction Short Film, and “Same Dream” (Vlad Petri), awarded the Gopo Trophy in the Best Documentary Short Film category.

The “local Oscars” were also marked by one of the most sincere and powerful moments in their history: a confession regarding sexual harassment made on stage by actress Viorica Voda. “I did years of therapy due to the sexual harassment inside the system, not outside of it,” she said at the Gopo Awards ceremony held on May 3.

Viorica Voda’s powerful speech came on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the release of the film “Filantropica” directed by Nae Caranfil, in which she played the role of Diana Dobrovicescu, a young blonde with whom the main character Ovidiu Gorea (played by Mircea Diaconu) falls in love.

The actress spoke about sexism in the film and theatre industry, which has affected her from the beginning of her career. She encouraged the younger generations to not remain silent in such situations. The only person on the stage who applauded Voda’s speech was actress Katia Pascariu, who thanked Viorica Voda for having the courage to talk about her experiences.