Trivia

Director Cristian Nemescu died together with sound engineer Andrei Toncu in a car crash in Bucharest on 24th of Aug. 2006. While both men were sitting in a taxi, it was struck by a Porsche Cayenne, driven by a British citizen, who, with a speed 63 km/h above the speed limit, drove through a red light. The British driver was later convicted on manslaughter charges for causing the accident.

His first (and last) feature film California Dreamin' (2007) was in post-production, when he died. Since it was nearly finished, it could be completed according to the director's intentions. The film became his biggest international success: It was awarded the 'Prix un certain Regard' at the 60th Cannes International Film Festival in May 2007.

Graduated from the National University of Theatre and Film "I.L.Caragiale" (UNATC) in Bucharest, Romania. Established in 1954 and named after classic playwright Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912), the public university for theatre and film offers today programs in Directing, Acting, Cinematography, Editing, Sound, Audiovisual Communication and Multimedia. Other graduates include Cãlin Peter Netzer, Corneliu Porumboiu, Radu Muntean, Cristian Mungiu, Florin Serban, Oleg Mutu, Marius Panduru and Mihai Malaimare Jr..

The NexT International Film Festival is organized by the NexT Cultural Society, created in 2006 in memory of film director Cristian Nemescu and sound-designer and composer Andrei Toncu. The "Cristian Nemescu" Best Directing Award and the "Andrei Toncu" Best Soundtrack Award are named in memory of the artists.