Cãlin Peter Netzer

Calin Peter Netzer was born on the 1st May 1975 in Petrosani [Petroschen], Romania. His family belongs to the Transylvanian Saxons, a cultural minority of German descent who lives since generations in Romania. He was raised mainly in Cluj [Klausenburg]. Netzer's father was a dentist and emigrated to West-Germany in 1981, while Netzer's mother and he himself followed in 1983. He went to school in Stuttgart, but returned to Romania after the revolution in December 1989. From 1994 to 1999 Netzer studied at the 'National University of Theatre and Film I.L. Caragiale (UNATC)' in Bucharest and graduated with a diploma in film direction. Netzer directed multiple award-winning short films before his feature film debut Maria (2003) won the 'Special Prize of the Jury', 'Best Actor' and 'Best Actress' at the 'Locarno International Film Festival' 2003 among many other awards. His next feature Médaille d'honneur (2009) received the Silver Alexander award, the FIPRESCI prize and the awards for 'Best Screenplay' and 'Best Actor' at the 'Thessaloniki International Film Festival' in 2009 among many other honors. In 2013 his third feature Mère et fils (2013), which was directed, written and produced by Netzer and shot digitally on a low budget, was invited into the 'Official Competition' of the 'Berlin International Film Festival' where it won the 'Golden Bear' award and the FIPRESCI prize. It was the first Romanian film to win the top award of the Berlinale and internationally celebrated as a new masterpiece of the Romanian New Wave.