About us
Mandragora is a one of the most dynamic Romanian film production company founded in 2004 by Cristi Puiu which shortly became a success projects generator and one of the most important Romanian cinema producer.
Starting with "The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu", its first cinema production, considered the first major film of the so-called “Romanian New Wave” and the spark that ignited a national renaissance of the film was just the beginning.
Bucharest based film production company is one of the most important in Romania with over 24 feature films completed, 15 short films, 11 documentaries, 3 animations and more projects working in progress.
Our Team
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Cristi Puiu
Founder / Script consulting and creative advisor in film directing
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ACHIEVEMENTS
The company continued with success for theirs feature films such as Aurora by Cristi Puiu, Cannes 2010; Morgen by Marian Crișan, Locarno 2010; Rocker by Marian Crișan - San Sebastian 2012; Viktoria by Maya Vitkova - Sundance 2014, to metion few and with short films such as Thursday by Hadrian Marcu - Namur 2007; Megatron by Marian Crisan - “Palme d’Or” for short films at Festival de Cannes 2008; The Cement Mixer by Liviu Săndulescu - Clermont Ferrand 2013; Family Pictures by Andrei Cohn - Sarajevo in 2015; Wonderland by Peter Kerek in 2014; I'm OK With Your Last Wish by Catrinel Dănăiață in 2022 and so on, films which were all well received by the audience and international competitions being sold in more than 50 countries.
The 14 episode “Lombarzilor 8” written by Mimi Branescu and Dan Chiriac, inaugurated in 2006 the company’s TV series production line.
The first documentary, “TUB – TransUrbanBucuresti” by Cristi Puiu, 2008, was followed by “Metrobranding” by Ana Vlad & Adi Voicu, the same team of directors also filmed the documentary “Victoria”. ''One Girl'' by Rosa Russo was a Mandragora co-production with an English producer Debra Wootton.
Mandragora is committed to the idea of making movies that explore new paths and ideas in the cinema discourse. It also launches new talents, encouraging personal and coherent approaches of young filmmakers to the cinema.
Mandragora's value is confirmed by the audience’s interest, critics’ attention and prizes: “The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu” won “Un Certain Regard” in Festival de Cannes 2005 and over 40 national and international other prizes, being one of the most-awarded movie in the Romanian cinema; “Megatron” short film by Marian Crișan won several awards, starting with “Palme d’Or” for short film, “Francesca” by Bobby Păunescu after its presents at Orizzonti, Venice 2009, was recognized with the FIPRESCI award (Gijon) and Bursa prize, “Aurora” by Cristi Puiu was in Cannes 2010 and “Morgen” by Marian Crisan won 4 prizez at Locarno Film Festival in 2010.
Cristi Puiu’s 4th feature film Sieranevada premiered in competition at Festival de Cannes 69th edition, was a world wide succes and also Romanian proposal for 2017 Forign Film Academy Awards prizes. ince 2019 Mandragora had 5 feature films in international competitions, Arest by Andrei Cohn at Karlovy Vary Film Festival 2019, Cărturan by Liviu Săndulescu which premiered at 2019 Warsaw Film Festival and coproductions as Trace by Dorian Boguta in Namur International Film Festival and Berliner by Marian Crisan in2020 Moscow IFF but also in 2021 the new film by Gabriel Achim, Snowing Darkness.
MMXX, most recent film by Cristi Puiu had premiere in 2023 San Sebastian Film Festival Main Competition and was selected in more than 20 important international festivals, all over the world.
Cristi Puiu’s most recent film, MALMKROG premiered at Berlinale in 2020, open the newly created section in the Official Selection, ENCOUNTERS in the and won the prize for Best Director. It had a great festival trajectory, also winning the 2 main prizes in Sevilla and Grand Prize in Minsk IFF.
Even in pandemic times, Mandragora managed to have a world premiere, NIGHT PATROL by Iosif Damian in Transilvania IFF, to co-produced feature film BERLINER by Marian Crișan premiered at Moscow International Film Festival and in fall of 2021 most recent film by Gabriel Achim, SNOWING DARKNESS was in ”Rebel without a cause”, Talinn IFF main Competition.
“MMXX” by Cristi Puiu had its world premiere at San Sebastian in 2023 and ”HOLY WEEK” by Andrei Cohn at Berlinale in 2024. Currently there is one debut feature film “INK WASH” by Sarra Tsorakidis in post-rpoduction and in development there are 2 feature films, one documentary and one short animation film in post-production.
Mandragora is committed to the idea of making movies that explore new paths in the cinematography discourse and distributing art films in the same spirit. It also launches new and fresh talents, encouraging personal, coherent approaches of the young filmmakers.
