Romanian director Cristian Mungiu had a vibrant and award-winning career when he first began making films. Born in Iasi, Romania in 1968, Mungiu attended the University of Iasi, earning his degree in English and American Literature. After graduation, he began teaching English, then moved on to working as a journalist in print, on television and on radio. In 1994, Mungiu attended the Academy for Theatre and Film in Bucharest, where he directed eight shorts, including “The Hand of Paulista” – his graduation film that was entered by his native country into the 1999 Student Academy Awards.Mungiu
