FNE at TIFF: Romanian Days - Of Snails and Men

28-05-2012

FNE at TIFF: Romanian Days - Of Snails and Men

By FNE Staff

{mosimage}CLUJ-NAPOCA: Tudor Giurgiu's second feature, Of Snails and Men/Despre oameni şi melci, is inspired by true events, even if they may sound odd. In 2002, Reuters published a news report that workers from a Romanian factory proposed donating their sperm for funds to save their factory from being privatized.

Ionuţ Teianu wrote the script based on the idea. Giurgiu found the story very inspiring, "a Romanian Full Monty, one might say," and decided to direct it. Giurgiu is also the director of Transylvania Film Festival (www.tiff.ro ). His first feature, Love Sick/Legături bolnăvicioase, premiered at the Berlinale 2006.

Giurgiu produced this realistic comedy together with Oana Giurgiu and their company Libra Film (www.librafilm.net ), in co-production with the French company Agat Films & Cie (www.agatfilms.com ) and Patrick Sobelman. The budget was €1.2 million, Giurgiu told FNE.

HBO România (www.hbo.ro ) and Romanian public television (www.tvr.ro ) were also involved. The project received a grant from Eurimages (www.coe.int/t/dg4/eurimages ). Elle Driver (www.elledriver.fr ) is handling the international sales.

Shooting took place in 2011. The director cast the French actor Jean-François Stévenin and his son Robinson Stévenin (their first film together) along with Romanian actors Andi Vasluianu, Monica Bîrlădeanu and Andreea Bibiri. Vivi Drăgan Vasile was the DOP. Of Snails and Men/Despre oameni şi melci will have its Romanian premiere at the festival.

Production Information

Libra Film

52 Popa Soare Str., Et.1

Ap.4, Sector 2

Bucharest, Romania

Phone/Fax: +40 213266480

+40 213260268

www.librafilm.net

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Agat Films &Cie

52, rue Jean Pierre Timbaud

75011 Paris, France