Radu Jude

**Radu Jude** is a prominent figure in the Romanian film industry, revered as a successful film director and screenwriter. Born on 28 March 1977 in Bucharest, Romania, he began his journey in the filmmaking world in 2002, rapidly ascending to fame and recognition due to his remarkable works. After graduating from the Media University of Bucharest in 2003, he gained invaluable experience working as an assistant director on critical acclaim films like 'Amen.' and 'The Death of Mr. Lazarescu'. Jude's career boasts of an impressive array of short films, including 'Lampa cu căciulă', which is recognized as the most awarded Romanian short film. His shorts have screened at prestigious festivals like Sundance, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Toronto, among others. His directorial debut came with 'The Happiest Girl in the World', which prior to its release in Romania, won multiple prizes at several film festivals. His later works, 'Everybody in Our Family', 'Aferim!' and 'Uppercase Print' continued to earn critical acclaim, with 'Aferim!' notably receiving the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Director at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival. In addition to his directorial achievements, Jude has an impressive repertoire as a screenwriter, and his keen eye for storytelling is seen in numerous films he has written. His contribution to the film industry was also celebrated in his monograph 'Beyond the New Romanian Cinema: Romanian Culture, History, and the Films of Radu Jude'. Off the screen, Jude has actively used his platform for political activism, most notably when he signed an open letter demanding a ceasefire amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.