ICR Romanian Cultural Institute London

The Satyajit Ray Foundation commemorates the life and work of the internationally renowned film director. The Foundation offers an annual award to a first-time feature film director whose film premiered at the Times BFI London Film Festival best captures the humanity, compassion and cinematic artistry of Ray's vision. Last year the prize was awarded to Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck for The Lives of Others. Previous winners have included Boys Dont Cry by Kimberly Peirce (1999) and In the Bedroom by Todd Field (2001).

This year's 12th edition, the jury has awarded the prize to Cristian Nemescu for California Dreamin' (Endless).

Director: Cristian Nemescu | Screenplay: Cristian Nemescu, Tudor Voican
With Armand Assante, Razvan Vasilescu, Jamie Elman | Romania 2007 | 155 mins

Hard to believe this is a first feature: the ambition is huge, the degree to which it is fulfilled almost as great. But California Dreamin' will be Nemescu's only feature: he and his editor were killed in a car crash while still working on the film, hence the 'Endless'.

In 1999, a secret NATO train filled with US Marines is halted by a bolshy local station master-cum-black marketer. What follows is tragi-comic but moves inexorably into tragedy as the soldiers and the townspeople try to fraternise. A happy outcome was never possible and, as the town implodes, the Americans move blithely on to Kosovo, unaware of the violence they have unleashed.

Winner of Un Certain Regard award in Cannes 2007, California Dreamin' (Endless) is an epic satire, with both modern-day Romania and US foreign policy firmly in its sights.

There will be a Gala Screening of California Dreamin' (Endless) on Wednesday, 12th March 2008 at 6 pm at the BFI Southbank NFT1, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT.
Sir Christopher Frayling, Head of Arts Council England and Rector of Royal College of Art, London will present the award to Catalin Cristutiu, Editor, California' Dreamin' (Endless).

Tickets: Non-members: £8.60, Concs. £6.25, Members: £7.60, Concs. £5.25
Box Office: 020 7928 3232

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