“Fjord” by Cristian Mungiu, included in the list of strategic projects. Romania supports him in the Oscar race

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Victory won by Cristian Mungiu at the Film Festival from cannes it is already starting to produce effects at the institutional level. The film “Fjord”, directed by Cristian Mungiu and awarded with the Palme d’Or at the 2026 edition of the French festival, will be included in the list of strategic cultural projects of the Romanian state, which opens the possibility of funding dedicated to the campaign for the awards Oscar. The announcement was made on Monday, May 25, by the Minister of Culture, Demeter András István.

The official explained that putting production on the list of strategic projects does not automatically mean the allocation of an amount, but it creates the necessary legal framework for the producers and institutions involved to be able to request financial support. According to the minister, the success at Cannes gives the film an important advantage in the Oscar race.

“Inclusion on this list creates the prerequisites to, under the law, submit a project and receive funding. Specifically, according to the rules of gala the Oscars, sometime in the summer, registration for the various films begins, but in our case, the film Fjordfor example, is automatically selected due to the award received at Cannes,” said Demeter András István at Digi24.

The Ministry of Culture is preparing the framework for financing

The minister stated that administrative steps are being taken to complete the order issued in March, so that the film project can benefit from support in the American competition. He pointed out that in the last decades Romania did not have a clear and constant support mechanism for the films entering the Oscar race.

“It is about a situation where Romanian cinema in the last 30 years has not really benefited from established support in these competitions for the Oscar gala. What I proposed is a very simple thing. By including, by completing the order issued in March for the current year, we create the regulatory framework so that the applicants, primarily the film producer, but also the National Cinema Center, can call for financial support”, the minister also declared.

In a message published on FacebookDemeter András István provided additional details about the changes prepared at the ministry level. “Upon the arrival of the winner of the Palme d’Or award in the country, the Ministry of Culture completes the list of strategic cultural projects in order to ensure the funding framework for the campaign for the Oscar awards (an old method of one of Romania’s most effective soft power tools). Thus, the order of the Minister of Culture with No. 2621 of March 26 is to be completed by including the support of the film Fjord in the competition for the Oscar awards, within the paragraph on cultural diplomacy projects”, he said.

No campaign cost estimates

At this moment, the Ministry of Culture cannot advance an amount regarding the possible financial support for the promotion campaign of the film in the United States. Demeter András István explained that an estimate can only be made after the producers and competent institutions start discussions with the companies specialized in such campaigns.

“I cannot, from an office, estimate a figure with which Romania will contribute until the moment when there is no request, until the moment when the competent institutions, such as the National Authority in Cinematographic Matters, i.e. the National Center of Cinematography, the producers in turn, do not contract and do not contact those bidders from the United States who deal with these campaigns”, he also said.