Paul Calinescu; Father of Romanian Cinema

Paul Calinescu, 98, known as the father of Romanian cinema. In the early 1930s, Calinescu made Romania’s first professional documentary films. In 1938, Calinescu’s “Tara Motilor,” a production dedicated to the Romanians living in the western Carpathian Mountains, won the top prize for documentaries at the Venice Film Festival. After 1949, Calinescu switched to making artistic movies, including “Titanic Waltz” and “Porto Franco.” Several of his films won awards at Romanian film competitions. Calinescu mentored generations of Romanian directors. In 1996, he was given the title of Bucharest’s Honorary Citizen. On Saturday in Bucharest.