Corneliu Porumboiu was born in Vaslui, Romania. He is the son of former football referee Adrian Porumboiu, currently a businessman. Between 1994 and 1998 he attended the faculty of Management at ASE University Bucharest. In 1999, he begins studying the film directing at the National University of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography Bucharest which he graduates in 2003. With his graduation short movie, A trip to the city, he gets prize II in the Cinefondation section at Cannes International Film Festival.
Career
After graduating UNATC, in 2004, he realizes his first medium-length film The Dream of Liviu. Also in 2004 he sets up, together with Marcela Ursu, the production house42 KM FILM. In 2005, Corneliu writes and directs his first feature film12:08 East of Bucharest selected in Quinzaine des Realisateurs where he obtained the Camera d'Or Award. The film received over 20 prizes in festivals around the world and was distributed in more than 30 territories. In 2009 is launched Police, adjective, the second film written and directed by Corneliu Porumboiu. The film won the Jury Award at the Cannes International Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. In 2013, the third feature When evening falls on Bucharest or Metabolism, signed by Corneliu Porumboiu, had its premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. In 2014 he directs a sports documentary – The second game that was presented in the Berlin Forum. In 2015, his next fiction film, The Treasure, is awarded with A Certain Talent in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival. In 2018 he realizes a second documentary-Infinite Football-which premiered in the Berlin Forum section. In 2019 he finishes his fifth fiction film – La Gomera/The Whistlers which had the world premiere in the Official Competition of the 72 edition of the Cannes International Film Festival.
2004: SECOND Prize in the Cinefondation section at the Cannes Film Festival with his short-movie A trip to the City ·
2006: Caméra d'Or Prize and The "Transilvania" Trophy at TIFF 2006 for the movie 12:08 East of Bucharest.
2007: Gopo Award for Best directing at the Gopo Gala for the film 12:08 East of Bucharest.
2009: At the Cannes Film Festival, the movie, Police, adjective by Corneliu Porumboiu, was awarded with the FIPRESCI Prize and the Jury Award at the Un Certain Regard section.
2014: Winner in the Best Romanian film section in TIFF and nominations for Best Directing, Best Feature, Best Documentary in the Gopo Awards with The second game film.
2015: Winner in the Best Romanian film section in TIFF, A Certain Talent at the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes, FIPRESCI Award for Best Film and Best Screenplay award at Cairo International Film Festival with The Treasure movie.
2018: Winner of the award for Best Documentary at the Jerusalem Film Festival, with the movie Infinite Football.
2019: Winner of the award for Best Screenplay at the Seville Festival with the film La Gomera/ The Whistlers.