Born on April 3, 1967, in Bucharest, Romania, he emerged as a leading figure in the Romanian New Wave cinema movement. After studying painting in Geneva, he shifted his focus to filmmaking. His debut feature, "Stuff and Dough" (2001), gained critical acclaim, but it was "The Death of Mr. Lazarescu" (2005) that brought him international recognition, winning the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes. Known for his realist style, he continues to explore complex social and philosophical themes in his work.