Cristi Puiu, born in Bucharest in 1967, is a Romanian director and screenwriter, considered one of the key figures who initiated the Romanian New Wave. He gained international recognition in 2005 with the feature film *The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu*, a work that earned him the prestigious Un Certain Regard award at the Cannes Film Festival and marked a turning point for his country's cinema. His filmography also includes complex and acclaimed works such as *Aurora* (2010), in which he also stars as the lead actor, and *Sieranevada* (2016), which was presented in competition at Cannes. His style is distinguished by its rigorous realism, the use of long takes, and an acute analysis of social and psychological dynamics. Among his most recent accolades is the award for Best Director in the Encounters section of the Berlin Film Festival for *Malmkrog* (2020), confirming his status as a leading auteur in contemporary cinema.