Short film "Derby", directed by Romanian Paul Negoescu, was nominated for the European Film Academy Awards in 2011, the European equivalent of the Oscars. This is the second nomination for Negoescu. The ceremony will take place on the third of December in Berlin at the Tempodrom hall.  The short film also became eligible for a 2012 Oscar nomination.

In the past, Paul Negoescu was nominated for European Film Academy (EFA), along with winning the grand prize at the most important short film festival from the UK, the one from Bristol, which replaced this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival, on the list of eligible events in short film nomination for the EFA trophy.

Negoescu was also nominated in 2009 for the EFA Award with his short film “Renovation". Nominated in the same category were Cristi Puiu, with the short film "Cigarettes and coffee” and Cristian Nemescu, with "C Block Story ", in 2004.

The short film “Derby” tells the story of a father who feels that he is losing control over his daughter’s life once he questions that his daughter, at the age of 15, might have started her sex life. This independent film was made without the support of the National Centre of Cinematography in Romania. Funding for the movie came from selling a car, awards won at other festivals, and the involvement of a very enthusiastic team.

The film had its world premiere at the 60th edition of the Berlin Film Festival and was selected in over 40 film festivals such as Karlovy Vary, London, Sarajevo, Vancouver, Vila do Conde, Namur, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Hamburg, Rome.

European Film Academy Trophies are awarded annually since 1988, to European film productions. Academy members include over 2,300 film professionals and its president is the German director Wim Wenders. More information about the European Film Academy Awards on the official webpage here.

Irina Laptoiu