Romania has already become one of the established destinations for shooting movies on a lower budget. Several local film production companies are sharing the market, and since the early 2000s, attracting every year film makers which choose to shoot their movies partially or completely in Romania.

These have brought to Bucharest and elsewhere in Romania Hollywood actors such as Gérard Depardieu, Harvey Keitel, Nicolas Cage, Shia LaBeouf, Kevin Costner Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Renée Zellweger, Natalie Portman, Jason Statham, Andy Garcia, among others.

Here’s a curated list of foreign films shot in Romania, starting from the newest to the oldest.

The Dying of the Light –2014, to be launched in 2015 - directed by Paul Schrade, starring Nicolas Cage, filmed in Bucharest.

The Zero Theorem – 2013 – directed by Terry Gilliam, and starring Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton and Matt Damon; shot for 36 days in Bucharest.

Ipu – Convicted to Live – A Farewell to Fools - 2013 - directed by Bogdan Dreyer, starring Gérard Depardieu and Harvey Keitel. Based on a novel by Romanian writer Titus Popovici. Filmed in Sighisoara and in the village of Saschiz, and in Bucharest.

The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman-  2013 - psychological romantic thriller directed by Fredrik Bond, starring Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen, among others. Filmed almost entirely in Bucharest.

Devil Inside - 2012 - supernatural horror film directed by William Brent Bell.

One in the Chamber – 2012 – action film directed by William Kaufman, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Dolph Lundgren. Most of the filming done in Romania.

Hatfield & McCoys – 2012 – TV mini-series produced by History Channel. Directed by Kevin Reynolds and starring Kevin Costner. Three episodes; shot partially in Transylvania, near Brasov. Castel Film.

Ghost Rider 2 – Spirit of Vengeance– 2011- supernatural superhero movie, directed by Mark Neveldine, starring Nicolas Cage. Partially shot in Romania, including at the Hunedoara castle. Castel Film.

The Whistleblower – 2010 – thriller directed by Larysa Kondracki and starring Rachel Weisz, Monica Bellucci, Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn, Benedict Cumberbatch. Several scenes shot in Romania, at Media Pro Studios.

Ces Amours La/What Love May Bring – 2010 - directed by Claude Lelouch, starring Audrey Dana, Anouk Aimée. Partially shot in Romania.

Bunraku – 2010 – martial arts action film directed by Guy Moshe, starring Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Demi Moore. Shot in 2008 in Romania, at Media Pro Studios.

Transporter 3 – 2008 – action movie, directed by Olivier Megaton, starring Jason Statham; a scene was shot at a local gas station.

The Brothers Bloom – 2008 – caper comedy directed by Rian Johnson and starring Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz; shooting at the Peles Castle in Sinaia, as well as in Bucharest and Constanta.

Youth without Youth – 2007 – fantasy drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on novels by Romanian writer Mircea Eliade, starring Alexandra Maria Lara and Tim Roth, among others; partially filmed in Romania, in Sinaia, Brasov, Constanta, Piatra Neamt and Bucharest.

Adam Resurrected – 2007 – directed by Paul Schrader, starring Jeff Goldblum, Willem Dafoe.
Borat – 2006 – mockumentary comedy directed by Larry Charles and starring Sacha Baron Cohen; filmed partially in Romania.

Modigliani – 2004 – semi-biographical film, directed by Mick Davis, starring Andy Garcia; partially shot in Romania, at Media Pro Studios (opening picture). 

7 Seconds - 2004 – directed by Simon Fellows, starring Wesley Snipes; produced at shot at Castel Film.

Cold Mountain – 2003 - epic war drama film directed by Anthony Minghella. Starring Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Renée Zellweger, Natalie Portman, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Almost fully shot in Romania, in Covasna county in the village of Reci and in capital Bucharest.

Amen – 2002 – movie directed by Costa Gavras; filmed in various places in Bucharest and Sibiu.

editor@romania-insider.com 

(photo source: Media Pro Studios on Facebook)