Romanian directors pick up early awards at Cannes

As the latest edition of the Cannes Film Festival winds down, organizers have begun handing out honours to filmmakers.

On Saturday, Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu was named winner of the Jury of the International Critics Award from the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) for his film 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days.

The film, which follows a young Romanian woman's attempt to illegally abort her unwanted baby, is also in competition for the Palme d'Or, the top honour, which isto be handed out on Sunday, the festival's closing day.

Another Romanian director, the late Cristian Nemescu, was named winner of the festival's Un Certain Regard program for the film California Dreamin', which follows corruption in a Romanian village.

Shortly after completing filming and during post production of the film last August, Nemescu was killed in a car accident that also took the life of Romanian sound engineer Andrei Toncu.

Presented since 1978, Un Certain Regard honours the work of young filmmakers.

Final screenings

The last of the 22 films competing for the festival's top prize — Emir Kusturica's Promise Me — was screened on Saturday. Kusturicais vying for his third Palmed'Or against films including critical favourites No Country for Old Men by the Coen brothers, the Iranian film Persepolis and Romanian director Mungiu's 4 months.

Canadian director Denys Arcand's L'Âge des ténèbres (Age of Darkness), presented out of competition as this year's official closing film, will be screened on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, the Quebec filmmaker shed a bit of light on the long titles of his films, which have included The Decline of the American Empire and his Oscar-winner, The Barbarian Invasions.

"As a former history student, I find pompous titles amusing," he said. "You shouldn't see anything more in it than what it is."

After 12 days of red carpets, celebrity spotting and film critique, the 60th Cannes Film Festival closes on Sunday.