Romanian film ‘You Don’t Belong Here’ wins top prize at Cottbus festival

Romanian film You Don’t Belong Here (Nu e locul tău aici), starring Adrian Văncică, has won the Main Prize at FilmFestival Cottbus. The production was written and directed by Florin Șerban.

“I am very happy that You Don’t Belong Here also convinced the Cottbus jury after a summer in which it received considerable international recognition,” Șerban said.

“We are preparing for the film’s release in Romania, and another success like this makes me even more confident that it will find its audience among viewers at home.”

Set against the backdrop of a criminal investigation, the film follows the changing relationship between a respected surgeon who heads a provincial hospital and his teenage son. The father discovers that the boy has joined an extremist group and was involved in the killing of a person.

The film previously won the Golden Leopard, the Europa Cinemas Label Award, and the Youth Jury Award at the Locarno Film Festival. Young actor Teodor Butănescu also received a special mention for his performance in Locarno, while Adrian Văncică won the best actor award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

You Don’t Belong Here has also been shortlisted for the European Film Awards, with the nominations due to be announced on November 14.

The cast also includes Alex Conovaru, Janir Izdrailă, Claudiu Maier, Cristina Richter, and Emil Boroghină.

The film will open in Romanian cinemas on November 27, with special screenings and meetings with the cast and director scheduled in Reșița, Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest, Craiova, and Iași.