This year, the Shooting Stars programme, organized by the European Film Promotion (EFP) in cooperation with some of EFP member organizations, among which Romanian Film Promotion, and supported by the European Union’s Media Programme, reached its 15 edition. Shooting Stars programme aims to promote at international level the most talented European actors, offering them the possibility to meet important members of the film industry (actors, directors, producers, casting directors).
The 10 actors were selected from a number of 23 nominees, proposed by EFP member organizations. The jury, composed by Marleen Gorris (director), Thure Lindhardt (actor, former participant in the Shooting Stars programme), Ada Solomon (producer), Simone Bär (casting director) and Matt Mueller (film critic) was impressed by the intensity with which Ularu plays her roles, stating: In Outbound, Ularu carries on her shoulders the entire story and manages to create a complex and convincing character. Tough but vulnerable in the same time she makes an impression by the force that she unveils to impose herself, her eyes becoming a mirror of the soul.
Born on the 26 of June 1985 in Bucharest, Ana Ularu graduated from the “National University of Theatre and Cinema Arts I.L.Caragiale. Her career includes different parts in short films, feature films, TV series but also theatre plays.
She made an impression in films such as Turkey Girl, a short film directed by Cristian Mungiu and included in the Lost and Found project, Italian Girls (d. Napoleon Helmis), The paper will be blue (d. Radu Muntean) or Youth without youth (d. Francis Ford Coppola).
Recently, Ana Ularu was casted in Outbound (d. Bogdan Apetri) in the role of a young girl freed from jail for one day trying to get her life straight. This role brought her the Boccalino Trophy – the Swiss Critics Award for Best Actress at the Locarno Film Festival as well as Best Actress Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
The selection in the Shooting Stars programme represents a double achievement for Ana Ularu. On one hand it signifies the recognition of her talent and of her work up to now and on the other hand places her in the cultural and economic network of international cinema. In 2012 Ana Ularu will have the chance to participate, along with other 9 actors, to a series of events, film workshops and meetings with international cinema professionals. Since its beginnings, the Shooting Stars programme launched international careers such as Rachel Weisz, Moritz Bleibtreu, Cecile de France, Daniel Bruhl, Melanie Laurent, Daniel Craig, Kelly Macdonald, Thure Lindhardt, Franka Potente, Eduardo Noriega, Ludivine Sagnier, Jeremie Renier and Jasmine Trinca.
Along with Ana Ularu in the 2012 Shooting Stars programme were also selected: Adèle Haenel (France), Anna Maria Mühe (Germany), Antonia Campbell-Hughes (Ireland), Hilmar Guðjónsson (Iceland), Isabella Ragonese (Italy), Jakub Gierszał (Poland), Bill Skarsgård (Sweden), Max Hubacher (Switzerland) and Riz Ahmed (Great Britain).
Romania is present for the 4th time in this EFP programme after Dragoş Bucur was selected in 2009, Anamaria Marinca in 2008 and Maria Popistaşu in 2007.
