Andrei Zincã
Born (1955-02-05) February 5, 1955 (age 69)
Bucharest, Romania
NationalityRomanian-American
EducationUniversity of Southern California
Occupation(s)Director, Producer, Writer
Years active1982–present

Andrei Zincã (born February 5, 1955) is a Romanian-American director, producer, and writer known for his work in film and television. Zinca has contributed to the entertainment industries in Europe, the United States, and Latin America over a career spanning more than 40 years. He is the founder of Double 4 Studios and has directed and produced a variety of content, including series, documentaries, reality shows, live events, music videos, and feature films.[1][2][3][4]

Early Life and Education

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Andrei Zinca was born in Bucharest, Romania, to writer Haralamb Zincă and Stela Zincă (née Buchman), sister of journalist Ion Mihăileanu. He graduated from the Institute for Film and Theater Studies I.L.Caragiale, specializing in Cinematography, in the class of 1979. His fellow classmates included Sorin Ilieșiu, Adrian Sârbu, and Copel Moscu. Following his graduation, from 1983 to 1985, he pursued a Master's degree in Directing and Film Production at USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles.[5][2]

Career

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Zinca's career in the film industry spans over 40 years, during which he has worked in various roles, including director, producer, and writer. Before leaving Romania in 1982, he worked as a Camera Operator on eight feature films.

In 1988, Zinca moved to the United States and became active in the Hispanic U.S. and Latin American television markets. He directed and produced over 1,500 hours of content, including series, documentaries, reality shows, live events, and music videos. He was one of the pioneers of scripted production in the U.S. Hispanic television market and received several regional Emmy Award nominations.

Zinca is the founder and CEO of Double 4 Studios, based in Miami and Los Angeles. Through this production company, he has produced and directed various projects, including feature films and television content.

In 2005, Zinca reconnected with the Romanian film and television industry. He directed and/or co-produced one TV series and two feature films and served as line producer for a major U.S. production. He has collaborated with The Romanian Film Fund (C.N.C.) and the Romanian Filmmakers Association (U.C.I.N.) to promote cooperation between the U.S. and Romanian entertainment industries.[6][7][8]

Awards and Recognition

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  • Regional Emmy Awards: Several nominations for work in U.S. Hispanic television.
  • International Film Festivals: Multiple awards for "Puzzle" and "So, What's Freedom?"
  • SIMA Award (2024): Best Social Impact Campaign for "Who I Am Not"[9][10][11]

Personal Life

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Zinca is a member of Film Independent in Los Angeles. He continues to work on projects that bridge the U.S. and Romanian film industries.[12]

Notable Works

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  1. Mirrors (2008): Nominee IFMCA Award. Best Original Score for a Horror/Thriller Film. [13]
  2. Puzzle (2013): This feature film received awards for best picture, script, lead actors, and photography at various independent film festivals in the United States. It was sold to multiple European countries and the U.S.
  3. Si atunci, ce e libertatea? (2020) [So, What's Freedom?]: The film won Audience Choice Awards for Best Movie at festivals in Romania and the United States, premiering in Romania in July 2021.
  4. Who I Am Not (2023): A documentary film exploring the intersex experience in a binary world, directed by Tunde Skovran and produced by Andrei Zinca. The film won the International Competition Silver Alexander Award at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival and premiered in North America at SXSW 2023. It is set to debut on PBS's POV in summer 2024.[14][15][16]

Filmography

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Operator
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  • Iancu Jianu zapciul (1981)
  • Iancu Jianu haiducul (1981)
  • Un echipaj pentru Singapore (1982)
  • Comoara (1983)
  • Buletin de București (1983)

Actor

  • Un om în loden (1979)
  • La urgență (2006)
  • Made in Romania (2010)

Producer and Director

  • Speaking with the Vatican (1990)
  • Guadalupe (1993)
  • Morelia (1995)
  • Miami Sands (2001)
  • Christi Sánchez tiene un show (2003)
  • Te amare en silencio (2003)
  • La urgență (2006)
  • First Arab Israeli Plane Hijacking (2007)
  • Puzzle (2013)
  • Proiecte de trecut (Și atunci... ce e libertatea?) (2020)

TV Series

  • Rosa de America (1988)
  • Marielena (1992-1993)
  • Señora Tentación (1994)
  • Guadalupe (1993-1994)
  • Morelia (1995)
  • Mosaico con Julio Iglesias Jr. (1996)
  • Miami Sands (1998)
  • El ciclon (1999)
  • Estamos unidos (2000)
  • Te amaré en silencio (2003)[17]


References

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  1. ^ Carey, Matthew (2023-03-11). "'Who I Am Not' Explores Lives Of Intersex People: It's About "Who We Are As Human Beings" – SXSW Studio". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  2. ^ a b "A movie about the communist deportation in Romania". Transylvania Now. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  3. ^ "Andrei Zincă". romania-actualitati.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  4. ^ Carey, Matthew (2023-10-25). "Greenwich Entertainment Acquires Rights To 'Who I Am Not,' Award-Winning Doc About Experience Of Intersex People". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  5. ^ "Romanian Incentives with Andrei Zinca". Spreaker. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  6. ^ "Andrei Zinca - DokIncubator". Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  7. ^ "În culisele filmelor românești: întâlniri cu invitați speciali la TIFF Sibiu 2020 | TIFF Sibiu". sibiu.tiff.ro. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  8. ^ "Andrei Zinca's debut film, "Puzzle for a Blind Man" set for its Florida Premiere at the Gasparilla Film Festival in Tampa". news.marketersmedia.com. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  9. ^ "Transilvania IFF 2020: the winners | TIFF". tiff.ro. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  10. ^ "Radio Romania International". Radio România Internațional. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  11. ^ "Who I Am Not". SXSW 2024 Schedule. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  12. ^ "Andrei Zinca | Repatriot". www.repatriot.ro. 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  13. ^ "Mirrors". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  14. ^ viapiuser (2019-02-19). "Andrei Zinca". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  15. ^ "ANDREI ZINCĂ | Libertatea din afara sistemului • Film • Zile și Nopți" (in Romanian). 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  16. ^ Cluj24.ro, Redactia (2020-08-09). "FOTO. Nuvela scriitoarei Ana Blandiana, „Povești din trecut", sursa de inspirație pentru cel mai popular film românesc de la TIFF 19". Cluj24.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 2024-06-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Andrei Zinca's "Puzzle For A Blind Man" will close SeeFest, a Showcase of Eastern European Films, Monday May 5th At The Writers Guild Theatre in Beverly Hills". Andrei Zinca's “Puzzle For A Blind Man” will close SeeFest, a Showcase of Eastern European Films, Monday May 5th At The Writers Guild Theatre in Beverly Hills ~ Best Business Magazines. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-03.