The Theater Union of Moldova (UNITEM) nominated the awardees at the 20th Awards Gala. The excellence prize went to the legend of the Romanian film and theater Maia Morgerștern. The award for the best dramatic play was won by the producers of the play “Father” by Dumitru Matcovschi, director Slava Sambriş, National Theater “Luceafărul”, and the play “The Petty Bourgeois” by Maxim Gorki, director Slava Sambriş, State Russian Dramatic Theater “A. P. Chekov”, IPN reports.

“Even if we live exceptional times, for the theater people the struggle for the beauty cannot be subdued by exceptions. We are very glad that the theater people show exemplary solidarity and this event  every year brings into the focus the successes of famous theater people and of new names that will ensure the continuity of the performing arts,” Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan stated in the event.

He handed over the excellence award to Maia Morgerștern, saying she is one of the most loved and cherished personalities of the Romanian culture, while her exceptional talent crossed the country’s borders. She played tens of roles in films and hundreds of roles in plays.

The special jury prize went to the play “Home” by Maxim Gorkiy, director Dumitru Acriș (Moscow, Russia), the National Theater “Satiricus I.L.Caragiale”, and the play “Destiny” by Vladimir Beșleagă, director Dana Strungaru, “A. Mateevici” Theater.

The award for the best direction was given to Slava Sambriș for the director of the play “The Petty Bourgeois” by Maxim Gorki, State Russian Dramatic Theater “A. P. Chekov”, and “Father” by Dumitru Matcovschi, National Theater “Luceafărul”.

The award for the best female role was won by Elena Oleinic for the role of Ana Andreevna in the play “The Government Inspector” by Nikolai Gogol, artistic direction and scenography Alexandru Grecu, National Theater “Satiricus I.L. Caragiale”. The award for the best male role went to Victor Triboi for the role of Lisandru in the play “Father” by Dumitru Matcovschi, director Slava Sambriş, National Theater “Luceafărul”, and to Petru Hadârcă for the role of Froggy in the play “Hamlet in spicy sauce” by Aldo Nicolaj, director Alexandru Cozub, National Theater “M. Eminescu”.

One of the three awards for the most valuable debut was handed over to Dmitrii Djurinschi for the role of the dramatist in the play “Sublimation of Love” by Aldo De Benedetti, director Dmitri Ahmadiev, Tiraspol Drama and Commodity Theater “N.Aronetskaya”.

The jury consisted of Master of Arts and director Vitalie Drucec, Master of Arts, actress and director Svetlana Radu and doctor of art studies of the Cultural Heritage Institute Violeta Tipa. The jury analyzed the plays that had their premieres during December 21, 2020 – September 30, 2021 in professional theaters of Moldova.