The thirteenth UNITEM Awards Gala, held at the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau in the evening of March 24, brought together people of culture, politicians, diplomats and theater lovers. Sandu Grecu, who heads the Theater Union of Moldova (UNITEM), jury head Nelly Cobzaru, and jury members Nicolae Jelescu and Pavel Pelin acted as presenters.
The UNITEM gala involved all the generations of actors, including Mihai Volontir. The spectators applauded him long when he mounted the stage. The master received an award for his entire activity. Alexandru Grecu put a ribbon with the words “Citizen of Honor of Chisinau City” on his shoulders. Politician Vlad Filat promised to provide the actor with an apartment in Chisinau. “I have a good opinion about the Gala,” Mihai Volontir stated for IPN after the ceremony. “The actors change. Our generation was substituted by another. They are all good actors.”
Three excellence awards were given to actors Mihai Malaimare, Iurie Negoita and Mihai Curagau.
The award for the best actor went to Victor Nofit for the role of Dutu in the play “Backstage Noise”, presented at the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu”. The award for the best actress was shared by Mihaela Strambeanu, for the role of Parascheva in the play ”Chronicle of Poulterers”, at “Mihai Eminescu”, and Snejana Puica, for a number of parts played in “Lamentations”, at the Municipal One Actor’s Theater.
The ”Chronicle of Poulterers” was named the best dramatic play, “Cinderella” – the best children’s play, while “Guguta’s Star” – the best puppet theater play.
Andrian Godonoaga was offered the 2014 award for dramaturgy for the play “Clinical Psychiatric Hospital No.”. Petru Hadarca shared the award for the best direction with Dmitri Ahmadiev. Constantin Garbuz took the award for the most valuable debut, for the role of the Teacher in the play “Star without Name”. The award for the best scenery and theater consumes went to Daniela Burlaca for the play “This is the woman I love”, presented at the Geneza Art Studio Theater, while the special award of the UNITEM Senate for choreographic pedagogy – to ballet soloist Igor Gherciu.
“The UNITEM Gala is a wonderful actors’ celebration dedicated to the World Theater Day. I’m glad that so many people of culture and theater lovers came to this event. Theater is a magic art that inspires and provides joy, hope and optimism. Their presence made me happy this evening,” Minister of Culture Monica Babuc has told IPN.
Sandu Grecu said it was a successful evening, especially because there were new faces. “I’m happy for Dmitri Ahmadiev of the Tiraspol Theater “N. Aronetskaya”, who is a talented young man with prospects, for Luminita Tacu, who was nominated for the best direction, and for Snejana Puica, who is a very good actress. There are many young people who will help develop the theater,” he stated.
Sandu Grecu admitted that it is a challenge to organize such a large-scale event in Moldova, especially because the Theater Union is the largest cultural organization in the country with 900 members. The 46 prizes of 5,000 to 15,000 lei and the organizational costs came to over 400,000 lei. The trophies cast in bronze weigh 1.5 kilograms each. The medals were made from bronze with silver.
