Professional Summary

Award-winning Romanian film director, actor, producer and poet with over 15 years of experience in the film and theatre industry. Known for pioneering Aromanian-language cinema and for directing critically acclaimed historical dramas. Proven leadership in managing full-scale productions and promoting cultural diversity through film.

Education

BA in Directing and MA in Acting at the National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest

“I’m Not Famous but I’m Aromanian” (2013) 

Wrote, directed, produced, and starred in I’m Not Famous but I’m Aromanian (2013), the first feature film in the Aromanian language, honored with international awards and recognized by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who proclaimed June 5th as Vlach/Aromanian Cultural Preservation Day in celebration of its U.S. premiere

“The Armans, from the famous Manakia to I’m not famous” (2015)

Directed and produced The Armans: From the Famous Manakia to I’m Not Famous (2015), an award-winning documentary exploring Aromanian identity through historical and cinematic milestones, including the first film spoken in the Aromanian language

“Between Pain and Amen” (2019) 

Wrote, directed, and produced Between Pain and Amen (2019), the first Romanian feature film about the Pitești brainwashing experiment, internationally acclaimed for its powerful portrayal of faith and resilience under communist torture, and recipient of over 40 awards across major film festivals in Europe, the UK and the U.S.

“ENESCU. Skinned alive” (2024) 

Wrote, directed, and produced Enescu, Skinned Alive (2024), a biopic and period drama chronicling the emotional and artistic struggles of George Enescu, whose love affair with Princess Maruca and quest to compose his magnum opus unfold against Romania’s cultural backdrop, earning over 40 international awards for its historical depth and cinematic artistry

 Theatre & Cultural Work

• Directed over 20 stage productions across Romania, performed in the country and abroad.
• Active promoter of Aromanian culture through poetry, theatre, and film.
• Staged and featured in music and poetry shows on the stage of the Bucharest National Theatre
• Holds screenplay workshops
• President of the IPIFF International Festival of Independent Film Producers, held in Bucharest, Romania
• Member of national and international jury panels

Projects and Awards in the UK and the US

Enescu. Skinned Alive

• Screened at Harmony Gold Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
• Awarded at ARPA International Film Awards (Los Angeles): Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking
• Nominated at London Director Awards
• Screened at Genesis Cinema, London, on June 15, 2025

Between Pain and Amen

• Premiered in New York City
• Earned the Jury Prize for Best Director of a Foreign Language Feature Film at the North Europe International Film Festival in London (2020)
• Celebrated at the Lonely Wolf London International Film Festival, winning Best Feature Film and multiple technical awards

I’m Not Famous but I’m Aromanian

• Premiered in New York in 2013
• Mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed June 5th as Vlach/Aromanian Cultural Preservation Day in celebration of its U.S. premiere

Bucharest Underground

• A bilingual (Romanian-English) radio drama produced and directed as part of the international radio theatre project "The Works", which included partners from England, Ireland, Austria, and Romania
• Bucharest Underground won the prestigious Prix Marulic Award in Croatia, in 2007

International Awards

For Enescu, Skinned Alive (2024) - 47 wins, 25 nominations. Highlights:

• International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF, Croatia): Best Original Film Score Celebrated for its orchestral collaboration with the Orchestre National de France and Romanian National Radio Orchestra
• Angel Film Awards – Monaco International Film Festival: Best Feature Film, Best Director , Best Original Music
•  European Cinematography Awards: Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design
• Five Continents International Film Festival: Best Director, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Special Mention Lead Actor

For Between Pain and Amen (2019) - 47 wins, 25 nominations Highlights:

• Romanian Union of Filmmakers: Multiple nominations including Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Editing
• Vienna Independent Film Festival: Best Feature Film, Best Film Score
• European Cinematography Awards: Best Director
• South Europe International Film Festival: Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay
• Florence Film Awards: Best Director, Honorable Mention for Makeup
• Cinergo International Film Festival: Best Costume Design, Best Supporting Actor, Best Set Design

For I’m Not Famous but I’m Aromanian  - 3 wins.

• Barcelona Planet Film Festival: Best Narrative Feature
• Balkan Film Food Festival: Best Balkan Spirit
• Babel Film Festival: Maestrale Unica medal (Italian Parliament), European Parliament distinction for linguistic minority representation

Skills

• Film Direction & Production
• Scriptwriting & Story Development
• Team Leadership & Budget Management
• Multilingual Communication (Romanian, Aromanian, English)
• Festival Strategy & Cultural Promotion
• Demonstrated leadership in managing full-scale productions and promoting cultural diversity through film.

Excerpts from film reviews

“When I finished watching Enescu. Skinned Alive, I immediately looked for the biography—not of Enescu—but of his director, Toma Enache, because I was surprised by the quality of the film. (…) I finally understood Enescu after watching this film. The atmosphere evokes the great masters of Italian and German cinema. Enache does not compromise in his pursuit of excellence.” (Gustavo Coletti, Time of Cinema)

“A gripping, fact-based drama about the Pitești Prison experiment… Enache avoids sensationalism, opting for poetic visuals and emotional depth. A testament to the strength of the human spirit.” (Indie Cinema Magazine)

“A cinematic exploration of George Enescu’s genius, love, and artistic torment… Every scene feels like a painting come to life. The music becomes the film’s heartbeat, pulsating with both joy and anguish. Enache’s direction transforms biography into spiritual reflection.” (Athens International Film Festival)  

LINKS:

🎬 IMDb Profile

🌐 Official Website

📚 Wikipedia Page

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toma_Enache Provides a comprehensive biography, career highlights, and cultural background.
• www.lasteaua.ro
• https://www.facebook.com/enescufilm/