Constantin Chiriac

A theatre and film actor and a cultural leader, Constantin Chiriac studied Acting in Bucharest, and holds cultural management diplomas from the USA Information Agency, from the UK University of Hull, as well as from the Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond.

Throughout his career, he has created internationally renowned structures, started many international projects and led big teams. He is the President of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, the General Manager of the “Radu Stanca” National Theatre in Sibiu, and the President of the Sibiu Performing Arts Market. He played a decisive role in obtaining the title of Sibiu – European Capital of Culture 2007 and in the project’s undeniable success. Moreover, he was a member of the Panel for the selection and monitoring of European Capitals of Culture (2009‑2012).

He is a professor at the “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu and was granted the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by Leeds Metropolitan University (2008) and by West University of Timișoara (2018); he holds classes and conferences in universities all over the world. His work has been acknowledged through countless awards and distinctions, including the 2014 Aspen Institute Award for Contribution to Romanian Cultural Patrimony and the Prize granted by the Japan Foundation and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2015). He is an Officer of the Order of the Belgian Crown (2011) and an Honorary Tourism Ambassador since 2014. Besides, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit (2000) and an Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit from the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (2017). In 2018, he was awared The Royal Decoration of the Cross of the Romanian Royal House, for the “Radu Stanca” National Theatre Sibiu, the Honorary Citizenship of Sibiu and the Honorary Citizenship of Râmnicu Vâlcea. In 2019, the French Minister of Culture, Mr. Franck Riester conferred Constantin Chiriac the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (France) and he also received “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays” from the Japanese Government. In 2020 he was conferred the decoration: Knight of the Legion of Honor, by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in France. In the same year, he was granted the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by The Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, The Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts from Chișinău and The National University of Arts “George Enescu” Iași, as well as The Cultural Distinction from The Romanian Academy. In 2021 he receives the UNITER Award for The Digital Stage.

Constantin Chiriac has played in more than 40 performances, collaborating with important directors, such as Iulian Vișa, Andriy Zholdak, Mihai Măniuțiu, Silviu Purcărete and Kushida Kazuyoshi; he has also held one-man-shows and poetry recitals in over 50 countries. Some of the most famous films in which he has performed include Moromeții / The Moromete Family (directed by Stere Gulea), Croaziera / The Cruise (directed by Mircea Daneliuc) and Undeva la Palilula / Somewhere in Palilula (directed by Silviu Purcărete).