The film written by James Olivier and Serge Ioan Celebidachi will be produced by Adela Vrinceanu Celebidachi and Cristina Dobritoiu from Romania’s Oblique Media Film, Andrei Boncea and Christopher Milburn from Romania’s Frame Film, and James Olivier from Celi Films (UK), according to a press release. Robert W. Cort is the executive producer. Casting is by Georgia Topley & Des Hamilton.

Celibidache was born in the small Romanian city of Roman. Still a teenager, he was banished from the family home by his father, upon declaring his commitment to a career in music. After enduring homelessness in Bucharest, he travelled to Berlin to pursue his dream but encountered prejudice and discrimination. Having survived WWII, he won a competition to become the youngest ever conductor of the revered Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

A staunch opponent of his homeland’s authoritarian regime, Celibidache lived a life of personal sacrifice and separation, but became one of the most iconic conductors of the twentieth century. However, his uncompromising nature and his steadfast refusal to record also made him a highly contentious figure.