Lucian Pintilie (Romanian pronunciation: [lutʃiˈan pintiˈli.e]; 9 November 1933 – 16 May 2018) was a Romanian theatre, film, and opera director, as well as screenwriter. His career in theatre, opera, film and television has gained him international recognition.

Pintilie was born in 1933 in Tarutino, at the time in Cetatea Albă County, Kingdom of Romania. After attending the Cantemir Vodă and Ion Luca Caragiale high schools in Bucharest, he graduated from the Institute of Theater and Cinematographic Art in Bucharest.