The Hungarian Animation Producers Association (MAPSZ), supported by the National Film Institute and the Creative Europe Programme, is introducing a multi-year international initiative designed to enhance the long-term global presence of Hungarian animation and broaden co-production opportunities, the National Film Institute announced on Tuesday.
The programme aims to ensure that Hungarian studios and creators appear in a coordinated way at Europe’s leading industry forums, helping solidify the country’s position in the international animation market. According to government advisor Ákos Pesti, the initiative forms a key component of Hungary’s national animation strategy and builds on successful efforts launched when Hungary was a guest of honour at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The goal, he said, is to create lasting growth for the Hungarian animation industry.
MAPSZ president and producer Réka Temple added that the association’s international strategy focuses on making Hungarian creators and producers stable, visible and competitive actors within Europe’s animation ecosystem. To support this, MAPSZ has formed a close partnership with CEE Animation, the Central and Eastern European network that connects regional animation professionals, projects and co-production opportunities with European markets. The cooperation aims to link creators, studios and institutions while strengthening the broader European animation landscape, particularly in emerging regions.
As part of the strategy, Budapest will host the Hunimation Hungarian Animation Professional and Pitch Forum in spring 2026, where 10–12 new projects will be presented, with up to five advancing to the Annecy Festival’s Partner Pitch. In summer 2026, the city will also host a key weeklong session of the CEE Animation Workshop, providing intensive professional development and fostering new co-productions.
The partnership also includes participation in AHUB, an online European platform that offers regular international exposure for Hungarian works through interviews, professional materials and networking tools. Complementing this is Hunimation.com, an English-language platform launched during Hungary’s 2025 Annecy guest-of-honour role, offering an up-to-date professional window into the country’s animation industry.
Throughout the two-year programme, MAPSZ will collaborate closely with the National Film Institute’s Training Directorate and leading animation education institutions, including the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design and Budapest Metropolitan University.
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