Hungarian Film Day will expand into a week-long nationwide series of events this year, marking the 125th anniversary of Hungarian cinema with a diverse programme of screenings and cultural activities.
The initiative, launched and supported by the National Film Institute, will take place between 27 April and 3 May. In addition to film screenings, the programme will include film history walks and professional events aimed at young filmmakers.
According to the organizers, the central message of the event is that Hungarian film belongs to everyone. The initiative has attracted growing participation in recent years, with television channels, cinemas and streaming platforms joining efforts to showcase domestic productions across the country.
The Cinema City network will offer discounted tickets for Hungarian films every Tuesday this month, while between 30 April and 3 May all Hungarian titles on its programme will be available at reduced prices.
Special screenings accompanied by audience discussions will also be held in cooperation with the Svenk Podcast. In Budapest, director István Szabó and producer Robert Lantos will attend a screening of Sunshine, while director Lajos Koltai will appear at a screening of Semmelweis. In Székesfehérvár, actor Simon Szabó will join a discussion linked to the film Moszkva Square.
Pop-up screenings will also be organized at themed locations, including a showing of We Never Die at Kincsem Park with director Róbert Koltai in attendance, and a screening of The Golden Team at the Császár-Komjádi swimming complex featuring water polo player Gergely Kiss.
Film heritage tours will take place at venues such as the Uránia National Film Theatre, the Pannónia Film Studio building and the Róna Street studios of the National Film Institute.
Students will also play a key role in this year’s programme. Participants from Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design will create posters inspired by the first Hungarian film, A táncz, with an exhibition of the works opening on 27 April.
The University of Theatre and Film Arts will host a professional day dedicated to the anniversary, while Eötvös Loránd University will join as a partner through its ELTE Szemle event, showcasing student films at venues including Stúdió K Theatre, Kristály Színtér on Margaret Island and Corvin Cinema.
Hungarian Film Day has been held annually on 30 April since 2018, commemorating the screening of the first Hungarian film recordings in 1901 at the Uránia venue. While the original footage has been lost, surviving photographs remain as the earliest records of Hungarian cinema.
Organizers said the expanding programme and partnerships aim to bring Hungarian films to wider audiences and encourage greater engagement with domestic filmmakers.
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