Pelikan Blue, a unique animated documentary directed by László Csáki, took home the Best Feature Film award at the 32nd Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film on Saturday night. The achievement was announced by Hungary’s National Film Institute, which supported the film’s production.
The Stuttgart festival, Germany’s largest event dedicated to animation, showcased nearly 500 works between 6–11 May. Among them, Pelikan Blue stood out with its humorous and nostalgic take on the true story of teenage rebellion and resourcefulness during the early 1990s.
The film follows three friends who, using blue carbon copy paper, forged international train tickets in post-socialist Hungary—a quirky, subversive act of freedom during a transformative era. Featuring a mix of animation, documentary footage, and interviews with real-life participants, the film captures the spirit of the time with humour and poignancy.
Voices in the film include the actual protagonists, as well as a lineup of well-known Hungarian actors such as Norman Lévai, Kornél Tegyi, Ágoston Kenéz, Olivér Börcsök, Vivien Rujder, Renátó Olasz, Szabolcs Thuróczy, Gábor Csőre, Nóra Trokán, and Judit Csoma.
Adding to the film’s atmosphere are hit songs from iconic Hungarian bands of the transition era, including Bonanza Banzai, Kispál és a Borz, and Hiperkarma.
Pelikan Blue had its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and has since been featured at a range of prestigious events, including the Annecy Festival, China’s Silk Road Festival, Toronto’s Hot Docs, and Romania’s Filmtettfest.
The film was produced by Ádám Felszeghy and Miklós Kázmér, with cinematography by Árpád Horváth, editing by Dániel Szabó, and a soundtrack composed by Ambrus Tövisházi and Miklós Preiszner. The project was produced by Umbrella Entertainment with professional support from Réka Temple and co-produced by Cinemon Entertainment. Domestic distribution is handled by JUNO11 Distribution.
With over 26,000 domestic viewers already, Pelikan Blue continues to win acclaim both at home and abroad—highlighting the international appeal of local stories told with authenticity and imagination.
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