Hungarian Conservative

There are about fifty places in Hungary and in Hungarian-inhabited areas beyond the borders where Hollywood filmmakers or actors were born or have ancestral roots. The wall of Hollywood celebrities of Hungarian origin inaugurated in Budapest on 21 March pays tribute to them.

The production supported by the National Film Institute also include a series titled The Nation’s Golden Boys is in the making, focusing on the Hungarian men’s water polo team that won three consecutive Olympic gold medals between 2000 and 2008, and a documentary film that depicts the life of Ferenc Xavér Éder, a Jesuit missionary who was one of the first Hungarian travellers to set foot in Peru and who served as a missionary among the Moxos Indians for twenty years in the 18th century.

The Budapest Architecture Film Festival is held between 7 and 10 March at the Toldi Cinema. This year’s motto, People Behind, highlights the numerous and passionate creative individuals who work behind the scenes in the construction of buildings and cities.

Despite the surge in online streaming services, the study emphasizes, it is premature to underestimate the significance of films screened in theatres. In 2023, film distributors in Hungary reported a successful year with ticket revenues reaching nearly 22 billion forints and a total audience exceeding ten million. In Hungary, the study reveals that on an average Saturday evening between 8 and 10pm, over four million people tune in to television, with nearly three million supporting various musical talent shows.

The NFI’s decision-making committee voted to support the production of six different television works.

There will be over a hundred screenings held under the event’s umbrella at 29 locations across the country. On this day, the eight art cinemas in Budapest and the 21 art cinemas in the countryside will offer a unique selection of films, giving the audience the opportunity to see them weeks or even months before their national premieres.

Hungarian director Béla Tarr is set to be honoured with the Honorary Award by the President and Board of the European Film Academy at the 36th European Film Awards in Berlin on 9 December.

Gábor Reisz’s third feature film, Explanation for Everything, is also part of the official programme, in the Orizzonti section. Additionally, Dorka Vermes’ debut feature, Arni, will be presented in the College Cinema section.

Hungarian cinemagoers have been craving enjoyable historical films for a long time. Finally, Hadik arrived, which, although not faultless, is a great example of the genre well done.

Tibor Helényi’s legacy as a Hungarian artist extends far beyond the borders of his home country. His iconic Star Wars and RoboCop posters have become symbols of their respective franchises’ global impact, reflecting his ability to capture the essence of stories through visual simplicity.

Gábor Reisz, known for his previous films For Some Inexplicable Reason and Bad Poems, will present his third feature film in the official selection of the A-category festival. The film’s director, cast, producer, and crew members will accompany the film to Venice.