Film Institute Marks 120 Years Of Hungarian Film

  • 19 Jan 2021 7:54 AM
  • Hungary Matters
Film Institute Marks 120 Years Of Hungarian Film
The National Film Institute (NFI) is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the first Hungarian film with a host of programmes that will include film screenings, exhibitions and other activities.

The programmes will begin with the Day of Hungarian Film on April 30, the statement said.

In July, NFI and the Budapest Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art will open an exhibition presenting the history of Hungarian film.

The museum will also play host to film screenings, as will the Budapest Classic Film Marathon, the Valley of Arts festival in Kapolcs and film clubs across the country.

The NFI will also produce a 12 episode documentary series on the history of Hungarian cinema.

In addition, the institute will promote 120 works of Hungarian cinema on Facebook over the course of the year.

Released on April 30, 1901, The Dance, the first professionally directed Hungarian film, was the collaborative work of cinematographer Béla Zsitkovszky and writer Gyula Pekár, the statement noted.

The film itself, however, was lost over the years, and only still photographs remain.


Photo courtesy of filmarchiv.hu

  • How does this content make you feel?

XpatLoop Media Partner

Hungary Matters

Launched in January 2014, this newsletter published on week days covers 'everything you need to know about what’s going on in Hungary and beyond', according to its publisher the state media agency MTI.

Explore More Reports

  • Paid Sex in Budapest: How Hungary Became a Major Player in Europe’s Adult Industry

    Paid Sex in Budapest: How Hungary Became a Major Player in Europe’s Adult Industry

    • 1 Dec 2025 5:25 PM

    Hungary is third in the world for adult-film performers per capita - right after Czechia and Latvia - a ranking that often surprises many expats. With around 1,070 performers in a population of about 9.7 million, that works out to roughly 110 performers per million people. Budapest, in particular, has earned a reputation as a porn capital and a great place to get paid for having sex - as a center of adult-film production Budapest attracts porn talent from across Europe and beyond.

  • Michael Jackson Exhibition in Budapest Now Open Featuring Special Memorabilia

    Michael Jackson Exhibition in Budapest Now Open Featuring Special Memorabilia

    • 13 Nov 2025 6:01 AM

    A new exhibition dedicated to Michael Jackson has opened in Budapest, offering visitors a closer look at the person behind the pop icon. Rather than focusing solely on the superstar’s stage persona, Michael – The HIStory Exhibition explores his life, artistic impact, and personal connection to Hungary through rare memorabilia and life-sized figures.