Hungary's annual film festival will be held for the fifth time in 2025, with screening of almost 100 Hungarian films - including numerous premieres. 

Between June 18 and 21, true to tradition, the best of Hungarian film works will be screened at 15 locations in Veszprém, Balatonfüred and Balatonalmádi.

Tickets cost just 500 forints

Under the patronage of the Hungarian Film Academy, with the support of the National Film Institute and organized by Veszprém-Balaton 2023, the Hungarian Film Awards will be presented in 22 categories this year - and film lovers can get tickets for a symbolic price of 500 forints.

The opening film immediately sets the festival's effervescent atmosphere. The most-watched Hungarian film since the change of regime, the musical romantic comedy How Could I Live Without You?, will be screened in the presence of the makers at Veszprém's Old Town Square. 

This top film, woven around Ferenc Demjén's evergreen hits, is unprecedented not only because it has attracted more than 800,000 viewers to the big screen since its premiere, but also because the performances are often accompanied by a real concert atmosphere in the cinemas.

The audience can sing songs at the top of their lungs with the film's stars, Franciska Törőcsik, Márk Ember, Sára Varga-Járó, Bence Brasch, Luca Márkus, Peti Marics, Harmatt Kovács and Marcel Kirády.     

This year's festival offers many more special local film experiences. Audiences can see on the big screen, for instance, the 10-part Hunyadi series; the new series about the three-time Olympic champion Hungarian men's water polo team, The Golds of the Nation, as well as premiere films such as the children's book by Veronika Marék, Kell egy oroszlán, which adapts the success of Laci and the Lion.

Also, The Most Magnificent Human Mind, which recalls the life of János Neumann; 1968 - A Reconstruction of a Love, which explores the mystery of first love; The King's Meeting, which relives the fateful trial of the Czech, Polish and Hungarian monarchs in 1335; In the Footsteps of Bartók, which commemorates Béla Bartók's 1936 collecting trip to Turkey, or One More Like, which reveals the ordeals of a boxer boy and a 'sex influencer girl'.

"Hungarian film production is once again experiencing an era characterized by diverse, meaningful, high-quality entertainment films on both TV and the big screen. 

The success of How Can I Live Without You? is extraordinary, and the performance of the Hunyadi series here and beyond our borders is fantastic. These two titles also indicate how diverse and high-quality we can tell our own stories, even by world standards, and make them attractive and interesting to the audience. But I could also include Dávid Jancsó’s Oscar nomination on the list of pride, which proves the excellence of Hungarian professionals. 

MOZ.GO is a shared celebration of Hungarian film and I invite everyone to celebrate, so that we can watch and talk about our old and new film treasures together, of which we can be very proud,” said Csaba Káel,  president of Hungary’s National Film Institute.

"The Hungarian Film Awards are decided by a five-member professional jury, which this year again consists of experienced, curious, and sensitive professionals with many connections to the film industry. 

The president of the jury is Anikó Für, Mari Jászai Award-winning actress, meritorious artist, and lifelong member of the Immortals Society. In addition to her, the awards are decided by Dr. József Pacskovszki, Béla Balázs Award-winning film director and university professor; producer Judit Romwalter, Dr. István Tóth Zoltán, content director of Duna Médiaszolgáltató Nonprofit Zrt., and Csaba Horváth, marketing and communications director of the National Film Institute,” said festival director Attila Csáky.

Honouring World-Renowned Cinematographer Lajos Koltai

With an illustrious career spanning more than five decades, Koltai’s filmography includes works like White Palace, When a Man Loves a Woman and Just Cause.

Koltai has had a close working relationship with director Istvan Szabo, with whom he shot film such as Confidence, Mephisto, Colonel Redl, Hanussen and Sunshine. He has also worked with Giuseppe Tornatore on The Legend of 1900 and Malena.

Koltai made his directing debut with the adaptation of Imre Kertesz’s Fateless in 2005, with his most recent directing credit being 2023’s Semmelweis.

Koltai will receive the award at the MOZ.GO gala event on June 20, the festival’s organisers told MTI.

The academy’s other lifetime achievement award recipients include actors Iren Bordan and Laszlo Galffi, singer and songwriter Ferenc Demjen, casting director Mari Mako, Gabor Proch stunt expert and producer Lantos Robert.

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