According to information sent to MTI, the festival’s films once again tackle sensitive topics, highlighting the stories of people living in war-affected regions like Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and Iraq. They also explore the challenges faced by societies that appear peaceful on the surface.

Other issues covered include climate change, the rights of factory workers, gender inequality, alcoholism, and child protection challenges.

The program also features lighter, more humorous films, and the presence of female filmmakers continues to grow, with women directing more than half of the films this year.

The festival will open with Coexistence, My Ass! (Hungarian title: Együttélés, na persze…), a film that was shot over five years and stars Israeli activist and stand-up comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi. She grew up in a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian village, the only deliberately integrated community in the country.

Over time, Noam became disillusioned with traditional peace activism and turned to stand-up comedy, quickly gaining recognition across the Middle East.

With her sharp satire, she challenges her audience to confront difficult truths – which are not always funny – while reminding them that another kind of reality is always possible.

The film won the Special Jury Award at this year’s Sundance Festival.

Another highlight of the programme is Cuba & Alaska, which follows two Ukrainian paramedics. Drawing strength and humour from their friendship, they document life-and-death situations on the front lines.

In Rashid – The Boy From Sinjar, the focus is on Rashid, a true survivor from Sinjar who, after escaping captivity at the hands of the terrorist organisation ISIS, is finally reunited with his family.

Khartoum, a documentary that won two prizes at this year’s Berlinale, presents the Sudanese civil war through the intertwined destinies of five individuals.

Celebrated Norwegian actress and filmmaker Vibeke Løkkeberg, now 80 years old, reflects on her career in *The Long Road to the Director’s Chair*. Using fifty-year-old archival footage, the documentary authentically portrays the struggles of women who sought to succeed in a film industry dominated by men.

From Hungary, the festival will screen Sára Haragonics’Hi Sári! (Szia Sári!), a deeply personal work in which the director processes the death of her mother.

As in previous years, the screenings will be accompanied by professional programmes dedicated to documentary film, as well as talks, exhibitions, and concerts.

Venues in Budapest will include Trafó, Toldi Cinema, Művész Cinema, Blinken OSA Archivum, CEU Budapest, and the French Institute. Beyond the capital, the festival will also welcome audiences in Pécs, Szeged, Kecskemét, Veszprém, Miskolc, Szombathely, and Debrecen.

According to the organisers, the full programme will be available in mid-October, while ticket sales are set to begin at the end of the month.

More: 
Verzio