During a press conference National Theater CEO and MITEM founder Attila Vidnyánszky outlined the festival's ongoing commitment to “courageous debate and intellectual connections.”

He noted that while selecting productions has become more challenging due to the increasing tendency of Western European theater to prioritize specific political messaging over universal aesthetics, MITEM remains dedicated to showcasing varied, experimental theatrical languages.

Program Highlights

The 13th edition of the festival will feature a strong emphasis on regional collaboration and cross-cultural exchange:

Bookending the Festival: Both the opening and closing nights will feature unique interpretations of Richard III. The festival kicks off with a production by the Harag György Company (Northern Theater, Satu Mare) and concludes with a performance by the Israeli Gesher Theater.

Romanian Connections: Romanian theater remains a cornerstone of this year’s program. Ioana Anghel, director of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Budapest, highlighted the strength of Hungarian-Romanian theatrical ties, noting that the opening production from Satu Mare earned two prestigious UNITER awards last year, including Best Director (István Albu). The festival will also feature a new work directed by the acclaimed Andrei Șerban.

Honoring Valère Novarina: The festival will pay tribute to the late French writer and director Valère Novarina, who passed away in January. MITEM will host a performance of his play Gondolatalakok (Thought Forms), staged by the L’Union Des Contraires.

Expanding Perspectives: The program includes a new Croatian-Hungarian co-production, Kanáripaprikás, directed by János Feledi, alongside a robust selection of Serbian performances as part of the official Serbian-Hungarian cultural season.

Focus on Minority Theater

A notable new development is the inclusion of a dedicated section for global minority theater. Dramaturg Kirill Fokin announced that this initiative, which gained momentum during a webinar in late 2025, will bring performances from Tatar, Bashkir, Chuvash, Welsh, Frisian, and Catalan theaters to Budapest.

Irén Novák, Deputy State Secretary for Arts and Community Culture, attended the announcement and underscored the importance of this focus. She noted that under the leadership of Vidnyánszky — who has personal experience with minority-language theater — the National Theater is uniquely positioned to provide a platform for these creative communities.

Looking ahead, the National Theater is also exploring international partnerships beyond Europe, with preliminary co-production plans already underway with the Mongolian National Theater for a future performance regarding Attila the Hun.

More:
mitem.hu/en/news
 

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