CONTENTS Newsletter of Magyar Filmunió · February 2007 · No.11 MAGYARFILMUNIÓ newsletter 4 13 14 7 10 Awards and Recognitions 2006 Hungarian Film Critics’ Prizes 57 th BERLINALE Berlinale Camera Award to Márta Mészáros Zoltán Szilágyi Varga: Court Record Csaba Bollók: Iska’s Journey Árpád Bogdán: Happy New Life Károly Esztergályos: Men in the Nude Krisztina Goda: Children of Glory Srdan Golubovic: The Trap 10 years Templeton Film Award Shooting Stars 2007 Péter Nagy Berlinale Talent Campus #5 Eurimages An Interview with Ferenc Grunwalsky
Transcript
C O N T E N T SN e w s l e t t e r o f M a g y a r F i l m u n i ó · F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 7 · N o . 1 1
MA
GY
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FI
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IÓnewsletter
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10
Awards and Recognitions 2006
Hungarian Film Critics’ Prizes
57th BERLINALE
Berlinale Camera Award
to Márta Mészáros
Zoltán Szilágyi Varga:
Court Record
Csaba Bollók:
Iska’s Journey
Árpád Bogdán:
Happy New Life
Károly Esztergályos:
Men in the Nude
Krisztina Goda:
Children of Glory
Srdan Golubovic:
The Trap
10 years
Templeton Film Award
Shooting Stars 2007
Péter Nagy
Berlinale
Talent Campus #5
Eurimages
An Interview
with Ferenc Grunwalsky
D E A R R E A D E R ,Hungarian films have been widely acknowledged internationally in the past year. We atMagyar Filmunió are extremely proud to have organised the screening of Hungarian filmson 1000 different occasions, at more than 300 film festivals, cultural and film events allover the world. Many awards have been given to Hungarian filmmakers worldwide.Regarding the feature films premiered in 2006, FRESH AIR by Ágnes Kocsis is at the top ofthe list as far as festival screenings and awards are concerned, followed by TAXIDERMIAby György Pálfi, WHITE PALMS by Szabolcs Hajdu, JUST SEX AND NOTHING ELSE byKrisztina Goda or István Szabó's latest film, RELATIVES.And let us not forget about short films, either, because in 2006 the European Film Academyawarded the best short film award to an internationally acclaimed Hungarian film,BEFORE DAWN by Bálint Kenyeres.
We should now look ahead, for there are two important professional events in the near futurewhich shall both prove decisive from the point of view of evaluating Hungarian films andof their international career. The most recent documentaries, short films and feature filmswill be shown at the 38th Hungarian Film Week. Both the audience and the jury will be ableto choose from a wide assortment of programmes. Some 300 different films will be shownwithin the various sections, in competition and out of competition.
In line with tradition, the other important event is the Berlinale, where the Hungariancinematography and the Hungarian film industry will be more markedly present than theyhave been for a long time. Zoltán Szilágyi Varga's COURT RECORD. - IN MEMORIAM PÉTERMANSFELD, made at the Kecskemétfilm animation studio, has been released in the shortfilm competition. The film in competition of the renewed “Generation” programme is CsabaBollók's work, ISZKA'S JOURNEY. “Panorama” chose two Hungarian films to appear in itsselection, Árpád Bogdán's first film, entitled HAPPY NEW LIFE, and MEN IN THE NUDE byKároly Esztergályos. The “Berlinale Special” will show Krisztina Goda's film, CHILDRENOF GLORY, which was extremely popular in cinemas all around the country.We are especially pleased that the Berlin Film Festival honours MÁRTA MÉSZÁROS by theCamera Award this year, and pays tribute to her oeuvre by showing her film ADOPTION,for which she was awarded the Golden Bear in 1975, the first female director to be given thisprize in the history of the festival.The feature film entitled THE TRAP, made in Serbian-German-Hungarian co-production, theHungarian co-production partner being Új Budapest Filmstúdió, will figure in the “Forum”programme of the festival.
We shall also take part in birthday celebrations, as SHOOTING STARS, created by theEuropean Film Promotion and organised along with the festival, is celebrating its 10thanniversary. This year will be the sixth time that talented young Hungarian actors andactresses are introduced in this programme. Hungary will be represented by PÉTER NAGY,the leading actor starring in Gábor Herendi's latest film, LORA.The John Templeton Film Award came into existence ten years ago, and this is another reasonfor celebration. IBOLYA FEKETE will be representing Hungary here. Her film, CHICO wonthis prestigious award in 2001. Four young Hungarian film artists will take part in the TALENT CAMPUS this year.
It seems that the year has started well. We hope that it will continue in the same way. Weare counting on the support of the film profession here at home, and on our friends andpartners abroad.
Éva Vezér General Manager
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PRIZES
4
FESTIVAL DATE TITLE DIRECTOR PRIZE
Sundance 17–29 Jan Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Honorable MentionParis — Ciné Junior 18 Jan—01 Feb Rendez-vous Ferenc Cakó Audience PrizeAngers — Premiers Plans 20–29 Jan Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres ARTE AwardWürzburg 26–29 Jan Maestro Géza M. Tóth Third PrizeAnnonay 03–13 Feb Black Brush Roland Vranik Best Soundtrack:
Realistic CrewPorto — Fantasporto 24 Feb—05 Mar Johanna Kornél Mundruczó Special Prize,
Best Actress: Orsi Tóth
Brussels — ANIMA 24 Feb—04 Mar The District! Áron Gauder Best Full-length Animation, Audience Award
Porto — Fantasporto 24 Feb—04 Mar Special Prize for the Hungarian Cinematography
San José — Cinequest 01–12 Mar Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Special PrizeTampere 08–12 Mar Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Prix UIPTiburon 09–17 Mar Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best Short FilmBrussels — BIFFF 10–25 Mar Doll No. 639 András Dési , Gábor Móray Grand PrixGifu — HIAFFF 17–19 Mar Maestro Géza M. Tóth Semi Grand PrixSilver Lake 23–31 Mar Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best Short FilmParis — Signes de Nuit 29 Mar—02 Apr Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Main PrizeMilano 30 Mar—10 Apr Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best Short FilmWiesbaden — goEast! 05–11 Apr Death Rode Putyi Horváth Federal Foreign
Out of Persia Office’s PrizeSyracuse 06–09 Apr Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best Short FilmEspinho 09–16 Apr Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best SequenceAubagne 10–15 Apr Secondhand Dreams Orsolya Báthory Best Short FictionAubagne 10–15 Apr Johanna Kornél Mundruczó Special PrizeAmsterdam — Fantastic 19–26 Apr Doll No. 639 András Dési, Gábor Móray Black Tulip for the
Best Short FilmNashville 20–26 Apr Doll No. 639 András Dési, Gábor Móray Best Narrative Short FilmArizona 20–26 Apr Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best Dramatic Short FilmNewport Beach 20–30 Apr Now You See Me, Attila Szász Best Director
Now You Don’tRome — Cartoon 26–28 Apr Maestro Géza M. Tóth Best Short From EuropeSt. Petersburg -Multivision 28 Apr Maestro Géza M. Tóth First PrizeBanska Bystrica -Envirofilm 02–06 May Time Bombs Tibor Kocsis Prize of the Minister
of EnvironmentNaoussa — ISFVF 04–07 May Maestro Géza M. Tóth Special MentionCannes — Cinéfondation 17–28 May The Virus Ágnes Kocsis Third PrizeReggio Emilia 17–21 May Maestro Géza M. Tóth Audience PrizeCampobasso — Kimera 19–20 May Maestro Géza M. Tóth Best Animation, Audience Prize
2006
Gabriella Hámori Andrea Roberti
Szabolcs Hajdu
Bálint Kenyeres
Orsi Tóth
Seattle 25 May—18 Jun Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Grand PrizeZlin 28 May—03 Jun Maestro Géza M. Tóth Hermina Tyrlova Award
for Best Young DirectorZlin 28 May—03 Jun Cartoon Pál Tóth Best AnimationNew York — Brooklyn 01–10 Jun The Caroussel Rites Zoltán Gayer, Péter Molnár Best Experimental FilmCluj — Transilvania 02–11 Jun Taxidermia György Pálfi Best DirectorTokyo — Shorts Shorts 03 Jun—31 Aug Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best Short FilmHuesca 08–17 Jun Maestro Géza M. Tóth Special MentionAcapulco 10–17 Jun Fateless Lajos Koltai Silver Jaguar
(New Directors’ Main Prize)La Bourboule 13–18 Jun Maestro Géza M. Tóth Children Jury’s Prize— Plein la BobineEbensee 18–24 Jun Lucky Man Tamás Keményffy Ebenseer Bear in SilverTrencianske Teplice — ARTff 23 Jun—01 Jul Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Best ScrenplayTrencianske Teplice — ARTff 23 Jun—01 Jul White Palms Szabolcs Hajdu Best Short FilmStrumica — Asterfest 24–26 Jun New Eldorado Tibor Kocsis Bronze HorseshoeCapalbio 28 Jun—02 Jul Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Toscan Film Commission’s
Award, Best Cinematographer:Mátyás Erdély
Triest — Maremetraggio 30 Jun—08 Jul Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Critics’ PrizeKarlovy Vary 30 Jun—08 Jul White Palms Szabolcs Hajdu East of the West’s
Special MentionBrussels 30 Jun—08 Jul Fresh Air Ágnes Kocsis Iris Award (ex-aequo)Triest — Maremetraggio 30 Jun—08 Jul Maestro Géza M. Tóth CEI AwardBrussels 30 Jun—08 Jul Taxidermia György Pálfi Iris Award (ex-aequo)Rome — Cinemadamare 05 Jul—15 Aug Granades Péter Politzer Epeus AwardLocarno — Critics’ Week 02–12 Aug A Guest of Life Tibor Szemzô Special MentionPuerto Rico 06–13 Aug Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres First PrizeCrested Butte — Reel Fest 09–13 Aug Lucky Man Tamás Keményffy FUJI Cinematography Award:
Zsolt TóthNancy 01–09 Sep Doll No. 639 András Dési, Gábor Móray Grand Prix of the
European Youth ForumAtlanta — Dragon*Con 01–04 Sep Now You See Me, Attila Szász Thriller Category Finalist
Now You Don’tAntalya — Eurasia 16–23 Sep Taxidermia György Pálfi Best DirectorAthens — Panorama 23–30 Sep Maestro Géza M. Tóth Best AnimationSplit 25 Sep—01 Oct Béla Tarr Special Festival AwardChangzhou — CICDAF 28 Sep—01 Oct The Water Fairy Lajos Nagy Best Television Program
(Hungarian Folk Tales)
Reykjavik 28 Sep—08 Oct Fresh Air Ágnes Kocsis Honorable MentionHarlem 05–08 Oct Now You See Me, Attila Szász Best Short Film
Now You Don’tChicago 05–19 Oct Taxidermia György Pálfi Silver HugoEssonne — Cinessonne 06–21 Oct White Palms Szabolcs Hajdu Grand Prix
5
György Pálfi
Ágnes Kocsis
Kata Dobó , Krisztina Goda , Judit Schell
István Madarász
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Warsaw 06–25 Oct Fresh Air Ágnes Kocsis FIPRESCI PrizeCesky Krumlov — EKOFILM 08–14 Oct Gypsy Moth Szabolcs Mosonyi Best Scientific
Worms from the Hell and EducationalProgramme
Smith Falls — River and Rails 13–15 Oct Maestro Géza M. Tóth Best Short AnimationBar — Television 16–19 Oct The Mediator Katalin Petényi, Barna Kabay Best Cinematographer:
Péter JankuraCharlotte — Cackalacky 18–22 Oct Now You See Me, Attila Szász Best Foreign Short Film
Now You Don’tWeimar — Backup 19–22 Oct Maestro Géza M. Tóth Audience PrizeValladolid 20–28 Oct Sooner or Later István Madarász Best Short Film’s
Golden SpikeLas Palmas de Gran Canaria 31 Oct—04 Nov Maestro Géza M. Tóth Animation Prize (ex-aequo)— MediafestLeeds 02–12 Nov Maestro Géza M. Tóth Special MentionStuttgart — Ulrich Schiegg 03–05 Nov Maestro Géza M. Tóth Special PrizeTargu Mures — AlterNative 08–12 Nov Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres Duna TV’s Special PrizeLjubljana 10–24 Nov White Palms Szabolcs Hajdu FIPRESCI PrizeBarcelona — l’Alternativa 10–18 Nov Fresh Air Ágnes Kocsis Special MentionAnnapolis 10–13 Nov Lucky Man Tamás Keményffy Overall Festival WinnerCottbus 4–18 Nov Taxidermia György Pálfi Don Quijote AwardBatumi 15–21 Nov Dealer Benedek Fliegauf Best DirectorTokyo — Akira Kurosawa 17 Nov War Next Door Péter Politzer Honorable MentionFoundationMadrid — Experimental 17–24 Nov War Next Door Péter Politzer Special Prize of the JuryBukarest — DaKino 21–26 Nov Doll No. 639 András Dési, Gábor Móray Best Cinematographer:
Sándor Csukás Bukarest — DaKino 21–26 Nov Strip-Tease Attila V. Nagy Prize for Autor FilmBukarest — DaKino 21–26 Nov Moszny Róbert Lakatos Best DirectorAntwerpen — Sociale Films 23–24 Nov Black Brush Roland Vranik Best DebutfilmTallinn — Black Nights 23 Nov—10 Dec Taxidermia György Pálfi Estonian Film Critics’ AwardCairo 29 Nov—09 Dec The Eighth Day Judit Elek Best Screenplay
of the WeekMonte Carlo — Comédie 30 Nov—02 Dec Just Sex Krisztina Goda Best Actress: Judit Schell
and Nothing ElseRouen 01–08 Dec Dealer Benedek Fliegauf Grand PrixBratislava 01–09 Dec Fresh Air Ágnes Kocsis Student Jury’s PrizeVolgograd — VIDEOLOGIA 07–10 Dec Maestro Géza M. Tóth Audience PrizeDelhi — IIWFF 11–18 Dec Fresh Air Ágnes Kocsis Best DirectorIstambul — Cinema & History 15–22 Dec White Palms Szabolcs Hajdu Best FilmIstambul — Cinema & History 15–22 Dec Márta Mészáros Life Achievement AwardEuropean Film Academy Before Dawn Bálint Kenyeres European Film Award–Prix UIPAmerican Film Academy White Palms Szabolcs Hajdu Hungarian Entry for the OscarEuropean Film Academy Fresh Air Ágnes Kocsis Nominated for the European
Discovery Award
PRIZES 2006FESTIVAL DATE TITLE DIRECTOR PRIZE
6 Judit Schell
Putyi Horváth
MAGYAR ÚJSÁGÍRÓKORSZÁGOS SZÖVETSÉGE
ASSOCIATION OF HUNGARIAN
JOURNALISTS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
ADÉL STANCZEL
for Taxidermia directed by György Pálfi
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
GHEORGHE DINICA
for White Palms / Fehér tenyér directed by Szabolcs Hajdu
BEST LEADING ACTRESS:
JÚLIA NYAKÓ
for Fresh Air / Friss levegô directed by Ágnes Kocsis
BEST LEADING ACTOR:
CSABA CZENE, GERGELY TRÓCSÁNYI, MARC BISCHOFF
for Taxidermia directed by György Pálfi
BEST DOCUMENTARY:
JÁNOS LITAUSZKI
for Threadbare / Cérnaszálon
BEST SHORT FILM:
MÁRTON SZIRMAI
for Tripe and Onions / Szalontüdô
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM:
TIBOR SZEMZÔ
for A Guest of Life / Az élet vendége
BEST DIRECTION AND CINEMATOGRAPHY:
ISTVÁN SZALADJÁK
for Bird Savouir, Clouds, Wind / Madárszabaditó, felhô, szél
BEST FIRST FILM:
ÁGNES KOCSIS
for Fresh Air / Friss levegô
FILM CRITICS’ SPECIAL PRIZE:
PÉTER HALÁSZ
for Herminafields / Herminamezô
BEST DIRECTOR:
GYÖRGY PÁLFI
for Taxidermia
HUNGARIAN FILM CRITICS’ LÁSZLÓ B. NAGY PRIZE:
SZABOLCS HAJDU
for White Palms / Fehér tenyér
HUNGARIAN FILM CRITICS’ LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
OFFERED BY THE MOTION PICTURE PUBLIC FOUNDATION OF HUNGARY:
JÁNOS HERSKÓ
White Palms
Fresh Air
A Guest of Life
Bird Savouir, Clouds, Wind
Taxidermia
2007 PRIZES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE HUNGARIAN JOURNALISTS
Hungarian Film Critics’ PrizesHungarian Film Critics’ Prizes
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B E R L I N A L E K A M E R A A W A R D T O
M Á R T A M É S Z Á R O S
The Berlinale Camera is awarded to a filmpersonality to whom the film festival feelsespecially attached. This award is a way ofexpressing thanks and has been given everyyear since 1986.
For her outstanding career as a filmmaker
and for being the first woman to ever win a
Golden Bear for best film, the Berlinale
honors MÁRTA MÉSZÁROS with the
BERLINALE CAMERA AWARD.
The first Golden Bear“Berlin was politically boycotted by thesocialist countries. It was a taboo for a longtime and we did not even go to this festival.When I made Adoption, a film accepted butpretty criticised in Hungary, István Dósaiwas managing director of Hungarofilm. Hewas a great organiser, loved the Hungarianfilm and did a lot for it. He called me to saythat we were going to the festival and thatmy film was selected for the competition.It was the first time for me in West-Berlinand really exciting. On the other side of the
Wall abeautiful city
was blooming. The weather was great, backthen the festival took place in the summer.As my film was being screened, the cinemawas full and success was a little bit in theair. Many people wanted to see it, so we hada great time. Kati Berek, the protagonistcame with me and was also very successful.They compared her to Annie Girardot, whowas a really great diva back then. At the endof the festival Dósai called me to say we wona prize and so we would have to go here andthere. I was in my room on the day of the
official gala, when Dósai called again. I stillremember his words: “Are you standing? Ifyou are, sit down. We won the grand prize.”Claudia Cardinale handed me the prize andasked me, if I was the protagonist. I told herI was the director, which surprised her. Ibecame the first female director to get agrand prize at a great international festival,so the emancipated women in Berlin allstood behind me. The film became world-famous, I travelled through the world withit and more then eighty countries bought it.It was really interesting how Hungariancritics hardly wrote about it and even whenthey did, after the Hungarian premiere inthe autumn, it was not very positive.After the grand prize my films were ofteninvited to festivals and I was often asked tosit on juries. Back then the festival wassignificant politically, since the divided citywas reunited for two weeks every year.Soviet filmmakers stayed in East-Berlin andcame over to see the films. The festivalwanted to ease the tension created by theIron Curtain. The Berlinale was unique inbeing truly international. It never tried tobe German and wanted to present the wholeworld. The atmosphere at the screeningsand press conferences, as well as thejudgment of the films was really democratic.This festival was a forum of manydimensions and no star parade. One nevergot the impression: “You come from theother side of the Iron Curtain, but we aregenerous, so you also get a tiny piece of thecake …”After the success of Adoption my namestarted to sound familiar in theworld. Directors with agrand prize, whosenames are neverheard again, areeasily forgot-ten. For me theGolden Bearmeant that inthe followingyears none ofmy film planswere rejected,even though
they did not like my films in Hungary toomuch. It helped also that they were boughtfor cinema-distribution, as well astelevision. Back then a film with a prize wasbound to be bought by distributors —something not so evident today. The GoldenBear and the Silver Bear I got later are stillin my house. When I was invited to thefestival again, a secretary asked me: “Whereis the Bear?” — “At home” — I said. “Howcome? Didn’t the state take it?” — she askedand added as a way of explanation: “AGolden Bear is worth a lot of money…” Thatis how she imagined Communism from theother side of the Iron Curtain.”
MÁRTA MÉSZÁROS
MÁRTA MÉSZÁROS’ FILMS AT THE BERLIN INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL
1975 | Adoption/ÖrökbefogadásGolden Bear, CIDALC Prize, OCICPrize, Otto Dibelius Prize
1977 | Nine Month/Kilenc hónap
1979 | Just Like at Home/Olyan, mint otthon
1987 | Diary for my Loves/Napló szerelmeimnekSilver Bear, OCIC Prize
1994 | Fetus/A magzat
Adoption, 1975
Photo: Évi Fábián
(2006, animation, colour, 7 min.)
Director, Screenplay: Zoltán Szilágyi Varga
Photography: János CsehAnimaton:
Zoltán Szilágyi Varga,Nikolay Ivanov Neykov
Sound: András Imre Nyerges H.A.E.S.Music: László MelisProduction Company: KecskemétfilmProduction Manager: Veronika VécsyProducer: Ferenc Mikulás
In retaliation to the counterattacks that followedthe suppression of the 1956 revolution and warof independence in Hungary, Péter Mansfeld,who had just turned 18, was executed on March21st 1956 att w e n t y - t w ominutes pastnine in themorning in asolemnly pre-meditated polit-ical manoeuvre.
(2007, feature, colour, 93 mins)
Written and Directed by Csaba Bollók Director of Photography: Francisco Gózon Edited by Judit Czakó Design: Csaba Czene, Mihály Kostyál, Razvan RaduCostumes: Melinda Domán Sound: András Vámosi Music: Balázs Temesvári Production Company: MerkelfilmProducer: Ágnes CsereCast: Mária Varga, Marian Ursache, Rózsika Varga, Marius Bodochi, Ágnes Csere, Noémi Fodor, Dan Tudor, Zsolt Bogdán
Iska is a twelve year-old girl living on the streetsin a coalmining town in Eastern Europe. Thestory follows her initiation journey from hersmall town until the Black Sea where shebecomes a subject of human trafficking.
Street children play themselves in this storywhich is full of their vitality and eagerness toescape their fate. When Iska is taken to an orphanage and askedif her parents hurt her, she is happy to answer,“They do not beat me every day.”
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C o u r t R e c o r d .IN MEMORIAM PÉTER MANSFELD
I s z k a ’ s J o u r n e y
(2006, feature, colour, 80 mins)
Written and Directed by Árpád Bogdán Director of Photography: Márk Gyôri, Gábor SzabóEdited by Márk GyôriCostumes: Andrea FleschSound: Lajos Csernóczky, Music: Membran Production Company: Laokoon FilmProducer: Gábor Sipos, Gábor RajnaCast: Lajos Orsós, Michaela Gôczi, Zsolt Kovács,István Szilvási, Roland Tzafetás, Ágnes Daróczi,Lívia Kursinszki, Richárd Orgon
The story takes place in a modern-dayanonymous city, with nameless characters. Thetime of day is uncertain. It is set in a suburbanmilieu in empty, abandoned areas and tunnelsin remote parts of the city. The outskirts areaustere. The protagonist lives here alone, in ahousing development apartment building. He isRom, grew up in a foster-home, and never knewhis parents. Neither does he know anythingabout normalcy or the ways of the World. His
aspirations vac-illate betweendormant aimsand illusions. Hehas very fewfriends whowould be able tounderstand any-thing about hisidle existence.A deep desire tobelong to some-one burns withinhim, and is slow-
ly taking shape, but this causes him problems.The person who looks after him offers him anunusual gift one day. He is given the dossier thatincludes his childhood files. These documentsmay give him hope to reconstract episodes leftunfinished in his childhood.
(2006, feature, colour, 94 mins)
Written and Directed by Károly Esztergályos
Director of Photography: Miklós Bíró Edited by Éva Palotai
Sound: György Kovács Music: Péter Mátraházi, Ferenc Bóka
Design: Márta JánoskutiProduction Company:
Centrál FilmstúdióProducer: György Gyula Fülöp
Cast: László Gálffi, Éva Kerekes, Dávid Szabó,
Ilona Nagy, Tamás Végvári,
László Sinkó, Sándor Téri,
Ádám Lux, Sándor Sörös,
Sándor Tóth
An absurd, forbidden, ridiculous, yet sacred andyes, respectful story about love, in which lovehappens to evolve between two men. At almost50, Tibor is a rather unsuccessful Hungarianwriter, but an attractive and elegant man. Hiswife, the once well-known actress is still quitepretty, but lately appears only on provincialstages. Their marriage and careers declining,their hearts burning out, they still share onecommon feeling: the fear of getting old. Andthen, quite unexpectedly, a young boy withnothing to lose sets an eye on Tibor. The boywants to flee from home by any meansnecessary and uses his body for thebreakthrough as his only tool. Tibor falls for thebboy, thinks he is in love with him, and, nomatter what his senses say, deliberately ignoreswhat is happening to him.
Happy New Li fe Men in the Nude
Fir
st F
eatu
re F
ilm
Director:: Srdan GolubovicProducers: Jelena Mitrovic,
Alexander Ris, László KántorProduction companies:
Film House Bas Celik (SRB),Mediopolis GmbH (D),
Új Budapest Filmstúdió (H)
The Trap is a film about an ordinary man, who isforced to choose between life and death of hisown child. It is a story about the moral dilemmaof the protagonist — whether to save the life ofhis son by accepting to become a killer...
(2006, feature, colour, 120 min)
Director: Krisztina GodaOriginal Screenplay: Joe Eszterhas
Writing credits by Éva Gárdos,Géza Bereményi, Réka Divinyi
Photography: Buda Gulyás, János VecsernyésEdited by Éva Gárdos, Annamária KomlóssyMusic: Nick Glennie-SmithProduction Desing: János Szabolcs Costumes: Beatrix Aruna PásztorCo-Producers: Clive Parsons, Tamás Zákonyi S.Producer: Andrew G. VajnaExecutive Producer: Sándor Demján Cast: Iván Fenyô, Kata Dobó, Sándor Csányi,Viktória Szávai, Zsolt Huszár
Budapest, 1956. A young waterpolo star, Karcsi,becomes embroiled in the anti-Soviet Revolutionthat is brewing in the streets. At first, he is onlyout for adventure, but a fiery student, Viki,catches Karcsi’s eye. And in following her stepshe finds himself right at the heart of theuprising. Soon, with the subsequent retreat ofthe Red Army, the Revolution seems to be asuccess. Karcsi returns to his team to play at theMelbourne Olympics. Little does he know thatthe Soviets are marching right back into
Hungary...It is now upto Karcsiand histeam matesto show theworld thatthis smallnation willnot bedefeated.
Children of Glory made more than 400 000admissions in Hungary since its release on 23rdOctober, 2006.
T h e T r a p
Children of Glory
JEAN-PIERRE ÉS LUC DARDENNE
KENNETH GLENAAN
ANDREJ SVJAGINCEV
AKI KAURISMÄKI
IBOLYA FEKETE BARBARA ALBERT
YESIM USTAOGLU
KEN LOACH
HOMAS VINTERBERG
BEN VAN LIESHOUT
10 YEARS EUROPEAN JOHN TEMPLETON FILM AWARD
First awarded in 1997, the European Templeton FilmAward is presented annually in February during theBerlinale. The prize is awarded to films of highestartistic merit that lend expression to viewpoints inkeeping with the message of the Scriptures; to filmswhich make audiences sensitive to spiritual and socialvalues; or to films that stimulate debate in thesesareas; and have already received an Ecumenical Awardduring the year.
In 2001 CHICO a film by Ibolya Fekete(Hungary/Germany/Croatia/Chile) won the European John Templeton Film Award
“…for showing the spiritual dimension of humanexistence that lasts, while ideologies come and go —Ibolya Fekete in the end an “ideological adventurefilm” which poses many questions for but does notattempt to provide answers.”
The European Templeton FilmAward is presented on behalf of theJohn Templeton Foundation by theInternational Interchurch FilmOrganisation INTERFILM and theConference of European Churches.
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European Film Promotion celebrates ten years ofEurope’s most promising acting talent
MAGYAR FILMUNIÓ AS THE HUNGARIAN EFP MEMBER HAS PARTICIPATED IN THESHOOTING STARS PROGRAMME AT THE BERLINALE SINCE 2002
Péter Nagy, born in Budapest, was professionally trained at a numberof prestigious acting schools: between 1998—2001 he studied at theFöldessy Margit Acting and Drama Studio and from 2002—2006, hewas at the Hungarian Academy of Drama and Film. He has performedon the stages of the Móricz Zsigmond Theatre as well as recently in2006 at the Csokonai Theatre in Debrecen, Hungary.Péter has been cast in a number of television roles, most notably inOLIVER VII, based on the novel by Antal Szerb, and directed by JózsefPacskovszky. His feature film debut was in Gábor Dettre’s productionof CLOUD OVER THE GANGES. In 2007, he can be seen in a leading role in the romantic drama LORA,the new film by famous Hungarian director Gábor Herendi (A KINDOF AMERICA and HUNGARIAN VAGABOND).
FILMS
LORA, 2007, Gábor HerendiOLIVER VII.(TV), 2000, József PacskovszkyCLOUD OVER THE GANGES/FELHÔ A GANGESZ FELETT, 2000, Dettre Gábor
2004: Eszter Ónodi — of Happy Birthday!directed by Csaba Fazekas
2005: Dorka Gryllus — leading actress of Dallas Pashamende directed by Adrián Róbert Pejó
2002: Marcell Miklós — leading actor ofTemptations directed by Zoltán Kamondi
2003: Szonja Oroszlán — of A Kind of America directed by Gábor Herendi
2006: Gabriella Hámori — leading actress of Stop Mom Theresa!directed by Péter Bergendy
Introducing Europe’s New Acting Talent
Leading actor of LORA directed by Gábor HerendiPÉTER NAGY
Photos: András Fekete, Skyfilm
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ccaammppuuss #5
HOME AFFAIRS — PRIVACY, FILMS AND POLITICS: the fifth Berlinale TalentCampus is dedicated to the search for cultural identity in an increasingly globalfilm industry. The globalization of cinema offers new resources as it simul-taneously renders necessary the reaffirmation of one’s own cinematic culture.
From February 10th to the 15th, 2007, 350 Talents will meet with renowned filmprofessionals and industry experts to discuss the strategies, challenges andopportunities that shape their future careers in the global village. 3678 budding film professionals from 129 countries applied for participation inthe fifth Berlinale Talent Campus.
ANDRÁS GEREVICHis a poet and screenwriter. He has just graduated from the BritishNational Film and Television School in screenwriting. In the UK eightof his scripts were made into short films, some were shown and prizedin international festivals. He himself directed one short and was also aconsultant on many. Presently he is working on several feature scripts.He lives in Budapest and London.
ISTVÁN MADARÁSZI always wanted to be a filmmaker since my childhood, but we didn’town a camera, so I unfortunately lost a little time, but now I’m workinghard on becoming a famous director. My latest short film, Sooner orLater won several awards. Just recently it was awarded the Golden Spikefor the best short film in Valladolid, Spain. To the Talent Campus I senta 1 minute surprising and scary part of Sooner or Later which washonoured with the invitation. Currently we’re in the pre-production of my newshort film, called Saturday Morning expected to shoot at the end of February. Iam also working on the script of my first feature film.My favourite food is stuffed cabbage.
KATA PETÔI graduated in 2004 from the Hungarian Film Academy, as an actress,before joining the Kaposvári Csiky Gergely Theatre in Kaposvár, whereI have been entrusted with a variety of different roles. I was awarded aBerlinale Talent Campus scholarship for my starring role in the filmPremier, which was directed by Tamás Dömötör and is an adaptation ofthe theatre production Kleist Penthesilea. To date, the film has beenscreened at one festival, the CineFest (Miskolc, Hungary), at which it received thefilm critics’ award. Besides this, I have also appeared in Csaba Bollók’s Miraq andFerenc Török’s Overnight.
PÉTER VADÓCZI graduated on Communications major at Kodolányi János UniversityCollege in 2001; recently I’m studying at Science University of Pécs; Imake my own short films in an active way for 8 years. In the past 3 yearsmy shorts were selected to take part in the competitive sections of morethan one hundred international film festivals in 27 countries, all overthe world. I got prizes from Hungary, Italy, Germany, Ukraine,Azerbaijan and USA. I also submitted an award-winning short movie to the TalentCampus, which won the Main Prize of Prix Europa Spot category in Berlin, thisyear. This spot demonstrates in a humorous and experimental way that Europe isnot only an abstract idea, but it also resides in our daily life; our surrounding, theobjects, the people — all of us constitute the common Europe. During the German EU Presidency in 2007 this is the official EU-spot.
4 Participants from Hungary
EURIMAGES, the audiovisual fund of the Council ofEurope had 32 member states in 2006. With a budgetof nearly 20 million Euros from contributions bymember states, it supported the production of 56 co-productions and in certain countries film distributionand cinema-theatres. Hungarian companies continueto be eligible for support for the distribution ofHungarian films outside the EU. Jacques Toubon,former Minister of Culture and Minister of Justice ofFrance and Member of the European Parliament, wasre-elected as President of Eurimages in October 2006.
Films with Hungarian participation received thefollowing support in 2006:
PRODUCTIONMamarosh (Momcilo Mrdakovics)DE, CS, FR, HU (Mythberg Film) 280 000 ¤On the Way Home (S. Aslanyürek) TR, HU (Tivoli Film) 200 000 ¤The Beheaded Rooster (Radu Gabrea) RO, DE, AT, HU (Új Budapest St.) 250 000 ¤Valleys of Fear (Gyôrik Mihály)CH, HU, IT (Focus Film) 300 000 ¤Panna Cinka / The Gipsy Virgin (Dusan Rapos) SK, IT (Focus Film) 220 000 ¤Total production support: 1 250 000 ¤
DISTRIBUTIONFateless
HU (Bir Film Ithalat) 6 000 ¤The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
RO (Szimplafilm) 4 100 ¤Stop Mom Theresa!
HU (S. C. Interfilm Rom) 4 100 ¤Heads or Tails
RO (S. C Grafitti Art 2005) 4 800 ¤Glass Tiger
RO (S. C. Interfilm Rom) 4 800 ¤Song of Fools
RO (S. C Grafitti Art 2005) 4 500 ¤Taxidermia
RO (Asociata Moebius) 7 000 ¤Glass Tiger 2
RO (S. C. Interfilm Rom) 5 500 ¤Liberté 56
RO (S. C. Cinecorvin) 5 700 ¤White Palms
RO (S. C. Interfilm Rom) 5 700 ¤12:08 East of Bucharest
RO (Szimplafilm) 5 700 ¤Total distribution support: 57 900 ¤
Projects with Hungarian participation received a totalsupport of 1.307.900 ¤ in 2006, and Hungary’s mem-bership contribution was 198.183 ¤ in the same year.
EURIMAGES is the only Pan-European fund thatsupports the production of co-produced cinemato-graphic works. Despite its relatively modest budget, ithas become a significant factor in European filmproduction over the last two decades.
Zsolt Kézdi-KovácsRepresentative of Hungary to EURIMAGES
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W I T H F E R E N C G RA N I N T E R V I E W
What can you say about the year 2006from the point of view of the Hungariancinema and the Motion Picture PublicFoundation of Hungary?There was an exceptionally highnumber of films made in 2006. Besidesof the feature films, 12 television works,56 documentaries, 35 scientific-documentaries, 17 short films had beengranted support by the Motion PicturePublic Foundation of Hungary. 2006was a productive year with some realhard work involved. We worked“ahead”, there are many things whichwill only have results in 2007.Nevertheless, we can be sure that atleast 15–16 feature films will be finishedby the Film Week next year. The MotionPicture Public Foundation of Hungaryis not simply a machine allocatingfunds but an important intellectual andprofessional centre of the Hungariancinema and film production as well. Itsactivities, allocation system and thepriorities of its functions giveguidelines to the profession and havefundamental impacts on the processeswithin. It is the repository of the unityfeeling of the profession and therepresentative of their interests.
What is the reason do you think that anincreasing number of films are pre-sented at the Film Weeks?The high number of entries is due, firstof all, to three things. There are filmswhich received support 3–4 years agofirst, which means that their openingthis year was preceded by a very longproduction process. The number offilms produced in 2006 was alsoincreased by the films which wonsupport at the special tender for filmsabout 1956 initiated by the 1956
Memorial Committee. There are otherfilms which were made with simpletechnical solutions and on a budgetmuch lower than that of an averageHungarian film. However, it is importantto mention that not all the filmsproduced had been supported by us. 30feature films were entered intocompetition this year, that is why, forthe first time this year, the Board of theFilm Week decided to introduce pre-selection even in this category while inthe other categories pre selection is along established process. Close to 150documentaries, 30 scientific education-al, 120 experimental and short filmshave also been entered into competition.
Some Hungarian films were rathersuccessful abroad last year. Theyparticipated in the Sundance Festival,there were 4 films in Cannes, we had afeature film in Locarno and Veniceagain, and Before Dawn won theEuropean Film Award. What is your opinion about thissuccessful year?First of all it is the strong younggeneration of Hungarian filmmakersthat have made themselves known inthe world thus making the Hungarianfilm more popular as well. Ourcontinuous presence at the inter-national festivals, work-shops andcoproduction forums helps film-makers to gain opportunities to usejoint European efforts in producingtheir new films. We must join thecultural cooperation where inter-national efforts are indispensable andessential for all European par-ticipants. In the field of production acertain kind of cooperation canalready be observed, but it is an
important and mutual task for all ofus to make sure that European filmsreach their audience beyond theborders as well. Besides furtherdeveloping cooperation in production,Hungarian cinema has to reach theterritories beyond its borders asregards distribution as well. More andmore Hungarian films should reachthe television channels and thetheatres of Europe.
There are many young talents who haverecently achieved important recog-nition. How does the Motion PicturePublic Foundation of Hungary supportthem?It has been a long standing tradition tosupport young talents. It has never beena problem of generations. Everygeneration does its best and representsitself at the Film Weeks. It has been partof our strategy to support youngfilmmakers which also meant takingsome risks. By making short films anddemos, the Foundation helps youngpeople to reach festivals, makethemselves known and thus be able tojoin the bloodstream of theinternational cinema profession.
After 2006, a year rich in high viewernumbers and international awards,what do you expect for 2007? Whatfinancial possibilities does the MotionPicture Public Foundation of Hungaryhave?We have to count with a 30% decreaseof government support in 2007. Thenew, four year contract is a guaranteethat the minimum does not have to berenegotiated. This is a new feature,which gives us more room for action.Our main task is to work out new
about the current stChairman of the Board of Motion Picture Pu
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U N W A L S K Y
forms of application. Our impetusmust not decrease. We have neverbeen looking on idly at the situationsforced by circumstances. We haveconstantly changed the conditions ofapplication, management, monitoringaccounting as well as the system ofsupervision. We have worked out aproducers’ system and bankfinancing. We have also been able tomake the profession accept the above.That is how a public image has beenformed according to which the cinemaprofession is far ahead of all theothers not only because of itsstubbornness and endurance but alsowith its recurring ideas of reform. Ifpossible, we intend to further developthis quality.
How will the launching of thenew studios affect national filmproduction?
The various film studios havedifferent profiles, they are open tocooperation and since they havedifferent technical backgrounds andsystems of contacts they will be ableto complement well one another. Thenewly launched film studios may givea boost to services work can increaseopportunities for coproductions andprovide more work for professionalsin Hungary. An indispensable task toachieve that is the training of youngprofessionals. The majority of the oldprofessionals have grown old or foundother jobs in the “lean years”. Thereis a thin layer who has been able towork in commercials and one or twolarge scale features, but the averagedid not work on internationalproductions, does not know theirconditions and the moderntechnology they use. That must bechanged.
What do you expect from the 38thHungarian Film Week?Like every film week, the one this yearcan also prove that there is a wideselection, young and not so youngfilmmakers can show their films andevery layer and viewer can find the filmhe is looking for. Of course, you cannever predict for certain which film willbe the greatest hit. What is still missingis the commonly agreed program withtelevision channels which could makesure that not only the feature filmswould be screened on them but alsoHungarian series, adaptation of literaryworks and what is especially missing,children’s films would be made. Weneed a unified and coordinated mediaactivity in order that the films openedat the Film Week could find theiraudience afterwards as well.
15 January, 2007
Noted by Kata Oláh
atus of the Hungarian cinemablic Foundation of Hungary
