The biggest Hungarian film successes in 2016

From winning the biggest awards in the film industry to achieving great successes at many European film festivals and being mentioned among the best in the world, 2016 has been an incredible and in many ways unprecedented year for Hungarian films. As the year is drawing to a close, let’s take a look at some of the most defining moments that made Hungarian film history in 2016.

Undoubtedly, the most exciting piece of film news from the past 12 months has been the success of Son of Saul. The alternative Holocaust drama directed by László Nemes started off the year on a high note, winning the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, followed by the Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film, and crowning the achievements by becoming the second film in Hungarian film history to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film was praised by the international press, chosen as one of the best films of the 21^st century by the BBC and the 2^nd best film of the year by the Guardian.

Nemes László. Photo: MTI

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the biggest film event in Central Europe also brought Hungarian successes. The family drama It’s not the Time of My Life won the main prize, the Crystal Globe, and the director Szabolcs Hajdu, who also starred in the film, won the Best Actor Award. The film also took the top prize at the Bosphorus Film Festival in Istambul.

The cast and crew of It’s not the Time of My Life at the Karlovy Vary film Festival. Photo: MTI/EPA

Another film, Attila Till’s Kills on Wheels premiered at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s East of the West selection. The film was well-received internationally and it has been chosen as Hungary’s entry to the 89^th Academy Awards.

The cast and crew of Kills on Wheels at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Photo: facebook.com/tisztaszivvelfilm

Nadja Andrasev’s animated short film The Sound of Licking has been shown all over Europe, winning a joint 3^rd prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation programme, which awards the best works submitted by film students. It was also selected for the Zagreb World Festival of Animated Film, where Andrasev’s alma mater, the Moholy-Nagy University’s animation department won the prize for being the best education institution which submitted films for selection.

A still from Nadja Andrasev’s The Noise of Licking. Photo: origo.hu

The Hungarian period drama Demimonde won 5 awards at the Tiburon international Film Festival in California. Attila Szász’s film won the award for Best Film and Best Director, Norbert Köbli became the Best Screen Writer, András Nagy the Best Cinemtographer, and János Kulka the Best Actor. Among other awards, the film also won the Jury Award for Best Feature at Anchorage International Film Festival in Alaska, winning 16 awards in total.

Demimonde. Photo: facebook.com/demimondemovie

Hajni Kis’s exam film Beautiful Figure was nominated for a Student Academy Award in the Best Foreign Narrative category. Wednesday Child, Lili Horváth’s film triumphed at the Trieste Film Festival, winning the prize for Best Feature Film. Finally, the short film The Sound of Concrete, directed by István Kovács won the Grand Prix at the International Student Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

Cover photo: mozinet.hu

Source: Daily News Hungary