Rise of the Raven: Highest-budget Hungarian series of all time premieres in Cannes

The world premiere of the 10-episode Rise of the Raven TV series was held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes during MIPCOM, one of the most important annual events in the film, television, and streaming industries. The screening, held in a packed auditorium, was attended by the series’ creators, Hungarian and international stars and producers who arrived on the famous red carpet, where the first episode of the series was enthusiastically received by a professional audience.

rise of the raven series cannes — Photo: Cannes

Rise of the Raven, a series created with the support of Beta Film and the National Film Institute (NFI), has reached another milestone, with the first part of the upcoming series being presented to the biggest content producers and buyers in the film, television and streaming industry. MIPCOM is a significant event for the entertainment industry, marking the first opportunity for industry professionals to deeply engage with the most ambitious Hungarian television production to date.

Beta Film, based in Munich and a major player in the industry, made significant efforts to promote Rise of the Raven in international markets. Koby Gal Raday, a co-producer from Beta Film who has overseen the project since its inception, commented:

“We are delighted and grateful to have successfully held the world premiere of Rise of the Raven at MIPCOM yesterday. It was an incredible experience to watch the opening episode of this special series with our talented cast and crew in the iconic Grand Auditorium in front of a full house. It was the perfect stage to bring the power and magic of Rise of the Raven to audiences around the world.”

Robert Lantos, executive producer of Hunyadi, remarked during the screening: “The theme is one of the greatest untold stories of world history. Since the 15th century, bells have rung at noon to commemorate Hunyadi and his soldiers’ victory at the Battle of Belgrade, but while everyone hears the sound, few in the world know the story. We created this series to change that.” Standing next to the executive producer on the steps of the Festival Palace were the Hungarian and international producers of the series, including Tibor Krskó, executive producers Dr. Kinga Hazai and Cecília Hazai, as well as Oliver Auspitz, Andreas Kamm and Ari Lantos.

The world premiere was also attended by Gellért L. Kádár, who plays the role of János Hunyadi, Vivien Rujder, who plays the role of Erzsébet (Hunyadi’s wife), and Franciska Törőcsik, who portrays Hunyadi’s first love, Mara Branković. Other cast members walking the red carpet included Mariann Hermányi, Ernő Fekete, Elena Rusconi, and Thomas Trabacchi. All four directors of the series were present: Robert Dornhelm, who directed the first episode, alongside Orsi Nagypál, Attila Szász, and showrunner Balázs Lengyel met the international professional community, and Balázs Lengyel summarized the Cannes experience as follows: “Yesterday, we presented the first episode of Rise of the Raven to a crowded audience of MIPCOM professionals. This is a particularly important moment for us, because it is through these professionals that this Hungarian story can reach the most distant TV screens in the world.”

At the world premiere, Vivien Rujder was dressed by Daalarna, Franciska Törőcsik also chose her dress from the Daalarna collection, and her jewellery was provided by Swarovski. Stylist Bea Merkovits recommended a Zhoja evening gown for Mariann Hermányi, complemented by Yana jewellery. Gellért L. Kádár and Ernő Fekete’s appearances were styled by Miklós Schiffer, who selected their outfits from the Roland Divatház Hugo Boss collection.

The Rise of the Raven series, set to air on TV2 in 2025, is based on Bán Mór’s highly successful book series. One of the production’s unique aspects is the historically accurate portrayal of characters, with actors speaking in their native languages, immersing viewers in the historical events that shaped the Kingdom of Hungary and all of Europe.