The Embassy of Ecuador in Hungary invites the Hungarian community to the Ecuadorian Day on Saturday, 20th July, at Hunyadi Square. This event will be held in collaboration with District 6 Terézváros, and will be part of the Festival of Nations.
The event will begin at 3:00 PM, featuring the opening of the photographic exhibition called “Ecuador, a Sustainable Paradise”, followed by a folkloric dance performance, a concert by Dani Torres and various activities for children like storytelling, painting and games.
Additionally, there will be an exhibition of Ecuadorian products available for the public to explore and enjoy. The event will conclude with the screening of Ecuador’s top-grossing film, “Dedicated to My Ex”, which is a family oriented comedy. The program will be conducted in Hungarian and free of charge.
Ecuadorian Day in Budapest
Programme of the Ecuadorian Day at the Festival of Nations in Budapest. Photo: Embassy of Ecuador in Hungary
For more information or inquiries, please get in touch with the organisers at the following e-mail address: ee*********@ca*********.ec.
An exhibition of 19-20th century Hungarian paintings has opened in Ankara within the framework of the Hungarian-Turkish cultural season, the culture and innovation ministry said on Friday.
The show was opened in the Art and Sculpture Museum at an event held on the occasion of the start of Hungary’s presidencyof the Council of the European Unionby Viktor Matis, Hungary’s ambassador to Türkiye, Gábor Csaba, deputy state secretary for cultural diplomacy, and Burhan Kayaturk, the member of the Turkish Great Assembly and chairman of the European Union Harmonization Committee.
Gábor Kovács, the owner of the collection which provided the paintings, said the show features works by Mihály Munkácsy, Károly Markó, Miklós Barabás, László Mednyánszky, Pál Szinyei Merse, István Csók, Károly Kernstock and others, presenting a range of genres including portraits, romantic landscapes, realist and naturalist works created between 1800 and the 1910s.
The 2024 Zsolnay Light Festival dressed up Pécs’s squares and buildings in magical light creations from 4 to 7 July. As the first and still the only light festival in the country, it attracted more than 100,000 visitors from both domestic and international locations, reinforcing the city’s position on the cultural tourism map of Hungary.
The 2024 Zsolnay Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
The central attraction of the Zsolnay Light Festival was the Zsolnay Light Art Video Mapping Competition (Zsolnay Light Art Video Mapping Verseny). In this event, five world-renowned light artists showcased their 3D mappings based on the theme of the Rubik’s Cube.
The façade of the Cathedral came to life with musical animations floating in a flood of colourful lights, providing a stunning visual experience. Based on audience votes, the winner was German artist Jonas Denzel with his piece titled “Chromatic Fusion.” The production can be seen below:
Path of Light
On the Path of Light, visitors could wander enchanted by the most modern light technical marvels and artistic installations, admiring a total of 20 light creations. The Path of Light Extra (Fény Útja Extra) offered a glimpse into 10 more special locations.
At several sites, interactive attractions allowed visitors to become active participants in the experience: at the Mosque, they could send their own light energy up to the golden light planet of the dome, while at the Cella Septichora Visitor Center (Cella Septichora Látogatóközpont), they could create light on a holographic canvas with their hand movements. The Light Carpet remained a crowd favourite, now covering two streets so atmospherically that festival-goers often took photos lying in the middle of the path.
New locations at 2024’s Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
This year, the Path of Light extended beyond the downtown area and successfully debuted new locations including the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter and its surroundings. The event featured international and domestic light artists, creating a true cultural kaleidoscope in the heart of Pécs. A Japanese artist dreamed up a laser show at the Kodály Centre, while visitors could encounter works by a Spanish artist in the Zsolnay Quarter and a French artist downtown, transporting them into the world of sci-fi films.
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
The festival did not only offer light experiences. During the day, visitors were entertained with street theatre and new circus productions, light crafting workshops, and in the evenings, concerts and DJ sets.
Photo: Zsolnay Light Festival
The city was filled to capacity over the weekend, with no available accommodation. Visitors came from all over the country, and even from Morocco, Japan, and Colombia.
World-renowned American actor John Malkovich is in Budapest: however, for the time being, there is no information on whether he is in the country for filming.
John Malkovich in Budapest
American actor John Malkovich recently visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Telex reports. According to the museum’s Facebook post, Malkovich arrived at the museum with his partner, where they were given a guided tour by Director General László Baán. Malkovich and his partner also visited the National Gallery.
“It was a great honour for us to have John Malkovich and his partner visit our museum and see the masterpieces of our art collection, guided by our director László Baán. Follow the Hollywood star’s example and come and visit our exhibitions!” – the museum wrote in its post:
The American actor also visited the Hungarian National Gallery, according to the museum’s Instagram page. According to the post, the works of Károly Ferenczy, József Rippl-Rónai, Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka and Gyula Benczúr were the most popular with the art-loving Malkovich, RTL writes.
According to the newer photos released today, Alexandra Szentkirályi, former government spokeswoman and Fidesz’s candidate for mayor until her resignation, was with Malkovich and his partner, Telex writes. Since the photos shared on Facebook were not captioned, it is not clear in what capacity Szentkirályi was present at the guided tour:
It is not yet clear whether the two-time Oscar-nominated actor is on holiday in Hungary or working on a film shoot.
On 13 July, on the occasion of the French National Day, the French Institute in Budapest will host free concerts and workshops.
Street Ball at the French Institute in Budapest
The French Institute in Budapest is awaiting visitors to the Street Ball with fascinating performances. Photo: French Institute
A colourful programme has been put together for the Street Ball again this year. At the beginning of the evening, a workshop will give those who want to get moving the chance to learn the basics of break dancing, the new sport for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. This will be followed by a Tahitian dance demonstration, evoking the spirit of Tahiti, the venue of this year’s Olympic surfing competition.
In the second half of the French Insitute’s Street Ball, you can dance to the world music of Ötödik Évszak and the European Gypsy and Hungarian folk songs of Romano Glaszo. The evening will end with a rousing DJ set by Daniel Moritz. The French Bistro will offer refreshments and snacks to Street Ball participants.
Programme
18.00–19.00: break dance workshop
France is the hip-hop capital of the world, and it’s no coincidence that break dancing will be an official sport at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. At the Street Ball, you can try the moves of this acrobatic sport! A teacher from the Master Dance School will give a one-hour workshop on the sport.
Photo: French Institute
19.15–19.45: Tahitian dance and drum show
Tahitian dance is an ancient, vibrant, playful, storytelling dance that embodies the spirit and soul of Polynesia. The stories told by Manahiti Táncosok és Dobosok (Manahiti Dancers and Drummers) transcend time and cultures, conveying universal, eternal values. You won’t be able to resist the powerful, sensual rhythm of the drums!
Photo: French Institute
20.00–21.00: Ötödik Évszak
Their music is based on the folk music of the Carpathian Basin, and their original sound is due to the poems that appear in their lyrics, the incorporation of elements of folk music that are not commonly known, and their openness to improvisational genres.
Ötödik Évszak
21.15–22.15: Romano Glaszo
The ensemble’s musical palette includes arrangements of European Gypsy, Hungarian, Serbian, Romanian, Balkan and Jewish folk songs. Their music inspires openness and acceptance.
Romano Glaszo
22.30–24.00: Daniel Moritz
His style is rooted in both the underground music and ballroom scenes, bringing a unique blend of house, hard groove, dark disco and voguing beats to the dance floor.
Daniel Moritz
The event is free of charge.
The Street Ball is supported by Groupama Insurance.
Find the Street Ball’s Facebook event HERE. Read more HERE.
It has recently been confirmed that Nick Carter, the pop superstar who became famous as a core member of the Backstreet Boys, the most successful boy band of all time, will be coming to Budapest as one of the stops on his world tour. On 1 August, the Vasúttörténeti Park will be the venue for the Backstreet Boys’ best-known songs and a whole host of hits.
Nick Carter comes to Budapest
Photos: nickcarter.com
With record sales in excess of 130 million copies, record-breaking tours and a string of chart-topping hits, the group formed in the early nineties and went down in world pop history as the most successful and best-selling boy band of all time.
Backstreet Boys signed one of the biggest record deals ever in 1999, worth USD 60 million. They received five Grammy nominations and numerous awards, including Billboard Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards, RIAA Awards, People’s Choice Awards and an honorary star on the iconic Hollywood Walk.
Nick Carter was just 12 years old when he joined the iconic boy band Backstreet Boys as the youngest singer. The group has toured the world to date, with sold-out shows marking the boys’ journey around the world. But Carter has also enjoyed considerable solo success.
In 2002, he launched his solo career with his debut album, Now or Never, which immediately reached the Billboard 200 chart and gold in the US, Japan and Canada.
Since then, Nick Carter has released two more solo albums, “I’m Taking Off” in 2012 and “All American” in 2016. Her 2023 single “Hurts to Love You” has charted in several countries and has also reached the top of the charts in the US and Canada.
In 2023, Carter toured with the Backstreet Boys, but after 7 years, he went solo again. The “Who I Am” Tour kicked off in October in the US, followed by three new solo singles “Superman”, “Made For Us” and “Never Break My Heart (Not Again)”.
The “Who I Am” tour will continue in 2024, in Asia, Canada, USA and Europe, and to the great delight of Hungarian fans, in Hungary too, on 1 August in Budapest, at the Vasúttörténeti Park. Tickets went on sale on 28 June at 10 AM at www.nickcarter.hu.
The world-renowned metal band Pantera is set to return to Hungary early next year. The band will start their European tour in January and entertain the Hungarian audience at the beginning of February.
2025 European tour kickoff
Pantera, one of the most influential bands in metal history, will commence their European tour on 21 January in Helsinki. The tour will include stops in Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris, according to the event organizer, Live Nation. Following their dual concerts last year in Hungary, Pantera will perform at the Budapest Sports Arena on 3 February 2025, as part of their European tour.
Honouring founding members
The band, currently featuring original members Philip H. Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass), along with Zakk Wylde (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums), will pay tribute to their late founding members, drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell.
Recent performances
The band’s European journey follows successful performances in the UK and Ireland. On June 15, they played at the iconic Download Festival in Donington, marking their first UK show in three decades. This year, they also joined Metallica on their North American stadium tour, Világgazdaság writes.
Hungarian audience connection
Hungarian fans are familiar with Pantera, who performed back-to-back concerts on May 30 and 31 last year at Barba Negra, their first shows in Hungary in 25 years.
Legacy of Pantera
Formed in 1981, Pantera released nine studio albums before disbanding in 2003. They are celebrated as pioneers of heavy (groove/thrash) metal. Four of their albums—”Cowboys from Hell” (1990), “Vulgar Display of Power” (1992), “Far Beyond Driven” (1994), and “The Great Southern Trendkill” (1996)—achieved platinum status in the U.S. Their final album, “Reinventing the Steel,” came out in 2000. They are known for iconic tracks like “Cemetery Gates,” “Walk,” “I’m Broken,” and “Drag the Waters.”
Tragic losses and rebirth
Guitarist Dimebag Darrell was tragically killed in 2004 during a concert in Columbus, Ohio. Drummer Vinnie Paul passed away in 2018. Frontman Phil Anselmo nearly died from a heroin overdose in 1996 but continued his career with bands like Superjoint Ritual and Down, and later with Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, who performed at Hungary’s Rockmaraton festival in 2019. In 2022, Anselmo and Brown revived Pantera with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante joining them.
Pantera’s impact
To date, Pantera has sold 20 million records worldwide and received four Grammy nominations.
Check out Pantera’s Barba Negra performance from 2023 below:
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival will mark 110 years of Hungarian animation in 2025, the organisers said on Monday.
The festival will give a “360-degree panorama” of the history, industry, training and contemporary producers of Hungarian animation, artistic director Marcel Jean said at the award gala of this year’s event.
This year’s festival featured László Csáki‘s Pelikan Blue and Viktoria Traub’s Shoes and Hooves. Palme d’Or and Cristal Prize-winner director Flóra Anna Buda sat on this year’s jury.
The Embassy of Georgia in Hungary hosted an official Gala reception at Pesti Vigadó galleries to commemorate Georgia’s Independence Day. The event also featured a special viewing of the exhibition “A Woman Artist – the Face of the Era,” showcasing notable Georgian women artists and exhibited for the first time in Hungary.
Georgia’s special day
Ambassador Tamara Liluashvili welcomed guests in her opening remarks, highlighting the significance of Georgia’s special day, celebrating its history and independence. She emphasized Georgia’s journey towards closer ties with the EU, its accomplishments and its commitment to becoming a member. The Ambassador also expressed gratitude for Hungary’s support and unity in challenging times and invited guests to enjoy the exhibition demonstrating Georgia’s European identity.
The Guest of Honour of the event Mr Lőrinc Nacsa, MP, Head of the Hungary-Georgia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Hungarian National Assembly, also addressed the audience emphasizing shared values and strong ties between the two nations, and reaffirming Hungary’s unwavering support for Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union.
“A Woman Artist – the Face of the Era” exhibition
The exhibition, curated from collections of the Georgian National Museum and the artists themselves, showcases Georgian visual art from the XX-XXI centuries. It highlights the immense talent of Georgian women artists and their significant contributions to the field of art. Featuring works from six Georgian women artists across five generations, the exhibition displays a diverse range of styles and subjects that have been influential in European art. The exhibition at Pesti Vigadó 6th floor galleries will be open to the public until June 30.
Gala reception at Pesti Vigadó
The guests of the event were delighted to enjoy Georgian and Hungarian songs by Saint Ephraim Male Choir as well as musical pieces by world-renowned classical and Georgian composers performed by a trio of talented young musicians from Georgia and Hungary, graduates of the Liszt Academy of Music. In addition, a variety of Georgian wines were served to attendees, adding a festive atmosphere to the celebration.
PHOTOS:
Source: Embassy of Georgia in HungarySource: Embassy of Georgia in HungarySource: Embassy of Georgia in HungarySource: Embassy of Georgia in HungarySource: Embassy of Georgia in HungarySource: Embassy of Georgia in Hungary
Albanian singer Dua Lipa was in Hungary last week. She filmed the music video for her song Falling Forever in Budapest.
Dua Lipa in Budapest
Lipa kicked off her summer mini-tour on 5 June in Berlin, Germany. During the tour, she performs the songs from her latest album Radical Optimism in nine European cities, Refresher reports.
As her latest Instagram post shows, she was in Budapest shooting the music video for one of the album’s tracks:
According to information obtained by Refresher, Lipa arrived in Budapest after last Wednesday’s concert in Berlin, where she shot a music video for Falling Forever at Korda Studio. She then presumably stayed in the country until her performance in Croatia on Sunday.
This year’s Book Week festival will present 170 exhibitors at 150 stands in Budapest’s central Vörösmarty and Vigadó Squares and on the nearby Danube embankment between June 13 and 16, the organisers said on Wednesday.
9th Budapest Book Week
The event organised for the 95th time will also feature over a thousand book signing occasions and roundtable discussions, book reviews, concerts and lectures, they said.
Publishers will release several hundred new titles including 90 new poetry books along with an increasing number of youth books, the president of the association of Hungarian publishers and booksellers (MKKE) told a press conference.
“Claims that people and younger generations do not read these days is simply not true,” said Katalin Gal.
On May 27, 2024, a personal exhibition of the People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, Arif Huseynov, was opened at the Yunus Emre Institute in Budapest, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Hungary and the Azerbaijan-Hungarian Friendship Society with the support of National Commission of Azerbaijan for UNESCO. The exhibition will be open till May 31.
Tahir Taghizade, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Hungary, who inaugurated the event with his opening speech, informed the participants about the successful development of cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan and Hungary.
Artist Arif Huseynov and Honored Art Worker Ziyadkhan Aliyev talked about the rich culture of Azerbaijan and the history of cultural relations between the two countries in their speeches. A documentary film called “Karabakhname,” based on Arif Huseynov’s works, was also demonstrated at the event.
The event brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Hungary, including the heads of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan diplomatic missions, representatives of the press and cultural circles, and the Azerbaijani diaspora in Hungary.
Tahir Taghizade, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Hungary
An exhibition of People’s Artist Arif Huseynov was organized in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary
An exhibition of People’s Artist Arif Huseynov was organized in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary
An exhibition of People’s Artist Arif Huseynov was organized in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary
An exhibition of People’s Artist Arif Huseynov was organized in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary
An exhibition of People’s Artist Arif Huseynov was organized in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary
An exhibition of People’s Artist Arif Huseynov was organized in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary
An exhibition of People’s Artist Arif Huseynov was organized in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Hungary
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Azerbaijan supplies gas to Hungary for the first time in history, details HERE
The Embassy of Peru in Hungary, in collaboration with the Museum of Ethnography, unveiled the “Shipibo-Konibo: Portraits of my Blood” photo exhibition by Peruvian photographer David Díaz. Attended by diplomats, government officials, media and art enthusiasts, the event showcased the cultural richness of the Shipibo-Konibo people, drawing admiration and interest from attendees.
The opening ceremony
At the inauguration, Ambassador Pérez Alván encouraged guests to explore and honour the Shipibo-Konibo indigenous community residing in Peru’s Amazon region. Renowned for their unique “Kené” designs, these intricate geometric patterns serve as expressions of the community’s worldview and spirituality. Notably, Shipibo-Konibo women incorporate visions induced by the traditional psychoactive brew “ayahuasca” into their creative process, enriching their designs with profound visual and spiritual inspiration.
From the artist’s perspective
Artist David Díaz is a member of the Shipibo-Konibo people. Through his lens, we get an intimate glimpse of a community rich in tradition, resilience, and beauty. Each photograph tells a story, they are not just portraits, but also a collective identity navigating the challenges and changes of the 21st century. The ambassador said:
David’s purpose extends beyond mere documentation; his work is a passionate endeavor to preserve and celebrate the identity of the Shipibo-Konibo people.
The Shipibo-Konibo community
The Amazon region of Peru, where the Shipibo-Konibo community calls home, is renowned as one of the world’s most biodiverse areas. It is a vital part of the global ecological balance and a vibrant tapestry of cultural richness, hosting 51 out of Peru’s 55 indigenous groups and encompassing 44 out of 48 indigenous languages spoken in the country. Safeguarding this region is not merely about preserving its natural wonders; it’s about cherishing the heritage and sustaining the livelihoods of its inhabitants, like the Shipibo-Konibo, beautifully depicted through David’s lens and his photo exhibition.
Explore the photo exhibition
The Embassy of Peru in Hungary extends an invitation to the Hungarian and international community to visit this new temporary photo exhibition at the Museum of Ethnography, which will be open until January 2025, and witness the dignity and richness of this remarkable community, as well as recognise its enduring legacy and continuing contributions to the cultural mosaic of Peru.
The European Union must support the contributions of artificial intelligence to preserving European and national cultural heritage, but must stand up to technology-based attempts “built on manipulation and designed to strip people of elements of their dignity”, the minister of culture and innovation said on Tuesday, after a meeting of culture ministers in Brussels.
Taking advantage of AI
While artificial intelligence is a valuable tool, “humans must be the ones to decide what to preserve,” János Csák said.
He said the ministers had discussed challenges to European culture and identity. “Despite debates on what we mean by identity or culture, all member states are committed to preserving … the valuable and multi-faceted culture amassed in Europe,” he said.
European identity is determined by the Judeo-Christian, Greek and Roman heritage, Csák said. “Even those wanting to erase the past admit this.”
Hungary’s cultural priorities during its presidency will be to strengthen that heritage and the institutions passing it on, he added. “Good European policies strengthen our communities, ties and sense of belonging, rather than dismantling and pulverising our identity.”
Hungary supports the proposal to increase funding for preserving cultural heritage in the next financial cycle, he said.
The meeting also touched on the preservation and protection of artifacts. Csák noted that the Hungary Helps humanitarian programme, aiding persecuted Christians in crisis regions, also played an important role in preserving, restoring and saving artifacts.
Budapest has recently been selected as one of the best European cities for art lovers. This comes as no surprise, given the city’s abundance of museums and cultural events. Here are the criteria used to determine the top European cultural hotspots.
Deep dive into culture
As Lelépő writes, there are countless delightful methods to experience art. One can visit renowned galleries to explore their permanent exhibits or revisit favourite museums to enjoy the latest temporary exhibitions. Venturing around the city uncovers hidden treasures of public art while participating in themed workshops provides a thorough immersion into the contemporary art scene. Additionally, attending local art fairs, engaging with artists during open studio events and utilising digital platforms for virtual tours can further enrich one’s appreciation of both classic and modern artistic expressions.
Ubuy France’s list
Ubuy France has compiled a list of the top European destinations for art lovers. They evaluated each capital based on the number of art galleries, free museums, sculptures, monuments and instances of street art.
Paris and London jointly clinched the top spot, with Prague securing the runner-up position and Berlin coming in third. Alongside the Hungarian capital, the top ten also included Amsterdam, Lisbon, Rome, Athens and Vienna. Tying for tenth place were Oslo and Madrid. Budapest achieved an impressive ninth position, surpassing notable cities such as the Norwegian and Spanish capitals.
Budapest among the best
In the Ubuy survey, Budapest garnered 127 points, propelled by its sixty galleries, six of which offer free admission. The survey calculated that the Hungarian capital is home to 248 significant monuments and 24 street art masterpieces. Special mention goes to Mihály Kolodko, whose diminutive bronze sculptures create an enchanting urban scavenger hunt throughout the city.
The Kolodko sculptures
Kolodko’s tiny sculptures are scattered throughout Budapest, often nestled in inconspicuous spots like building corners, street ledges or near major landmarks. These sculptures are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve as miniature histories or social commentaries related to their locations. Each sculpture tells a story or highlights an aspect of Hungarian culture, thus engaging visitors in a deeper understanding of Hungarian history and cultural identity.
On 30 April, talk will be all about outstanding filmmakers, acting talent, and their lasting legacy in the country, as this is the day when we celebrate Hungarian Film Day. The event will be accompanied by screenings of classic and contemporary films. Here is a list of the movies shown with English subtitles that you can enjoy in cinemas!
Since 2018, the Hungarian Film Day falls on 30 April, the anniversary of the public premiere of the first Hungarian film, A Táncz (The Dance). The film was created by Béla Zsitkovszky and Gyula Pekár, released in 1901, and was the first staged motion picture with dramatised scenes made in the country.
The Hungarian Film Day commemorates this tremendous anniversary, while also celebrating contemporary Hungarian filmmaking talent. Alongside the National Film Institute, TV stations, streaming providers, and cinemas take part in the joint festivities, foregrounding Hungarian films across the country for several days.
“Hungarian films are parts of our lives. […] Our common goal is to widely promote the work of Hungarian filmmaking teams, our shared stories, and our heroes and to revisit our favourites, whether they are recent hits and exciting discoveries or black-and-white classics restored to a high standard. We are delighted that more and more people are joining the Hungarian Film Day every year so that it […] has quickly become a common cause and a tradition,” said Csaba Káel, Government Commissioner for the Development of the Motion Picture Industry and President of the National Film Institute in 2022.
Celebrate the Hungarian Film Day at one of the most beautiful cinemas in the country
Urania National Film Theatre offers a variety of contemporary films subtitled in English for foreign audiences on 30 April. Here is a list of some films you will not want to miss.
Kalman’s Day (2023)
It is a beautiful, sunny autumn morning in a nice, cosy house near a peaceful lake. Kálmán no longer knows what love is. His asexual wife Olga proposes to remodel the house in a new attempt to save the relationship.
Photo: Kálmán-nap / Facebook
“Nothing happens in the film, only our whole lives,” writes index.hu in a review, pointing out that the relationship between men and women and the tiny vibrations of relationships are portrayed with such mastery and deep sensitivity that through its humour and drama, the movie is often “more thrilling than a thriller”.
Pelikan Blue (2024)
A Hungarian animated documentary that brings back the feeling of the 1990s and speaks of the experiences of a whole generation of Hungarians.
The story follows three friends as they discover how to cheat the international rail system by travelling around Europe on counterfeit international train tickets. In the film, as Telex writes, “it soon becomes clear that it is not the fraud itself but the desire for freedom and curiosity that drives the three young men”.
Photo: Kék Pelikan / Facebook
Semmelweis (2023)
Semmelweis tells the story of Hungary’s most famous doctor, Ignác Semmelweis, the “saviour of mothers,” who discovered that if doctors wash their hands in a chlorine solution, mortality from childbed fever could be reduced dramatically. The film shows the doctor’s struggle in 1847 to prove his discovery to his sceptic colleagues.
Photo: FB/Semmelweis movie
Six Weeks (2022)
Zsofi, a rebellious teen, lives in a tiny flat with her sister Mesi, and their unstable mother, Bea. Zsofi discovers that she is pregnant and decides to give up her baby through open adoption to a couple. Following the birth, she is given six weeks by law to change her mind and ask for her child back. She seems to be able to control her feelings ruthlessly and continue towards the goals she set. At the same time, her maternal feelings intensify, doubts arise, and she slowly begins to question her own decisions.
Photo: Hat hét / Facebook
Explanation for Everything (2023)
“Explanation for Everything is really about us trying to live here in Hungary in 2023,” writes 24.hu.
Photo: Magyarázat mindenre / Facebook
The story is about a boy, Ábel, who is about to graduate from high school. He is hopelessly in love with a girl at his school but, to his sorrow, she is enamoured with their history teacher.
When Ábel fails his history graduation exam, he makes up a story blaming his teacher, lying to his father that he had a cockade on his jacket, which the teacher – who already had problems with Ábel’s parents being Fidesz supporters – did not like. The story reaches an up-and-coming outsider contributor to a pro-government newspaper, and Ábel’s history graduation exam turns into a national scandal.
All About the Levkoviches (2024)
The big-hearted but stubborn elderly Tamás Levkovich has not spoken to his son Ivan for years. The son moved to Israel to escape the conflict with his father, living as an Orthodox there, keeping in touch only with his mother in Budapest. When his mother dies unexpectedly, Ivan returns home with his six-year-old son to sit shiva in the family home. When the two men meet again, their different views are pitted against each other, and their conflict could make or break their family.
The film “makes you laugh and cry at the same time, taking you into a world unknown to many. If it were just a nice Sunday afternoon family dramedy, we would still like it, but All About the Levkoviches gives us much more than that and fills an important gap in Hungarian cinema,” wrote magyar.film.hu.
Photo: Lefkovicsék gyászolnak / Facebook
See the full timetable for the Hungarian Film Day at Urania HERE.
Regular tickets are HUF 2,300 (EUR 5.87), and discounted tickets (for students, pensioners, and teachers) are HUF 1,800 (EUR 4.59) each.
Huge interest surrounds the newest private museum of Budapest, “the Collector’s House” (in Hungarian: A Gyűjtő Háza), whose exclusive guided tours have been sold out since its opening six months ago. At the same time, small groups of visitors can enter the Kőrössy Villa, which is located in the Városliget Fasor. So far a thousand people have had the opportunity to visit the museum. Guided tours in English are also available from June. Guests can view the interiors of the magnificent Art Nouveau home of the former wealthy architect and the unique Zsolnay collection inside the museum.
“The Collector’s House” museum in Budapest
“The Collector’s House” museum. Photo: Balázs Mohai
All places for guided tours are fully booked until May, but summer dates can already be reserved for the Villa, which was once the luxurious home of the family of the architect Albert Kálmán Kőrössy. The designer condensed the best of his knowledge into this building. It is a real art nouveau jewel in the capital, which regained its original splendour a few years ago. In the Autumn of 2023, the building opened its doors to the public as an exclusive private museum named “The Collector’s House” (in Hungarian: Gyűjtő Háza). The Villa can only be visited with a guided tour, which can accommodate 15 people at the same time.
Visitors can admire the former rooms of the Kőrössy family, as well as one of the most important collections of Zsolnay porcelain in the world – 570 pieces of the 1,000-piece collection can be viewed – and gain an insight into the art collecting world of András Szabó, his motivation, and the secrets of creating the collection. „We offer a complex experience to our guests: we guide them to the end of the 19th century through masterpieces of architecture, applied arts and fine arts. We present the life story of Albert Kálmán Kőrössy, the fate of the art nouveau Villa, but “The Collector’s House” is also a tribute to the Zsolnay heritage. We tell the unique success story of the Zsolnay family and factory from the second half of the 1870s to the end of the 1920s,” said Magdolna Költő, president of the ResoArt Foundation.
“The Collector’s House” museum. Photo: Balázs Mohai
„From June, we will also provide guided tours in English so that both visitors and foreigners living here can enjoy this experience,” added Dr Krisztina Csalló, curator of the exhibition.
The Villa is expected to welcome visitors until the middle of July, after which guided tours will continue from September.
Former US President Donald J. Trump greeted the Ferenc Liszt Prize-winning and world-renowned Hungarian violinist Zoltán Mága with a personal letter of congratulations on the occasion of his 50th birthday. Last December, at the traditional end-of-year gala of the Republican Club, Mága dazzled the audience with his violin playing, and it seems like Trump has not forgotten him ever since.
Trump congratulated Mága with a handshake last December
Photot: Facebook/Mága Zoltán hegedűművész
The artist played at a gala in Manhattan, one of the oldest Republican clubs in the US, last December and wowed Trump with his performance.
“It was a great honour for me that one of the most influential people in the world, the former leader of one of the most powerful and largest countries on earth, thanked me for my performance at the gala evening – almost the first to get up from his table – with a round of applause, and then called me over and congratulated me with a friendly handshake,” the Hungarian violinist told Blikk.
“We also exchanged a few words with the President, who was very direct and good-humoured.
He mentioned that he was campaigning with my name, referring to MAGA, the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’,”
Mága added.
Mága is a well-known Hungarian violinist
According to the Hungarian tabloid, Mága is no stranger to the overseas art world and audiences. His two solo shows on PBS, and his annual US and Canadian tour series receive considerable media attention and a high level of interest from music-loving audiences.
Whether it’s Carnegie Hall in New York, the temple of music, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles or the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, home of the Academy Awards, his concerts are always packed to capacity, with standing ovations and roaring applause for the violin playing of the Hungarian artist.
Trump’s wishes to Mága on his birthday
Trump also remembered the Hungarian violinist’s birthday. On 19 February, in a personally signed letter, he greeted the artist, who he considered to be incredibly talented, on his 50th birthday, recalling their meeting in December as a joyful moment. The former US President wished Zoltán Mága good health and happiness, also on behalf of his wife Melania Trump.
Read Donald Trump’s letter to the Hungarian violinist below:
“Dear Zoltan,
Melania and I join your family and friends in wishing you a wonderful 50th birthday!
It was a pleasure meeting you this past December. You are an incredibly talented violinist!
As you celebrate this special occasion, we pray your year ahead is filled with good health, happiness, and the many blessings of our great country.
Happy Birthday, and may God bless you and your family.
“The president running for election again in November forwarded his letter to my son’s address in New York, so I received the presidential greeting only recently, in the days before Easter, while I was in America,” the Hungarian violinist told Blikk. He added that his US manager and Donald Trump’s staff are already discussing when and where they can meet during his US tour planned for the second half of the year.
