The innovative spirit and artistic richness of Hungarian audiovisual culture is on display at France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 8-14) as Hungary is garlanded as the event’s country of honour.
“In the world of animation, there are no boundaries,” says Csaba Kael, government commissioner for the development of the Hungarian motion picture industry. ”Hungarian animation is incredibly diverse and multifaceted. My personal favourites are those creations where a distinct Hungarian flavour shines through, where one can feel a connection to the works of our forerunners.”
The array of Annecy showcases include immersive screenings of classic films at the new Annecy Dôme and an exhibition called ‘Hunimation Hits The Streets’.
Almost 80 Hungarian films are being screened at the festival. The competition programme includes Péter Vácz’s latest animation Dog Ear, Gábor Ulrich’s Capriccio, Anna Tőkés’ The Last Drop, and Mikori Tama’s children’s TV film Kippkopp And Tipptopp.
The international premiere of The Quest, based on an idea of legendary Hungarian director Attila Dargay and being sold by NFI World Sales, is taking place out of competition.
Furthermore, 61 Hungarian films are showcasing the past and present of Hungarian animation in the retrospectives programme curated by National Film Institute Hungary Film Archive’s film historian and animation specialist, Anna Ida Orosz.
These include restored versions of Bubble Bath by György Kovásznai (1980) Son Of the White Mare by Marcell Jankovics (1981), Heroic Times by József Gémes( 1982), the first feature film to win an Annecy Cristal award in 1985, and The District! by Áron Gauder, which won the Cristal for a Feature Film at Annecy in 2005.
There will also be open-air screenings of Four Souls Of Coyote, winner of the prestigious Annecy jury award in 2023, and a midnight screening of Milorad Krstic’s award-winning 2018 feature Ruben Brandt, Collector. That film’s producer, Radmila Rockow, is giving a seminar on the film’s production. Additionally, writer-director Anita Doron and producer Réka Temple’s are hosting a presentation of Fairyheart (Tündér Lala) based on the much-loved Magda Szabó’s children’s book (published in English as The Gift Of The Wondrous Fig Tree), which is in production.
Golden era revisited
Launched 111 years ago in 1914 with István Kató-Kiszly’s paper-cut film Ödön Zsirb, Hungarian animation’s first golden era was the 1980s, when Pannónia Film Studio was considered one of the top five animation studios in the world and Hungary won its first Oscar for Ferenc Rófusz’s The Fly.
Hungarian animation has bounced back following a difficult period following the fall of communism. Its many recent successes include the 2014 Oscar-shortlisted film Symphony No. 42, the 2023 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winning short 27, and the 2024 Annie Award-nominated White Plastic Sky and Four Souls Of Coyote
“The meeting of strong traditional foundations and cutting-edge techniques regularly gives rise to new and exciting worlds,” says Kael.
The conditions that have allowed Hungarian animation to flourish have been created through strong government support.
“We place great emphasis on education and training,” Kael explains. “I firmly believe that, alongside financial stability, a skilled workforce is the key to long-term success. At every level of the industry, education in Hungary is of a high standard, even by European comparison.”
Industry at MIFA
A large Hungarian booth hosting professional talks, pitches and networking opportunities is forming a centrepiece of Annecy’s International Animation Film Market (MIFA, June 10-13).
Among the Hungarian studios represented are Boddah (27), Cinemon Ent. (Four Souls Of Coyote), CUB Animation (The Garden Of Heart, NUBE), 3D animation specialists Derengő Animation, DIGIC Pictures (Annie-winning episode The Secret War), full-service VFX and animation studio Ionart Studios, home of many fan-favourite children’s series KEDD, Kecskemétfilm (Hungarian Folk Tales) and KGB (Anora).
Also present are newcomers Piros Animation, Salto Films (White Plastic Sky, Symbiosis), and Umatik Ent. (Manieggs, John Vardar Vs The Galaxy).
Further events include a MIFA panel titled ‘Production Power, Global Vision: Futureproofing the Hungarian Animation’, The Partner Pitch showcasing five new Hungarian projects from the first Hungarian Animation Pitch Forum, a masterclass by Áron Gauder, patron of the Le Campus MIFA event for future professionals, and the ‘Prestige vs Paycheck’ talent panel about career opportunities, talent management and the future of animation education.
Street view
Annecy audiences are able to enjoy the installation and street-art exhibition Hunimation Hits The Streets conceived by animation director Dániel Huszár that turns the city and park into a living storyboard, where characters from beloved films pop up and playfully interact with the surrounding architecture.
A special feature of the festival will be the inaugural Annecy Dôme, a new 32-seat venue in the city centre dedicated to animated films from Hungary and other countries such as Mexico and France in an immersive form.
“Hungary’s embeddedness in the global film industry is a success story that spans more than 120 years,” says Kael. “Due to Hungary’s location, size and its isolated language, the country has always strived for international dialogue — we are open to the wider world.”
Annecy also marks the launch of an English-language online platform, hunimation.com, which will serve as a launchpad for Hungarian animation to the world and building new international connections.
“Hungarians deeply value their animation heroes, who connect generations, and now everyone can see them throughout the city of Annecy,” says Kael.
Contact: Hungarian Film Institute, Papp Csaba
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