The Regulations of the 44th Hungarian Film Week
Introduction
IntroductionThe Hungarian Feature Film Week was established in 1965, and from 1986 it became known as the Hungarian Film Week, organized by the Hungarian Film Association. It brought together the Hungarian films of the year every year until 2012.
In tribute to the pioneers and with a sense of responsibility for the future of Hungarian cinema, the 44th Hungarian Film Week is a competitive film festival organized by the Hungarian Film Association. The festival is organized by MFSzemle.hu Nonprofit Ltd. on behalf of the Hungarian Film Association.
1.
The Goal of the Film Week
In line with the traditions of the 44th Hungarian Film Week, the festival aims to gather and showcase the most comprehensive range of works by Hungarian filmmakers, thus contributing to the development of Hungarian cinema, fostering personal connections between creators, and enhancing relationships with audiences. Additionally, its goal is to help Hungarian society highlight its intellectual values, as well as portray and address its joys and conflicts through the presentation of films.
2.
The Competition Categories of the Film Week
The Film Week consists of eight competition categories and two additional sections for showcasing films: the Panorama and the Information sections.
The competition categories of the Film Week are:
1. Feature Film
2. Short Film
3. Experimental Film
4. Documentary Film
5. Short Documentary Film and Documentary Series
6. Animated Film
7. Short Animated Film
8. Television Series
The selection for the competition categories will be made by three-member pre-selection juries appointed by the director of the Film Week.
3.
Panorama Section
In this section, the Film Council invites or welcomes submissions of large-budget Hungarian feature films, or films made with the participation of Hungarian creators, that depict significant events in Hungarian and world history with a unique perspective. These films are not entered into the competition.
4.
Information Section
This section is for films that wish to be presented at the Film Week but have not been entered into the official competition. Additionally, films that were not selected by the pre-selection jury for the competition but are deemed worthy of presentation can also be included in this category. The Information section serves as a platform for films that may not fit into the competition but still offer valuable artistic, cultural, or social insights.
5.
Submission to the Film Week
To submit a film to the Film Week, the online application form available on the website must be filled out, and the festival’s regulations must be accepted. There is no entry fee.
6.
The Leadership of the Hungarian Film Week
The director of the Film Week is a film professional delegated by the Hungarian Film Association (Magyar Filmszövetség). The director is supported in their work by the Film Week Council (Szemletanács), which consists of five members. These members are appointed by the director of the Film Week. The Council plays a key role in assisting with decision-making and the overall organization of the festival.
7.
The Jury
In the competition categories, the juries consist of individuals appointed by the Festival Director and supported by the Film Week Council.
For the Feature Film, Documentary Film, and Animated Film categories, the jury is composed of five members.
For the other categories, such as Short Film, Experimental Film, and Short Documentary Film, the jury consists of three members.
Additionally, for the Feature Film competition, there is a special Ecumenical Jury of five members that also evaluates the films and makes decisions in this category.
8.
Awards
In each category, the juries award two main prizes: one for the Best Film and one for the Best Director.
In the Feature Film category, the Ecumenical Jury awards the Best Film prize, as well as a special award.
The awards presented by the juries do not come with monetary prizes.
In addition, further professional awards can be offered and presented by film industry organizations, based on the decisions of the juries. These organizations are invited by the festival leadership to recommend and present additional honors.
9.
Competition Films and Films Selected for the Two Sections
The selected films will be screened exclusively in DCP (Digital Cinema Package) formats.
The details of the selected films will be included in the Film Week’s online catalog, which will be available for viewing on the festival’s official website.
10.
Miscellaneous Provisions
- The festival does not pay a rental fee or any other contribution for the films featured in the program.
- Films selected for the Szemle program must be submitted by the film’s producers in DCP downloadable format by January 15, 2025, to nevezes@mfszemle.hu. Please include the FPS number for the films.
- After the festival screenings, the film’s team will be invited to the stage in front of the screen. The host of the venue will introduce them.
- Following the screenings of competitive feature films, there will be a discussion for the audience with the filmmakers. The creators, representing various categories, will participate in the Festival Forum Discussions, as invited by the Festival Council.
- A creator or creative team may submit multiple films. Each entry must be registered separately on a different data sheet.
- International co-productions with Hungarian participation are also eligible for submission.
- The festival may re-screen the award-winning films in post-festival screenings.
