Regulations of the 45th Hungarian Film Week
Introduction
The Hungarian Feature Film Review was founded in 1965, and from 1986 onward, under the name Hungarian Film Review and organized by the Hungarian Film Association, it annually brought together and presented the Hungarian films of each year until 2012.
Revived by the Hungarian Film Association in 2025, the Hungarian Film Review will be held for the 45th time between February 2–8, 2026.
Paying tribute to its predecessors and driven by a sense of responsibility for the future of Hungarian cinema, the Hungarian Film Association once again organizes a competitive film festival in keeping with tradition.
The Film Review is organized on behalf of the Hungarian Film Association by MFSzemle.hu Nonprofit Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Organizing Body), which is responsible for the implementation, data management, and communication of the event.
1.
The Goal of the Film Week
The 45th Hungarian Film Review, in keeping with tradition, aims to gather and present the widest possible range of works by Hungarian filmmakers, thereby contributing to the development of Hungarian cinema and strengthening the personal connections between creators and audiences alike.
Its goal is also to support Hungarian society in expressing and understanding its intellectual values, joys, and conflicts, and in seeking solutions through the presentation of film works.
2.
The Competition Categories of the Film Week
The Film Review consists of ten competition categories and two additional sections dedicated to the presentation of film works — the Panorama and Information sections.
Competition Categories:
- Feature Film
- Short Film
- Experimental Film
- Documentary Film
- Short Documentary Film and Documentary Series
- Scientific, Educational and Portrait Film
- Short Animated Film
- Animated Series
- Television Series
- Video clip
The selection of films competing in each category is carried out by three-member pre-selection juries appointed by the Director of the Film Review.
3.
Panorama Section
In this section, the Film Council invites or accepts submissions from Hungarian films, films made with the participation of Hungarian creators, or international co-productions that have not been entered into the official competition.
4.
Information Section
Films that were not selected for the competition by the pre-selection jury but were deemed to have professional or artistic merit may be presented in this section.
This category may also include films that wish to be showcased at the Film Review but were not submitted to the official competition.
5.
Submission to the Film Week
Films eligible for submission must have been produced or released after January 1, 2024. Entries can be submitted by completing the online application form available on the festival website and by accepting the general regulations.
Films that were already submitted to the 44th Hungarian Film Review cannot be entered again in the same category. However, submissions of new seasons of television series previously entered are permitted.
A submission becomes valid only if the applicant has completed all required fields of the application form and declares that they hold the legal screening rights to the film.
The deadline for submissions is December 7, 2025.
Applicants will be notified of the acceptance of their submission by email from the Film Council.
There is no entry fee.
6.
The Leadership of the Hungarian Film Week
The Director of the Film Review is the President of the Hungarian Film Association.
The Director’s work is supported by a five-member Film Council, whose members are appointed by the Director of the Film Review.
7.
The Jury
The juries of each competition category are composed of individuals invited by the Director of the Film Review and approved by the Film Council.
In the Feature Film, Documentary Film, and Animated Film categories, the jury consists of five members, while in all other categories, three-member juries evaluate the works.
The decisions of the juries are independent, final, and not subject to appeal. Jury members may not participate in any category in which their own work or that of a close relative is competing.
In addition to the main jury, an Ecumenical Jury of five members also evaluates the films in the Feature Film Competition.
Certain professional organizations — such as those representing cinematographers, editors, and sound designers — may, in consultation with the Director of the Film Review, establish their own juries to recognize and award participants in their respective fields.
8.
Awards
In each category, the juries present three awards: Best Film, Best Director, and Special Prize.
In the Feature Film category, the Ecumenical Jury also presents a Best Film Award and an additional Special Prize.
The Film Council may invite the juries to present additional awards.
Professional film organizations invited by the Director of the Film Review may also present further recognitions.
The awards granted by the juries do not carry any monetary prizes.
The decisions regarding the awards are final and cannot be contested, nor do they create any legal entitlement to financial or other compensation.
9.
Screening requirements
The screening format for the selected films is DCP only.
Information about the selected films will be included in the Film Review’s online catalogue, available on the official website of the festival.
10.
Miscellaneous Provisions
- The Film Review does not pay any rental fees or other financial contributions for films included in the program.
- Producers of the selected films must send the screening copy (DCP, in a downloadable online format) to nevezes@mfszemle.hu by January 15, 2026.
- Please include the FPS information.
- After each screening, the film’s crew will be invited to appear in front of the screen, where the venue host will introduce them.
- Following the competition screenings, professional discussions will be organized with the filmmakers, whose participation in these events is expected.
- A filmmaker or creative team may submit more than one film, but each submission must be registered using a separate application form.
- International co-productions with Hungarian participation are also eligible for submission.
- The Film Review reserves the right to repeat the screenings of submitted films.
- Award-winning films may be re-screened during post-festival events.
- By submitting an entry, the applicant accepts these regulations and agrees to the processing of personal data, as well as the use of short excerpts, images, or posters from the film for promotional purposes by the Film Review.
