The best Hungarian animated films are coming to Anim’est!

Hungary is the Guest Country at the fifth edition of Anim’est International Animation Film Festival. This is an opportunity for the Bucharest audience to follow some of the best animated Hungarian films, both feature length and short, a best of collection from the national filmography of one of the most important animated film producers in Central and Eastern Europe. To top it off, well-known director Géza M. Tóth, also a jury member for the Anim’est Student Film, Romanian Film and Balkananimation competitions, is presenting a special collection of the short films he directed up to today, and the prestigious MOME Arts University in Budapest is this year’s Guest School at Anim’est.

The feature length films screened during the Hungarian program are definitely an Anim’est 2010 must see, as they will be screened as a Romanian premiere and are rare patrimony films belonging to Hungarian film history: the controversial and experimental Foam Bath / Habfurdo (r. György Kovásznai, 1980), the surprising feature film of legendary Hungarian director and philosopher Marcell Jankovics Son of The White Mare / Fehérlófia (1982), the humorous pop-art representation of a Hungarian folklore legend, and Song of the Miraculous Hind / Ének a csodaszarvasról (2002), directed by the same Marcell Jankovics- Palme D’Or winner, Oscar nominee and Leonardo Da Vinci  International Art Award winner, offered by the International Cultural Council – a feature film also inspired from the Hungarian folklore, placed by film critics in the top 50 animated films made world-wide up to 2005.

The four short films directed by Géza  M. Tóth: Ergo (2008), Ikarosz (1996), Maestro (2005) and Mama (2009) are some of the most awarded European animated short films shot in the last 15 years, nominated at the Oscars, selected and awarded in the competitions of the prestigious Film festivals in Berlin, Sarajevo, Dresda, and Zlin, and they set out to offer some of the most innovative and diverse animation recipes: from the blend of live and animated action, to spoofs of popular stories and animation techniques.

Adding to the three feature films and Géza  M. Tóth’s films are two more must see short film programs screened in the Guest Country section: one- consisting of the best animations recently produced in Hungary, and the other- dedicated to the short films in the history of animated film of our neighbouring country.

For the Guest School section, Dean József Fülöp of Moholy-Nagy MOME Art and Design University will be presenting a broad Best Of selection of productions from the prestigious art university in Budapest. 20 of the best short films and videos shot at the university’s animation section in a three decade history and awarded at the most important European animation festivals (Annecy, Zlin, Anima – Bruxelles, Animafest – Zagreb),will be screened as part of the Guest School programs. Founded in 1880, MOME is one of the most prestigious art related superior studies institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, with main courses in Architecture and Interior Design, Design (jewellery, ceramics, different artefacts, textile and clothing) and Media Art ( animated film, photography, media design, graphics).

The programs for Guest Country: Hungary and Guest School: MOME Budapest are brought to you with the support of the Hungarian Republic’s Cultural Center in Bucharest.