Hungarian Day at TIFF.23 – Film Premieres and Guest Filmmakers
On Wednesday, June 19, the top important cinemas in Cluj have scheduled a selection of Hungarian films. Ten films and just as many unique perspectives are part of the Hungarian Film Days program at TIFF.23. Most screenings will give you the opportunity to meet the filmmakers, who will take part in Q&A sessions.
In the film In the Face of Gravity (dir. Fésős András), Bogdan Dumitrache plays the role of a firefighter specialized in height rescues who begins to lose himself, but, most importantly, his son. The 9pm screening at Casa de Cultură a Studenților, will take place in the presence of director András Fésős and actress Andrea Takáts.
Without Air (r. Moldovai Katalin) tells a story that may sound extremely familiar, inspired by a real case that took place in Romania: a teacher who teaches her students the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud encourages them, as additional bibliography, to watch a movie about the writer's relationship with Paul Verlaine. When a conservative father learns about this, he accuses her of violating professional norms and disseminating homosexual propaganda. Wednesday, June 19, from 12:15pm, at Sapientia University.
In a makeshift hut in a forest on the outskirts of Budapest, live two people who no longer have a place in society: a 60-year-old homeless man and a 19-year-old transgender girl. Together, they live in harmony, but any departure from their safe space is met with intolerance. The screening of the movie Fairy Garden, directed by Gergő Somogyvári, will take place in the presence of the director at 10:15pm, at Sapientia University.
Another film that talks about a powerful and unlikely friendship between two people from different generations is Some Birds (dir. Dániel Hevér): Béla, an elderly man sent to an asylum, who wants to prove that he can fend for himself, and Zoé, a rebellious teenager sentenced to community service. It will be screened at 3:45pm at the National Military Circle, in the presence of director Dániel Hevér and screenwriter Zsanett Kertész.
During a game of chess, two seemingly unrelated stories intertwine: a couple of young revolutionaries catch the last refugee train leaving Budapest after the Russian invasion of 1956, while a Catholic priest is imprisoned by the Communists and tortured to provide information about a hidden treasure of the Vatican. It is the story of Mastergame (dir. Barnabás Tóth), which can be seen from 9:45pm at Iulius Parc Open Air.
Also selected in the competition section, Kix (dir. Bálint Révész, Dávid Mikulán) makes you witness, in a very short span of time, an important part of the life of a Budapest kid with a problematic family, who was not really doing well in school, and was forced to mature before his time. You will be able to learn what it's like to follow a subject for 12 years and more from the directors themselves, who will be present after the screening at 11:00 pm, at Cinema ARTA, for a Q&A session.
A young filmmaker is invited to hold a workshop for children in a village, but ends up investigating corruption in that small community and even making a documentary about the corrupt mayor. Good intentions are not always enough to inflict change for the better, as you will discover Raw Material . Director Martin Boross will be present, along with the cinematographer Dániel Bálint, on June 19, at 7:45pm, at the Sapientia University.
After the fall of communism, people from the former Soviet bloc could travel wherever they wanted, if they could afford it. Three young people come up with an inventive solution: dissolve the Pelikan Blue ink on travel tickets and fill in whatever destination they want. They make a business out of it, but it’s not long before they are found out. It's the story of Pelikan Blue (dir. László Csáki), an inventive and energetic animation, which you can watch from 5:45pm at Sapientia University.
All About the Levkoviches (dir . Ádám Breier) is a touching and humorous film for the whole family, which is also included in the MiniTIFF program selection. The protagonists are a boxing coach and his son, who has cut off all communication with him. The screening, in the presence of director Ádám Breier, will take place from 3:30pm at Cinema Florin Piersic.
An unusual name day party brings out hidden animosities, frustrations and desires in a group of four friends. Where did it all start? One of the couples proposes to move their children to one of the friends’ addresses, so that he can attend a nearby prestigious school. Kalman's Day, (dir. Szabolcs Hajdu) will be screened at 17:30 at Cinema Victoria, where the crew is to be represented by production manager Zoltán Gálovits and cinematographer Csaba Bántó.
Tickets for TIFF.23 are on sale online - http://tiff.eventbook.ro
