In September, we will be hosting the 21st CineFest Miskolc International Film Festival, Hungary’s best-known and, according to feedback from professionals and audiences alike, most popular film festival. Every year, we bring the world’s most significant and valuable new films to CineFest from festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Karlovy Vary, but those interested in the latest Hungarian films should also visit Miskolc. The films in the competition and Open Eye programs continue to be premieres for Hungarian audiences.

The dream behind the creation of the festival was that CineFest would one day become the region’s leading international film festival. We have achieved this through the high standard of the films selected and the increasingly rich program of related events each year.

The competition program of the 21st CineFest will once again match the prestigious film festivals of Europe: The most important films of the year will be screened here for the first time in Hungary. We are proud to announce that Yorgos Lanthimos’s films will be featured in the CineFest competition section for the third time in a row, and we are delighted that the premieres of the latest Hungarian films will take place in Miskolc again this year, with the participation of the filmmakers.

We have been following the most important developments and trends in European cinema at CineFest for many years now, so it is no coincidence that Norway’s presence is growing stronger. Over the past two years, Norwegian films have been at the forefront of the world’s most important festivals, winning numerous awards. This was also the case with Joachim Trier’s film Sentimental Value, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes this year. Thanks to our partnership with the Shanghai International Film Festival, we will once again be screening two of the latest Chinese films this year.

The festival continues to work closely with international film organizations. We are honored that FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) sends a prestigious international jury to CineFest every year. We maintain excellent relations with SIGNIS and Interfilm, which contribute to the diversity of the festival through the award of the International Ecumenical Jury. Uniquely in Hungary, the CICAE, the International Federation of Art Cinemas, presents its award here with the help of its own jury.

The CineFest Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ambassador of European Cinema Award recognize international and national excellence in film. To date, 18 people have received the Lifetime Achievement Award and 7 people have received the latter award in person at the festival.

Music is usually part of the festival, so this year there will also be concerts and open-air screenings: in collaboration with the University of Miskolc, we will fill the Csengey Garden with life as part of the Cineversity program.

This year, more than 60 films will be screened in the festival’s five official programs, including world, national and international premieres.

Tibor Bíró
festival director