“CineFest” began humbly twenty years ago, founded by a pair of cinema enthusiasts from a small Hungarian town. It started with just two modest venues — the Kossuth and Hevesy cine halls. Driven by the passion of young filmmakers and growing public interest, the festival has evolved over the past 5–6 years into a full-scale international film festival — one of the most prominent in Hungary. From the very beginning, the parent organization, NFI, has provided consistent support through cooperation, logistics, and resources.
I must admit that I wasn’t very familiar with the Miskolc CineFest until recently. To my surprise, I discovered that not only Miskolc but also its surrounding areas have deep roots in film history. Mr. William Fox, the founder of 20th Century Fox, was born in nearby Tolcsva. Sir Adolph Zukor, the founder of Paramount Pictures, hailed from Ricse, another village close to Miskolc. Furthermore, the Oscar-winning filmmaker and producer Emeric Pressburger — one half of the legendary Powell and Pressburger duo in the UK — also came from this very region!
Since its first edition in 2005, CineFest has focused on showcasing the work of young Hungarian filmmakers. To bring cinema closer to the public, the organizers also founded a society called CINE-MIS, which continues to operate today. Under the dedicated leadership of Mr. Tibor Búró, CINE-MIS remains the lifeblood of CineFest Miskolc, organizing the festival year after year.
What began as a national initiative has now grown into a major international film festival, attracting filmmakers and cinema professionals from across Europe and beyond. CineFest not only provides a platform for emerging talents but also honors legendary figures in global cinema. Over the years, it has hosted gala receptions and presented Lifetime Achievement and European Cinema Ambassador Awards to an impressive roster of film icons, including: Slawomir Idziak (Polish cinematographer), Agnieszka Holland (Polish director), Claudia Cardinale (Italian actress), Juliette Binoche (French actress), Francesca Eastwood (American actress, daughter of Clint Eastwood), Jiří Menzel (Czech director), Krzysztof Zanussi (Polish director), Tony Gatlif (French director), Károly Makk, István Szabó, and Miklós Jancsó (Hungarian filmmakers), Bille August (Danish director) and Franco Nero (Italian actor). These honors have helped cement CineFest’s reputation as not only a celebration of emerging talent but also a tribute to cinematic excellence around the world.
At its 21st edition, held from September 5th to 13th, CineFest turned a remarkable new page in its history. Under the capable leadership of Festival Director Mr. Tibor Búró — supported by a dedicated team including Mr. Gáze (Artistic Director), Mr. Péter Madarász (Programme Director), and Ms. Fatemi Tetetleni — the festival saw a record number of 60 films screened across four cinema venues. The program featured both national and international premieres, drawing a wide and diverse audience.
The opening ceremony on September 5th was especially notable, as two of Hungary’s most respected film personalities were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards: actor-director Mr. Róbert Koltai and Mr. Péter Tímár.
The festival opened with the Hungarian premiere of “Colours of Time”, a France-Belgium co-production directed by Cédric Klapisch. Then, on the closing night (September 13th), the audience was treated to the latest film by Norwegian master filmmaker Erik Poppe — “Quisling: The Final Days”. The powerful drama explores the final days of Vidkun Quisling, the controversial Prime Minister of Norway during WWII, and his spiritual reckoning with Priest Peder Olsen. To the audience’s delight, Mr. Erik Poppe attended the screening in person and was presented with the prestigious European Cinema Ambassador Award.
This year, CineFest featured 18 full-length feature films from across Europe and the Americas — though notably absent were entries from Far East Asian countries and India. The only exceptions were two Chinese films from the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), thanks to a mutual collaboration between CineFest and SIFF for film exchange.
The selection was truly impressive, showcasing award-winning and critically acclaimed titles from major festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and the recently concluded Venice Film Festival. Among the highlights were two Cannes winners: Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Hasan Hadi’s The President’s Cake. These competed alongside Hungary’s Orphan by László Nemes Jeles, Alpha by Julia Ducournau, Bugonia by Yorgos Lanthimos (Ireland), and The Chronology of Water, a USA/France co-production directed by and starring Kristen Stewart. Also included was Brazil’s The Secret Agent, starring Wagner Moura and directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho. It was a powerful and diverse lineup — a real treat for cinephiles and a proud moment for the festival.
As in previous years, CineFest hosted several juries, including the FIPRESCI jury (with three members), the Ecumenical Jury, the CICAE jury, the CineDocs jury, and the main International Jury composed of five members. The screening schedule across all sections was well-balanced in terms of timing and venue.
However, the FIPRESCI jury faced a particularly intense workload — watching 18 feature films and 19 short/animation films (with a combined runtime of around five hours) within just five days. I personally felt that this schedule placed a significant physical and mental demand on the jury members. Nonetheless, our team rose to the challenge with diligence, integrity, and commitment to the core values of FIPRESCI — championing meaningful and purposeful cinema.
Beyond the screenings, the festival also featured a range of cultural events, engaging musical performances, and insightful Q&A sessions with filmmakers. The organizers’ warm hospitality, seamless coordination, and sincere support throughout the festival were truly commendable. I’ve always believed that smaller festivals like CineFest offer a unique charm — a sense of intimacy, warmth, and vibrancy that sets them apart from the more commercial, blockbuster-oriented “A-list” festivals.
by Nirmal Dhar
Edited by Yael Shuv
@FIPRESCI 2025