Keep your eyes wide open because the National Film Institute Hungary (NFI) is organizing its 8th Budapest Classics Film Marathon between September, 16.-21. 2025.
The Budapest Classics Film Marathon was established in the Year 2017. Since then each year has had been honoured guest with their presence of international stars such as Claudia Cardinale, Pierre Richard, Udo Kier, Jean-Marc Barr, Kevin and Andrew Macdonald, Wim Wenders and Costa Gavras.
This year presence of stars arriving again … David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan and Robert Lantos.
Film directors David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan, as well as producer Robert Lantos will be the guests of honor at the BKFM. Egoyan, Cronenberg and Lantos have been considered one of the defining trios of the overseas film industry for decades. They are prominent figures in world cinema, and their works have received enormous attention worldwide at the largest festivals. Supporting the unique style and artistic vision of the two large-format directors, Robert Lantos has created works that are now considered classics, such as Beautiful Days to Come , Carambol , eXistenZ – The Game of Life , Eastern Promises – Murderous Promises , Ararat , In the Prison of Truth or Remember! These mentioned will be all of which will be screened during the Budapest Classic Film Marathon. The three creators will personally participate in the festival of restored films: David Cronenberg is coming to Budapest for the first time, while Atom Egoyan is visiting the Hungarian capital again after 20 years.
There will be roundtable discussions to follow below:
September, 18. 17.30 – Urania
The Producer and the Director
Conversation with Robert Lantos, David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan and István Szabó.
Moderated by Lili Mesterházy, film critic.
Language of the program: English with Hungarian interpretation.
September, 18.09. 5.30 p.m. – Uránia
Screening: Ararat (director: Atom Egoyan, 2002, 115’)
After the screening, conversation with Atom Egoyan and Robert Lantos.
Moderated by Gábor Osváth.
Language of the program: English with Hungarian interpretation.
September, 18. – 7.15. p.m.- Art+ Cinema
Screening: Mr. Universe (director: György Szomjas, 1988, 98’)
After the screening, conversation with Ibolya Fekete, György Kovács, Georg Pintér, Judit Tóth.
Moderated by György Báron, film critic.
Language of the program: Hungarian.
September, 19. 5.15 p.m. – French Institute
Screening: Band of Outsiders (director: Jean-Luc Godard, 1964, 95’)
Cult film or classic? The Special Squad then and now
After the screening, round-table with the authors of “Filmvilág magazine”.
Guests: Sándor Baski, Beja Margitházi, Attila Varró.
Language of the program: Hungarian.
September,19..- 5.30 p.m. – Urania
Screening: Shawkat Mystery (director: Ágnes Maksay, 2019.)
Supporting film: In the Land of the Pyramids (director: Gábor Takács (Gyrögy Czabarka, Tamás Fehéri), 1954, 29’), Egyptian actor at Budapest Film Studio (1958.)
After the screening: discussion with Ágnes Maksay and Lóránd Boros.
Moderated by Márton Kurutz.
Language of the program: Hungarian.
September, 21. – 5 p.m. – Urania
Screening: The Last But One (director: Károly Makk, 1963.)
Supporting film: Deep Water (director: Marcell Jankovics, 1970.)
After the screening, conversation with Tamás Andor, Gábor Gelencsér, Péter Fazakas.
Moderated by Eszter Fazekas.
Language of the program: Hungarian.
The National Film Institute Hungary extends to this celebration of art at the giant open-air cinema at the Szent István Square, the Uránia National Film Theater, Toldi cinema, Art+ Cinema, the French Institute, Budapest Music Center and furthermore in the run-up to Film Marathon, at the Müpa Budapest on the 14th of September, with an all-day program of puppet films, animations and film concerts to please the small children tuning-up for Film Marathon will hold for the young cinemagoers puppet films by István Imre, creator of the legendary Mekk Elek, complete with music by György Ránki and György Kurtág, before the mesmerizing Saffi, the Treasure of Swamp Castle (Szaffi) from Attila Dargay. There is a series of brilliant film concerts for movie buffs as well. Győr Philharmonic Orchestra perform to the Sándor Korda silent picture The Man of Gold (Az aranyember). Film history’s most famous locomotive is also conjured up in the Bartók Béla National Concert Hall starring Buster Keaton, with the collaboration of Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra.
From the 16th of September, Budapest Classics Film Marathon pays tribute to the legacy of Károly Makk, defining personality of Hungarian film art, with ten of his recently restored works. The immortal comedy Liliomfi can be watched on the big screen in renovated form, glorying in all its original colour.
Recommender – Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 