Hungarian Animation and Live Action Films Having a Moment at International Film Festivals
zita kisgergely
That’s right, not one, but two Hungarian films are currently making waves on the circuit. I ACCIDENTALLY WROTE A BOOK (Véletlenül írtam egy könyvet) from writer-director Nóra Lakos, and PELIKAN BLUE, Hungary’s first ever animated feature-documentary, have both taken home awards recently from various international festivals
Via Imdb
I Accidentally Wrote a Book
A very personal story revolving around a young teen girl (Nina) who uncovers the power of self-expression through creativity. Nina starts to write and in doing so uncovers stories from her family’s history. But there’s more to this than connecting with family lore. The healing power of the written word is celebrated in this touching film as Nina begins to process the loss of her mother.
Incorporating classic coming-of-age elements, the film allows the audience to witness how every decision Nina makes impacts the narrative going forward. There are conflicts with her younger brother as well as the experience surrounding f first love and growing up. The story of the film is illustrated through a unique visual style that mixes live action and animation.
This is feel-good family film from writer-director Nóra Lakos has been hitting home runs in North America and Europe. The film won Audience Favorite at the Tumbleweeds Film Festival in Utah. Just days later, the film snapped up the award for Best European Feature-Length Children’s Film at Norway’s Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival—a huge cultural event for young audiences. The European Children’s Film Association (ECFA) jury praised the film’s dreamlike visual tone and emotional depth, calling it a “pan-European film with extraordinary potential.” That accolade also secured the film a nomination for CFA’s Best European Children’s Film of the Year, to be announced during the prestigious 2026 Berlinale.
Adding to its international success, the film also won the Grand Prix at the Montréal International Children’s Film Festival, and star Villő Demeter took home Best Young European Talent at Poland’s Ale Kino! Festival.
Backed by Hungary’s National Film Institute (NFI) and distributed by JUNO 11 Distribution and the Human Rights and Cultural Foundation, Lakos’ film has already drawn over 155,000 viewers in Hungarian cinemas and is currently streaming on Netflix. It’s the first green production supported by the NFI, co-produced with the Dutch studio BIND and funded by Eurimages and the Netherlands Film Fund. Notable names behind the scenes include producer Claudia Sümeghy, cinematographer Dániel Reich, and composer duo Jacob Meijer and Alexander Reumers.
Pelikan Blue
Via Imdb
This unique animated documentary-feature film tells the story of three young men in the 1990s with a hankering to discover the world that’s just opened up to them after the collapse of Communism. Big on dreams but short on funds, they hit upon a scheme that will allow them to see Europe by forging Hungarian Railways international tickets using blue indigo paper. Needless to say, things start to spiral out of control…
We’ve written about our love for this film before, and it’s not just us. It recently won the AniMovie Award at Germany’s Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film. The film also won multiple accolades after its release in 2024, including the Golden Dove Award at the DOK Leipzig Festival, and has screened globally at festivals like Annecy, Hot Docs Toronto, and the Silk Road International Film Festival in China.
Directed by László Csáki, the film is a creative blend of animation and real-life storytelling, incorporating audio interviews from the 2010s. Set to a soundtrack of classic Hungarian hits, Pelikan Blue is more than an off-the-wall (and very Hungarian) nostalgia trip. It’s a light-hearted yet insightful look at freedom, rebellion, and post-socialist identity, combined successfully with playful visuals and a dynamic soundtrack. The Stuttgart jury called it “fun and entertaining,” with engaging characters and contemporary flair.
Produced by Umbrella Entertainment and supported by the NFI, the film’s producers are Ádám Felszeghy and Miklós Kázmér, cinematographer Árpád Horváth, and editor Dániel Szabó. The film is currently streaming on HBO Max.
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