Hungarian Short Film "The Spectacle" in Competition in Cannes
zita kisgergely
Only 11 short films were selected from a whopping 4,700 global entries at this year’s 7 Cannes Film Festival. One of the lucky selected films was from Hungarian filmmaker, Bálint Kenyeres with “The Spectacle”.
On set of the short film, “The Spectacle”. Photo via Anna Vághy
The Story Behind The Film
As was revealed in magyar.film.hu, Kenyeres has been very open in revealing what inspired the film. It quite literally came to him in a dream. Upon awakening, the writer-director knew that he had to bring it to life and commit it to the screen, especially since its themes are so very relevant to the world we live in today.
The Spectacle tells the story of a young Roma boy with a unique ability who, thanks to his unexpected appearance on a TV show, finds himself thrust into the limelight. The film explores issues surrounding identity, media exposure, and the negative impact of instant fame.
A Fast and Friendly Shoot
Shot in only two days in Monor in January, The Spectacle was financed with independent funding under the banner of Anabanana Productions. The cinematography was handled by Thimios Bakatakis, known for his work on The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Lobster, which no doubt added major visual impact to the short.
Leaning heavily into realism to ensure emotional authenticity, the film stars non-professional actors Vilmos Jónás and Jolika Oláh Józsefné, alongside Soma Sándor, Tímea Udvari-Kardos, and Gábor Váradi. A tight-knit crew behind the scenes handled everything from costumes to post-production, with Anna Vághy editing, Sandra Sztevanovity designing the sets, and Annamari Nagy on costumes.
Produced by Anna Bartók, Flatpack’s very own Zita Kisgergely, Tamás Hutlassa, Jeremy Zelnik, and Judit Romwalter, and cast by Hermina Fátyol, the film is a testament to what focused filmmaking can achieve—even on a limited budget.
A Cannes Comeback
Although the film missed out on an award this time round, going to Cannes was a return to familiar ground for Kenyeres. Back in 2005, his short film Before Dawn debuted at Cannes and went on to a successful global festival run. His 2009 short The History of Aviation was featured in the Directors' Fortnight, and in 2011, the screenplay for his feature Yesterday received recognition from Cannes’ L’Atelier program.
Hungary’s Film Industry
As a Budapest-based film production service company, Flatpack Films see firsthand how much talent and vision flows through Hungary’s creative veins. From world-class cinematographers to innovative directors and set designers, Hungary continues to be a prime destination for international film production–The Spectacle is just another example of that.
The Spectacle will reach Hungarian audiences this autumn.
Sources & further information
Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.
Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.