Hungarian Filmmakers at Berlinale 2026
zita kisgergely
Each February, the Berlin International Film Festival showcases some of the most exciting voices in world cinema. This year is no different, with Hungarian filmmakers contributing to the program via new premieres and restored classics from yesteryear.
The Generation Kplus section of the festival (screening state-of-the-art international cinema for young audiences–and everyone else) will debut a 10-minute short diploma film by Janka Feiner: Fire in My Pocket (Lángbogár a zsebemben). This continues a remarkable tradition. Since 2017, graduation films from the Animation programme at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design have been regularly selected for the Berlinale. Feiner’s short, produced with the support of the National Film Institute, was made with a combination of stop-motion and digital animation. It serves as a reminder that Hungary’s creative pipeline remains innovative and internationally competitive.
Hungarian film heritage is also in focus at this year’s festival. As part of the Berlinale Forum Special spotlight on women directors, two works by pioneering filmmaker Judit Elek (1937-2025) return to the festival. The restored versions of her documentary A Hungarian Village (Istenmezején 1972–73-ban), which originally premiered at the Berlinale in 1975, and her early cinéma vérité short Encounter (Találkozás, 1963) are being screened.
Winner of numerous prizes from European and international festivals, Elek is known for blurring the lines between film and documentary. Preservation and international distribution of Elek’s films are overseen by the NFI Film Archive, with digital restoration handled by the NFI Filmlab. It’s an important reminder that Hungary not only produces new talent but also invests in safeguarding its cinematic legacy.
In the main competition, Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó returns with his latest feature, At the Sea, an English-language film starring Amy Adams which will premiere at the Berlinale Palast. Set in Cape Cod, the story follows a woman returning home after rehab, navigating family tensions, guilt and the fragile possibility of reconciliation.
The film’s cast includes Murray Bartlett, Jenny Slate, Dan Levy and Brett Goldstein, bringsing emotional depth and subtle humour to what Mundruczó describes as a story about finding a way back from personal collapse. Speaking to Marta Balaga in Variety, the director revealed that the film was very loosely inspired by Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, balancing darkness with moments of warmth and irony.
From cutting-edge animation to restored classics and high-profile international co-productions, Hungary’s presence at Berlinale 2026 highlights the country’s creative range. For producers considering filming in Budapest, it’s further proof that this city offers not only world-class crews and infrastructure but also thriving artistic visionaries who hold their own on the global stage.
Sources & further information
Hungarian Films at Berlinale 2026
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