People are seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Come in time! ;)
FREE ADMISSION
February 6, 7pm, Bem Cinema
In cooperation with Menedék - Hungarian Association for Migrants
SONITA
Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami / 2015 / Germany & Switzerland & Iran / 91 min / Farsi & Dari / English & Hungarian subtitles
The opening film of 13th Verzio Film Festival was a huge success within both the audience and critics. Winner of Verzio Audience Award, 2016 and IDFA Audience Award, 2015.
A spirited Afghan girl's performing talent and her future are at stake when her mother decides to sell her as a bride. As the events dramatically unfold, the filmmaker decides to take action.
After the screening: discussion with András Kováts (Menedék) and his guests.
February 16, 6pm, Blinken OSA Archive
MY OWN PRIVATE WAR
Lidija Zelović / 2015 / The Netherlands / 57min / English & Dutch & Serbian & Croatian / English subtitles
The film was screened in the International Panorama section at 13th Verzio Film Festival.
Born into an ethnically mixed family, Lidija Zelović grew up in Sarajevo where she started to work as a TV reporter. In the early 1990s, she fled from the Balkan civil war to the Netherlands but she later returned to report as a TV journalist from her home country. Now she returns on a personal quest to settle an account with the country where she was born. What awaits her twenty years on is a war that is still going on in the minds of the people. With mounting frustration, Zelović is confronted with old hatred and new nationalist aggression – and discovers that her family's role as victims wasn't fully accurate.
After the screening: discussion with the members of the Blinken OSA Yugoslavia Archive Project
Watch their experimental video documentation of and a research guide to the ongoing (re)archiving project of OSA’s Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian television broadcast collection from 1993-1999.
March 9, 6pm, Blinken OSA Archive
WHERE TO, MISS?
Manuela Bastian / 2015 / Germany / 83 min / Hindi & English
The film received Special Mention in the ZOOM IN Student Film Competition at 13th Verzio Film Festival.
Devki finds herself in a continuous conflict between her wish to be emancipated and the deeply rooted traditions of Indian society. Her biggest wish is to become a taxi driver. She would like to ensure that other women reach home safely and would like to be financially independent. On the road to achieving her goal, she must withstand the opposition of her father, then her husband and in the end her father-in-law. Her daily routine is defined by the constant battle to defend her aspirations and attempting to pave a way for her to achieve her dreams without alienating her family.
TINY LITTLE DELICATE FOREIGN CASTLES
Rob Key / 2014 / Portugal / 11 min / Portuguese & English / English subtitles
The film received Special Mention in the ZOOM IN Student Film Competition at 13th Verzio Film Festival.
A camera is a dangerous weapon. When it appears in the vicinity of a guarded object or a building, even in a public space, all rational arguments become useless as it is straightforwardly understood as a plausible threat. Yet, no one really knows what's going on. The filmmaker attempts to film embassies in Lisbon from the streets, provoking a range of reactions – mild to aggressive – from the security guards. The simple and straightforward idea for the film brings out an effective message, making the idea of boundaries in public spaces palpably visible.
March 23, 6pm, Blinken OSA Archive
THE ROAD
Zhang Zanbo / 2015 / China & Denmark / 95 min / Chinese / English subtitles
The film was screened in the International Panorama section at 13th Verzio Film Festival.
In 2008, the Chinese government decided to invest 586 billion USD on infrastructure in an effort to stimulate the economy. Filmmaker Zhang Zanbo got unprecedented access to the implementation of the financial plan and for three years he filmed the making of a section of a highway through a quiet village in Hunan, the province where Chairman Mao was born. The film follows local villagers and peasants that are forced to move due to land acquisition. The management of the construction company want their share of the financial apple. As a consequence corruption and violence has become a common part of the making of the road. Nevertheless, the Xu-Huai Highway was opened with great fanfare in 2013.
March 29, 7pm, Gólya
BALU
Adorján Czakó / 2016 / Hungary / 30 min / Hungarian / English subtitles
The film was presented in the Hungarian Panorama at 13th Verzio and was the 2nd favorite of the audience, after Sonita.
Kinga is a smiling, cheerful, and active woman. Her 11-year-old son, Balu, had a tragic accident at the age of two. He fell into a pond and almost lost his life, but his mother brought him back to life. Ever since that, he needs constant supervision and permanent care. The film is about acceptance, the love of life, as well as of unconditional and utmost devotion.
RIGHT SIDE OF CELLO
Aleksandra Rek / 2016 / Poland / 37 min / Polish / English subtitles
This film won the Best Student Film Award at 13th Verzio Film Festival.
Dominik Połoński is an eminent musician who survived cancer. His struggle with the disease left a mark, partial paralysis, as the artist can now use only one arm. This, however, did not prevent him from returning to practicing and performing concerts, although his repertoire has changed since the disease. A story of a powerful will that allowed Dominik to overcome the severe limitations he was faced with.
After the screening: discussion with Szabolcs Szirony (BUDOKU) and his guests.
LOCATION INFO
Bem Cinema - Budapest, Margit krt. 5, 1027
Blinken OSA Archive - Budapest, Arany János u. 32, 1051
Gólya - Budapest, Bókay János u. 34, 1083