The 22nd Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival has officially started — Hungary’s only film festival dedicated to human rights issues. This year’s program features 60 films, 90 screenings, and 30 Q&A sessions in Budapest until November 19. In parallel with the capital’s events, the festival is also taking place in seven other cities across the country. This year’s festival slogan, “We Exist Together,” invites us to reflect collectively on how we can remain humane amid the world’s fractures, conflicts, and challenges.

The festival’s opening ceremony was held at Trafó House of Contemporary Arts, where Enikő Gyureskó festival director and István Rév, founding director of the Blinken OSA Archivum, delivered the opening speeches. After the screening, Kristóf Steiner was in conversation with Rachel Leah Jones, producer of the opening film: Coexistence, My Ass!

Stories from Across the Globe

The 22nd festival’s selection explores a wide range of sensitive and timely issues—from the war-torn regions of Ukraine, Gaza, and Iraq to pressing social topics in Hungary such as gender inequality, the climate crisis, and child protection.

Among this year’s Hungarian premieres is Sanatorium, Ireland’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards. Set in a seaside institution near Odesa, the film follows the dwindling number of guests seeking love, healing, and happiness amid mud treatments, unconventional electroshock therapies—and the shadow of war.

Competitions and Awards

Verzió’s three competition sections—the International, Hungarian and Doc Future categories—feature films competing for four awards judged by four international juries. Each winner will receive a €1,000 cash prize. The Audience Award and all competition winners will be announced on November 19, the closing day of the festival.

Guests and Industry Events

As every year, Verzió offers audiences the chance to meet filmmakers and industry experts representing diverse approaches to documentary storytelling. From India, director Bipuljit Basu presents Redlight to Limelight, about a self-taught film collective formed by sex workers in Kolkata’s red-light district. Norwegian cinema icon Vibeke Løkkeberg, director of The Long Road to the Director’s Chair, will also attend the festival, sharing insights from her five-decade career as a pioneering woman filmmaker in a male-dominated industry.

Beyond the Screen

The festival’s films not only expose injustices but also offer hope and possible paths forward. Screenings are accompanied by professional discussions, audience meetups, exhibitions, and concerts.

Budapest venues: Trafó, Toldi Cinema, Művész Cinema, Blinken OSA Archivum, CEU Budapest, and the French Institute.
Satellite venues: Apolló Cinema (Pécs), Belvárosi Cinema (Szeged), Otthon Cinema (Kecskemét), Foton (Veszprém), University of Miskolc, Savaria Cinema (Szombathely), and Baross16 (Debrecen).

Verzió will also be available online from November 20–30, offering 36 films from this year’s lineup for streaming. Online ticket sales are now open.