The series also contributes to the identity-building of young Hungarians living abroad.Continue reading
In cooperation with the Hungarian Institute for Culture, the National Film Institute has launched a nationwide film club network, bringing classic and contemporary Hungarian films to 180 rural communities with regular free screenings and expert film club leaders. The aim of the program is to promote Hungarian films, build audiences, and develop the cultural and community life of rural communities.
“Never before has the importance of watching films together been as high as it is today, when home TV and streaming are the most common ways of relaxing and digital loneliness is looming. Film clubs, on the other hand, are not only valuable off-line cultural programs, but also contribute to building local communities,” said Csaba Káel, Government Commissioner and President of the National Film Institute. In this comprehensive audience-building work, including the KLASSZ Days targeting teenagers and the relaunched university film clubs, the launch of the Moziklub (“Cinema Club”) program is a major step forward in reaching a wide audience nationwide who have so far found it difficult to get access to Hungarian films, he added.
Launched in 2023, the Moziklub – National Film Club Network program aims to bring Hungarian film heritage and contemporary films to smaller settlements, so that people living far from big cities can also see Hungarian films and enjoy the experience of community film viewing.
In the film clubs, trained guides help people to understand what they have seen, and to process it together through discussions following the screenings.
It is planned that by the summer of 2024, a total of 180 towns and cities will host a series of 10 free film clubs. At the end of last year, the first screenings were held in around 50 locations, where people could watch The Dream Car (Meseautó), Christmas Flame (Nagykarácsony), and The Little Fox (Vuk). The programs included screenings specifically aimed at pre-school children, as well as events aimed at older audiences.
The National Film Institute’s selection of films includes 25 classic and 25 contemporary Hungarian films, from which the club leaders put together a program for the ten-day film club based on the needs of local communities. The selection includes light entertainment and cartoons, as well as films that tackle serious social and moral issues.
As part of the Moziklub screening series, a regional audience meeting is organized in each county, with a screening in each region, where people can meet the filmmakers, actors, and film club leaders, and share their experiences.
Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Komlói Kaptár Művelődési Központ