Shangri-La Plaza hosts HUFF3

2019 Hungarian Film Festival screens 5 critically acclaimed films at the Red Carpet from November 14-17

Hungarian cinema has always had a distinctive storytelling and filmmaking style. With the exquisite skyline of Budapest often serving as backdrop, Hungarian films are known for their critical and realistic depiction of the country’s dark history, and commentaries on the people’s daily life.

Hungary has produced exceptional talents who made indelible marks in the international scene like Zsa Zsa Gabor and Béla Lugosi, and brilliant animator Gábor Csupó, who is known as one of the main creators of Rugrats, Duckman, and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. Its most renowned film Son of Saul won the Best Foreign Language Film award at the Oscars in 2015 and included in The Guardian’s 100 best films of the 21st century.

Shangri-La Plaza hosts the 3^rd Hungarian Film Festival or HUFF3, on November 14 to 17 at the Red Carpet, featuring five full-length films that showcase various perspectives of the country’s rich culture. Organized in partnership with Embassy of Hungary and Film Development Council of the Philippines, HUFF3 continues the Shang’s tradition of being the home of highly anticipated international film festivals in the country.

This year’s run opens with the record-breaking period melodrama Kincsem — Bet on Revenge based on the true story of legendary racehorse Kincsem, with the record of the greatest number of wins of any unbeaten horse in history. Directed by Gabor Herendi, the homegrown blockbuster is considered as Hungary’s most expensive local production to date and the biggest box-office hit in the last 10 years.

Local cinephiles wouldn’t want to miss the romantic drama Moszkva tér (Moscow Square) starring Gabor Karalyos, Eszter Balla, and Erzsi Pápai. It follows the story of a group of carefree and immature high school students who are oblivious to the fall of Communism taking place in Hungary in 1989. Moscow Square is also award-winning Hungarian director Ferenc Török’s debut film, who is currently known for his taboo-breaking Holocaust masterpiece, 1945. The film bagged 3 major awards in the 2001 Hungarian Film Week, including Best Debut Film, Best Supporting Actress and Internet Audience Award.

The Hungarian Film Festival at the Shang also includes Brazilok (Brazils), a 2017 adventure romcom directed by Csaba M. Kiss and Gábor Rohonyi, about a gypsy team called Brazilians that has been finally allowed to take part in the football championship of their village.

Another not-to-be-missed title in the selection is director Árpád Bogdán’s Genezis (Genesis), a dramatic depiction of sin, catharsis and rebirth based on true events that occurred during the 2008-2009 attacks by Hungarian neo-Nazis on Roma villages. The film won the Special Jury Award for Best Film in the 2018 Sofia International Film Festival and the Media Choice Award for Filmmaker in the 2019 Shanghai International Film Festival. Genezis has also been recognized in this year’s Festival del Cinema Europeo, claiming top awards including the Agiscuola Award, Best Cinematography and the Cineuropa Award.

For animation enthusiasts and younger audiences, HUFF3 presents Tales from the Lakeside, the fully English dubbed animated feature that introduces the wonderful community of lakeside creatures, and where a tiny hero uses his curiosity and wit to defend their quiet corner of the world.

Hop over to Shangri-La Plaza as HUFF3 commences on November 14 until November 17. #FeelTheShangVibe and catch the Hungarian Film Festival’s great cinematic line-up at the Red Carpet.

SCREENING SCHEDULE

For inquiries, call 370-2500 loc. 597 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.