Hungarian animation studios, producers and creators head back to the festival and MIFA with a broad film and project presence spanning shorts, series, and international co-productions under HAPA and National Film Institute Hungary support.
Hungary will bring five competition films, seven pitch projects and a national booth representing Hungarian animation studios to Annecy and MIFA 2026, returning this year after serving as the festival’s Guest of Honor country of tribute last year. Supported by the National Film Institute Hungary and organized by the Hungarian Animation Producers Association, the country's presence will also include animation film historian Anna Ida Orosz serving on the Contrechamp jury.
Hungarian productions selected for competition include Zsuzsanna Kreif's Adgwa-Ata, Béla Klingl's Creation and the world premiere of Hisko Hulsing’s European co-production Danse Macabre in the Short Films Competition. Márk László's Bonefuzz (Csontzörej), from MOME Animation, will compete in the Graduation Films section, while Máté Horesnyi's commissioned work for Friss Kakas Animation Film Days spot will screen in the Commissioned Films selection.
Adgwa-Ata, which had its world premiere at Cannes Critics' Week in May, follows three teenage girls abducted into a mysterious Amazonian initiation ritual involving snakes and shamans, where giant snakes become symbols of transformation, fear and adulthood. Directed by Kreif, the Hungarian-French co-production by Boddah, Avec Ou Sans Vous and XBO Films was produced with support from the National Film Institute Hungary.
Creation, produced by K.G.B. Studio, offers a poetic and personal reflection on artistic creation through abstract animation and intimate visual storytelling. Director and producer Béla Klingl served as VFX supervisor on Anora, as well as on several films by Ildikó Enyedi.
Danse Macabre, directed by Dutch director Hisko Hulsing, is an anti-war animated vision set to "Symphony No. 10" by Shostakovich. The film is a European co-production involving Valk Films, Autour de Minuit, ViviFilm and Hungary's Cinemon Entertainment, which contributed 3D animation and VFX production.
Bonefuzz tells the story of a withdrawn, deaf boy who spends his time playing video games alone in his room. When his brother invites him to a concert by a mysterious band, the experience changes his life forever.
Hungarian talent will also be represented in two international MIFA pitching programs. Balázs Turai's new project Killin' It has joined the official Annecy Pitch selection, while Anna Katalin Lovrity's Rosie and Sapphire has been selected for the CEE Animation MIFA Pitch.
The MIFA Hungarian Partner Pitch, scheduled for June 25, will present five additional projects: Abracadabra, a series by Júlia Farkas and Zita Vadász; Paradise Island, a series by Eszter Molnár; Sun in Retrograde, a short by Adél Szegedi; Nature's Creatures Nature, a series by Csaba Klement; and Half Open, Half Pose, a short by Fábián Balogh.
The Hungarian Partner Pitch is organized by the Hungarian Animation Producers Association and Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival with support from the National Film Institute Hungary. Throughout MIFA, international professionals can meet Hungarian studios, producers and creators at HAPA's national industry stand at booth MIFA B33.
Source: Hungarian Animation Producers Association
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
