Spring Breeze Brings Hungarian Cultural Programs to Brussels

The Liszt Institute Brussels organized numerous spring-themed events in March. They supported Hungarian filmmakers at the Brussels International Animation Film Festival, Anima, where Hungarian creators received multiple awards. The institute also introduced the book „For a Better World – 110 Years of Hungarian Scouting” („Egy jobb világért - 110 éves a magyar cserkészet”) and participated in the Brussels Book Fair, Foire du Livre, where the local audience could discover a Hungarian creative duo’s work translated into French. On March 17, they inaugurated the Smart Hungary exhibition by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, drawing significant interest.

The 44th Brussels International Animation Film Festival, Anima, took place from February 28 to March 9, 2025. The festival screened 150 films in major cultural institutions and cinemas across Brussels. Hungarian creators’ works were showcased, including „The Bird’s Children” (“A madár gyermekei”) (Dir. Júlia Tudisco), „Shoes and Hooves” („Cipők és Paták”) (Dir. Viktória Traub), „I’d Eat It If I Could” („Megenném, ha bírnám”) (Dir. Bence Hlavay), „Short From the Box: Modern Times – Supermarket” (Dir. Géza M. Tóth), „Vegan Mayo” (Dir. Luca Tóth), „Nube” (Dir. Diego Alonso Sánchez de la Barquera Estrada & Christian Arredondo Narváez), and „Blue Pelican” („Kék Pelikán”) (Dir. László Csáki). Three Hungarian films won awards: „Blue Pelican” („Kék Pelikán”) was recognized for its captivating storytelling evoking the spirit of youth and freedom in post-1990 Hungary, „I’d Eat It If I Could” („Megenném, ha bírnám”) won Best Student Short Film for its fresh and bold storytelling, and „The Bird’s Children” („A madár gyermekei”) received the Audience Award.

On March 4, the Liszt Institute Brussels hosted the launch of „For a Better World – 110 Years of Hungarian Scouting” („Egy jobb világért - 110 éves a magyar cserkészet”), published by MCC Press. This academic volume honors key figures in Hungarian scouting, tracing its history from its foundation through the oppressive decades of communism to the present day, while also exploring its current state. A roundtable discussion with the book’s authors and editors offered attendees insight into the history, present, and future of the Hungarian scouting movement. The discussion featured Levente Székely, Director of the Youth Research Institute; Georgina Kiss-Kozma, Lead Researcher at the Youth Research Institute; and Gergely Réti, MCC’s Acting Director. The event was moderated by Júlia Sztáray, former Hungarian scout in Brussels and former Chief of Cabinet of the State Secretariat for Higher Education, Vocational and Adult Education, and Youth at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation. Ambassador Dr. Tamás Iván Kovács and Director Zsófia Kovács delivered opening remarks.

Between March 13 and 16, the Brussels Book Fair, Foire du Livre, took place. Supported by the Liszt Institute, comic artist Levente Németh and writer János Mészáros participated, presenting and signing the French edition of the final volume of their series, „Kings and Crosses” („Királyok és Keresztek”), at the Belgian BD MUST publishing house’s stand. This year, the book fair, held at the Tour & Taxis venue, broke records with 85,000 international visitors.

On March 17, the Smart Hungary exhibition by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade opened at the Liszt Institute Brussels. The exhibition showcases the broad spectrum of today’s "smart" innovations through Hungarian innovators and companies. It highlights four key areas: Buildings