223 E 52nd Street, NY 10022
The Liszt Institute New York together with the University of Theater and Film Arts Budapest present a special screening featuring award-winning, young Hungarian film directors on the Day of Hungarian Culture, January 22, 2024 from 7PM at the Consulate General of Hungary.
Bringing up-and-coming young talents to the fore, the event aims to provide rising artists with an opportunity to introduce themselves in the Unites States. Through the award-winning short films of two talented graduates of the University of Theater and Film Arts in Budapest, Bianka Szelestey and Sébastien Varga, the audience will have a chance to gain insight into the captivating work of emeriging creative minds exploring the complexities of human nature.
The distinguished guest of the evening will be Dr. József Pacskovszki, Deputy Director of the Zsigmond Vilmos Institute of Cinematic Arts, who will introduce the audience to the operations of the University of Theater and Film Arts Budapest and share his thoughts about the future of the film industry in Hungary.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Film Screening
- Hospice (2024) directed by Sébastien Varga, 14 minutes
A devastated and broken man in a hospital's hospice department receives a special therapy from a psychologist. Initially dismissive of everyone, the man slowly begins to open up and decides to try to get in contact with his long-lost son.
- Pragma (2023) directed by Bianka Szelestey, 29 minutes
Pragma essentially is a mother-daughter story set in the course of a day. The repressed tension between the main characters, Juli and Lili, and the lack of real, attentive love is symbolised by the daughter's inability to consume meals prepared by her mother - a dramatic scenario that is on the verge of being absurd. At the core of the dysfunctional relationship dynamics is the grandmother, who raised the mother in an oppressive way and as a result she has difficulty expressing unconditional love.
Panel discussion and Q&A with dr. József Pacskovszki
About the directors
Bianka Szelestey
Bianka Szelestey was born in 1995, in Veszprém, Hungary. She had her BA and MA degree at Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Film Studies. She is currently a student at the University of Theatre and Film Arts, majoring in directing. She is an aspiring director, working on short films and music videos. She lives in Budapest.
Sébastien Varga
Different artistic activities have always been very important Sébastien. Even as a child he has written short stories and poems and he has been also interested in acting, poetry and various forms of self-expression. After high school, he started his studies at the Loránd Eötvös University's Law Faculty, but later continued the activities he was truly interested in. Sébastien was involved in the university drama group and organized poetry performances as well as taking part in small roles in commercials and television series which eventually lead him into the world of filmmaking, where he immediately felt at home.