The Budapest International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced its program for the 2025 edition, set to take place from October 25 to November 2 at the historic Corvin Cinema.
This year's festival will feature a diverse selection of global cinema, with a focus on both established filmmakers and emerging talents. The 'Echoes' section will include Benny Safdie's "The Smashing Machine," a biographical drama starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Safdie recently received the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival for this film. The 'Bloom' section, dedicated to new voices in cinema, will open with the Chilean film "Cuerpo Celeste." Experimental cinema will be explored in the 'Anzix' section, featuring a special presentation by Scott Barley, who will attend the festival.
A significant retrospective will honor the influential Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman with a screening of her 1976 film "News From Home." Shot in New York City, the film juxtaposes intimate readings of her mother's letters with urban landscapes, capturing the city's atmosphere. Filming locations included Times Square, Hell's Kitchen, and Tribeca.
In collaboration with HBO Max, BIFF will premiere the first two installments of the four-part documentary series "Pogány Induló - Vajon mit mondana anya," which chronicles the rise of Hungarian rapper Pogány Induló. Key partners supporting the festival include Erste Bank, HBO Max, Telekom Film, and Visa, with Budapest Film as a professional partner. BIFF continues to establish itself as a significant event on the international film calendar.