As it has done every year since its creation, the French Institute in Hungary is once again a partner of the Budapest Classics Film Marathon, organised by the National Film Institute, and will host the 9th edition from 15 to 20 September 2026.
The programme features more than 20 screenings, including three live cinema concerts, talks, a programme dedicated to film professionals, and film archives from around the world. It is a great opportunity to (re)discover great classics, as well as numerous recently restored short and feature films being shown in Hungary for the first time! This edition is particularly significant as it celebrates 125 years of Hungarian cinema, offering an opportunity to showcase the country’s exceptional cinematic heritage.
At the French Institute, come and (re)discover:
Tuesday, September 15
6:30 PM – Colourful Dreams
Genre: Estonian colour family film | Year: 1974 | Dir.: Virve Aruoja, Jaan Tooming | Running time: 62 minutes
Language: Estonian | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
8:00 PM – The Crimson Rivers
Genre: French colour thriller | Year: 2000 | Dir.: Mathieu Kassovitz | Running time: 106 minutes
Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
Not recommended for viewers under 16.
Wednesday, September 16
5:30 PM – The day will come
Genre: Canadian black-and-white documentary short | Year: 1957 | Dir.: Jacques Giraldeau | Running time: 30 minutes
Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
ACCOMPANYING SHORT FILMS
- HUNGARY, OCTOBER 1956 (AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE) – American black-and-white newsreel, 1956 | Producer: USIS (United States Information Service) | Running time: 11 min. | Language: English | Subtitles: Hungarian
- HUNGARIAN REFUGEES – French black-and-white documentary, 1959 | Dir.: Roger Benamou | Running time: 15 min. | Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
- HUNGARY – NEWSREEL – Les Actualités Françaises, first report on the Hungarian Revolution, black-and-white, 1956 | Running time: 2 min. | Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
7:00 PM – Meeting on the Docks
Genre: French black-and-white drama | Year: 1955 | Dir.: Paul Carpita | Running time: 75 minutes
Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
ACCOMPANYING SHORT FILMS
- GRAINES AU VENT – French black-and-white drama, 1964 | Dir.: Paul Carpita | Running time: 18 min. | Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
- DEMAIN L’AMOUR – French black-and-white drama, 1962 | Dir.: Paul Carpita | Running time: 16 min. | Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
9:15 PM - Werewolf
Genre: Estonian horror film | Year: 1969 | Dir.: Leida Laius | Running time: 1h 11 min
Language: Estonian | Subtitles: English, Hungarian
Thursday, September 17
5:00 PM – The Gates of the Night
Genre: French black-and-white drama | Year: 1946 | Dir.: Marcel Carné | Running time: 120 minutes
Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
7:15 PM – The Spring Fairy - Pathé Short Film Programme (CINE-CONCERT)
Pathé’s French silent short films are a highlight of the festival programme every year. This year, a selection of short films from 1906 will be presented, offering you the opportunity to discover films made exactly 120 years ago.
8:30 PM – Jealousy (CINE-CONCERT)
Genre: German black-and-white drama | Year: 1925 | Dir.: Karl Grune | Running time: 58 minutes
Language: Silent | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
Friday, September 18
4:45 PM - A Season in Hakkari
Genre: Turkish colour drama | Year: 1983 | Dir.: Erden Kiral | Running time: 110 minutes
Language: Turkish | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
5:30 PM – The day will come
Genre: Canadian black-and-white documentary short | Year: 1957 | Dir.: Jacques Giraldeau | Running time: 30 minutes
Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
ACCOMPANYING SHORT FILMS
- HUNGARY, OCTOBER 1956 (AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE) – American black-and-white newsreel, 1956 | Producer: USIS (United States Information Service) | Running time: 11 min. | Language: English | Subtitles: Hungarian
- HUNGARIAN REFUGEES – French black-and-white documentary, 1959 | Dir.: Roger Benamou | Running time: 15 min. | Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
- HUNGARY – NEWSREEL – Les Actualités Françaises – First report on the Hungarian Revolution, black-and-white, 1956 | Running time: 2 min. | Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
8:15 PM – The Propagandist
Genre: Dutch documentary in black and white and colour | Year: 2024 | Dir.: Luuk Bouwman | Running time: 112 minutes
Language: Dutch | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
Saturday, September 19
11 :00 AM - Dialogue
Genre: Hungarian black-and-white drama | Year: 1963 | Dir.: János Herskó | Running time: 134 minutes
Language: Hungarian | Subtitles: French, English
Not recommended for viewers under 16.
ACCOMPANYING SHORT FILMS
- Hungarian newsreel – black-and-white, 1956 | Running time: 12 min. | Language: Hungarian | Subtitles: French, English
- A Portrait of Our Time – Hungarian colour animation, 1965 | Dir.: Sándor Reisenbüchler | Running time: 11 min. | Language: Hungarian | Subtitles: French, English
2:30 PM – Ten Thousand Suns
Genre: Hungarian black-and-white drama | Year: 1965 | Dir.: Ferenc Kósa | Running time: 103 minutes
Language: Hungarian | Subtitles: French, English
ACCOMPANYING SHORT FILMS
- Hungarian newsreel – black-and-white, 1956 | Running time: 12 min. | Language: Hungarian | Subtitles: French, English
- In India – Hungarian colour animation, 1966 | Dir.: Zsolt Richly | Running time: 4 min. | Language: Hungarian | Subtitles: French, English
5:00 PM – Danton
Genre: French-Polish historical drama in colour | Year: 1983 | Dir.: Andrzej Wajda | Running time: 136 minutes
Language: French | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
7:45 PM – Strong Man (CINE-CONCERT)
Genre: Polish black-and-white drama | Year: 1929 | Dir.: Henryk Szaro | Running time: 80 minutes
Language: Polish (intertitles) | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
Sunday, September 20
11:00 AM - Once Upon a Time, Cinema
Genre: Iranian fantasy comedy in colour and black and white | Year: 1992 | Dir.: Mohsen Makhmalbaf | Running time: 92 minutes
Language: Persian, English | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
1:45 AM – Madness
Genre: Estonian black-and-white drama | Year: 1968 | Dir.: Kaljo Kiisk | Running time: 79 minutes
Language: Estonian | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
3:30 – Fantastic Planet
Genre: French-Czechoslovak colour animation | Year: 1973 | Dir.: René Laloux | Running time: 72 minutes
Language: French, Czech | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
ACCOMPANYING SHORT FILM
The Plant – Canadian colour short film, 1973 | Dir.: Thomas Vamos, Joyce Borenstein | Running time: 13 min. | No dialogue
5:15 PM – Time of Love
Genre: Iranian-Turkish colour drama | Year: 1990 | Dir.: Mohsen Makhmalbaf | Running time: 75 minutes
Language: Turkish, Persian | Subtitles: French, Hungarian, English
7:00 PM - Queen Margot
Genre: French-German-Italian colour historical drama | Year: 1994 | Dir.: Patrice Chéreau | Running time: 161 minutes
Language: French, Italian | Subtitles: Hungarian, English
Tickets available online : https://franciaintezet.jegy.hu/
Discover the full programme of the Budapest Classics Film Marathon : https://nfi.hu/en/budapest-classics-film-marathon-2026