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Hungarian Edition
The Tony Curtis International Film Festival (TCIFF) will officially commence tomorrow in Mátészalka, at the historic Adolph Zukor Theatre. Running from September 19 to 21, the festival will feature a dynamic selection of 55 films from 17 countries, presented across three categories: documentaries, short films, and feature-length films.
This year’s festival is a collaboration between the Hungarian Hollywood Council, Mátészalka’s local government, Origo Studios, and is supported by the National Film Institute. One of the event’s highlights will be the presence of Jill Curtis-Weber, widow of the iconic actor Tony Curtis, who is the festival’s honored guest.
“I know Tony would have loved to have been here, obviously. It’s an honor for me to come here. It’s a beautiful country, and Tony always spoke so highly of it. Tony always wanted to be a movie star, ever since he was young, so a film festival in his honor, in the place where his father came from, would be very moving for him,” said Jill Curtis-Weber to BPR.
The festival offers a vibrant platform for filmmakers, students, and cinephiles alike, with events including podium discussions, audience meet-and-greets with prominent figures in the film industry, and the prestigious Adolph Zukor Award ceremony.
A special exhibition celebrating the life of two-time Oscar-winning choreographer Dave Gould will also be inaugurated, marking the 125th anniversary of his birth. The festival will offer a variety of interactive events featuring renowned film experts such as Róbert Koltai, Iván Kamarás, and Viktor Dudás.
Festival Highlights
Films like “Mogul Wars” by James Forsher (USA) and “Six Weeks” by Hungarian director Noémi Veronika Szakonyi will kick off the competition screenings, alongside Q&A sessions and panel discussions with filmmakers. Additionally, Jill Curtis-Weber will sit down with Balázs Bokor, president of the Hungarian Hollywood Council, for an exclusive conversation about her late husband’s enduring impact on cinema.
“I think it’s important to keep Tony’s name out there. He’s got so many fans all over the world and hopefully this festival makes someone become a new fan of his, a younger person, so that his films can live on forever. Tony always said he went into perpetuity and that’s the truth,” added Jill Curtis-Weber, reflecting on her late husband’s enduring legacy.
Film enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to enjoy a diverse range of films, from Afghan director Zahra Mojahed’s “Silently” to Réka Pigniczky’s “Kaláka – From the Carpathians to the Caribbean”, offering an insightful look into both local and international storytelling.
The festival will conclude on September 21 with an awards gala, followed by a ceremonial wreath-laying at the Tony Curtis memorial plaque. For those interested in cinema and the legacy of Tony Curtis, the TCIFF promises to be an unforgettable celebration of both Hungarian and international film culture.
