8th Blue Danube Film Festival

‘Opening up from a still window of distant communication, the film twirls into a vibrant fantasmagoria of inner turmoil, to end with a soothing, but prickly, ritual. Bold and refreshing.’ (Soetkin Verstegen - Jury)

‘With every stroke, intricate and precise, we feel the effort it takes of the main character to reach others. An intricate film of struggle and delicacy.’ (Soetkin Verstegen - Jury)

I loved this film because of its exceptional character design and stunning hand-drawn animation. The craftsmanship in the animation is nothing short of beautiful, with each frame radiating warmth and charm, the movements are fluid and elegant, every character is incredibly expressive and full of personality. An absolute delight to watch. (Eszter Sorosi - Student Jury)

The film manages to make a grand narrative feel intimate and approachable, bringing the big picture closer to the viewer through its charming visuals and delightful character design. Its lighthearted tone doesn’t overshadow the deeper message but rather makes it more accessible, allowing the audience to reflect on themes of creation and destruction. The beautiful landscapes, the emotionally engaging scenes, the humour and the music make it a perfectly well-rounded piece that’s both visually captivating and thought-provoking. (Eszter Sorosi - Student Jury)

The film uses a unique technique – found footage, family photos, videos, and animation – to delve into African and European identity and the lasting impact of colonialism – all from the perspective of a second-generation mixed-race woman. This universally relatable story gains depth and authenticity through the intimate lens of personal memory. (Gábor Gelencsér - Jury)

A film in the best traditions of Hungarian documentary filmmaking, which explores social phenomena in a human-centered way, telling the story of a woman with a troubled past who fights for her children placed in foster care. A profoundly beautiful, human story, characterized by the director's minimalist approach and stylistic restraint. (Gábor Gelencsér - Jury)

3350 KM is a raw and thought-provoking film that captures the emotional weight of war and the separation of families. Despite its visual simplicity, the film uses the medium powerfully, making the distance of 3,350 kilometers between a father in Syria and his daughter in Paris feel painfully real. Through recorded internet conversations, the film poignantly illustrates the profound impact of the enduring bonds and difficulties of families from across vast distances. (Flóra Deák-Sala - Student Jury)

How Did I Get Here? is an honest and heartfelt exploration of the longing to understand one's own history. The film delves into motherly love and the complexities of questioning our family stories, inviting viewers to reflect on their own untold pasts. Through its intimate home video aesthetic, it captures the emotional journey of reconnecting with family and the inner child. (Flóra Deák-Sala - Student Jury)

Not only is this film's formal proposal sensuous and poetic, but there are lingering thoughts that still remained with me after it's viewing. I enjoyed its tone, textures and atmospheres. I resonated deeply with its fixation in the smallest of beings and how it manages to honor them in a way that is complex and self-reflective. I particularly admire how the author managed to preserve the tenderness which is the departing point of this piece, but managed to share a poignant comment on the powerlessness of human beings under the systems that we inhabit. (Tania Hernández Velasco - Jury)

I loved this film. Mind blowing piece where sharp editing, brilliant writing and a diversity of interventions on archive create poetry. A playful and subversive take on matriarchal imageries and narratives that depart from a situated take but are able to resonate universally and contemporarily. (Tania Hernández Velasco - Jury)

The impermanence of the material, the spiritual transcendence mixed with deconstruction, creates the form's own autonomous "breathing", which is well intertwined with the apparent content of the film, the repeated instructions of the meditative exercises, which the material itself undergoes, thus reaching its own innermost self. (Ádám Hőgye - Student Jury)

The historically significant material, thanks to the films specific execution and the uniqueness of its concept, evokes both the rigour of structuralist montages and the elusive impression of a kind of bitter cinematic nostalgia. (Ádám Hőgye - Student Jury)

The film immerses us in the world of those who live and work in close connection with nature, depicting a mysterious phenomenon that defies clear explanation. Are these spirits at work, or merely the raw forces of nature? The filmmaker deliberately leaves the answer ambiguous, capturing the phenomenon through subtle auditory cues and the nuanced expressions on the protagonist's face. Ultimately, the story transcends the supernatural; it becomes a reflection on him, on us, and on the essence of humanity. (Gábor Gelencsér - Jury)

The story captures the current state of migration through a blend of realistic and stylized elements. It evokes a powerful, cathartic effect by focusing on the lives of everyday people. This impact is primarily due to its unique dramaturgical approach and the exceptional acting performances. (Gábor Gelencsér - Jury)

A very well constructed, lovely and heartfelt story. It shows how simple it is to bring joy through kindness and understanding to an elderly retired truck driver. (Réka Osvárt - Student Jury)

Hawk and Berry had just gone on a well-deserved weekend hunt in the high-stand, but they witnessed a lot more than just game, perhaps too much. But what happens in the woods, stays in the woods. (Réka Osvárt - Student Jury)

Drawing from the experiences of the Ukrainian war, the film explores the themes of memory and the impossibility of remembering. The animation technique conveys this contradictory experience with both sensitivity and empathy. It is a deeply personal work that, true to its title, resonates on a universal level. (Gábor Gelencsér - Jury)

A movie about addiction, in which the thoughts are always focused on the object of addiction and the actions are always aimed at reducing the desire for the object of addiction. However, the desire for the object of addiction only grows, until suddenly the glass breaks. (Brúnó Rataj - Student Jury)