This initiative is closely linked to the recent international triumphs of Hungarian animation, most notably Hungary’s role as the Guest of Honor at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. That milestone provided significant visibility and professional opportunities, paving the way for initiatives like the Hunimation Pitch Forum. The primary goal is to provide selected projects with a platform at the world’s most prestigious animation industry event: the Annecy International Animation Festival’s MIFA Partner Pitch program.
The Jury and the Selection Process
A professional jury will decide on March 27 which five projects will receive the opportunity to present at the MIFA Partner Pitch in Annecy. The members of the jury are Luce Grosjean, head of the Paris-based MIYU Distribution; Dániel Deák, founder and director of Friss Hús; Éva Konrád, animation producer; Anna Ida Orosz, film historian, curator, and NFI researcher; and Áron Gauder, animation director.
The Finalist Projects
The 12 projects selected for the Budapest finals reflect the remarkable diversity of Hungarian animation, ranging from short films and series to feature-length and immersive formats:
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Gergő Arany – A City Made of Cardboard (short film)
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Fábián Balogh – Half Open Half Pose (short film)
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Réka Bucsi – The Great Silence (feature film)
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Nikolett Fábián – Aphiémi (short film)
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Júlia Farkas – Abracadabra (TV series)
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Eszter Kajlik – Let Me Give Birth in Peace (animated documentary feature)
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Csaba Klement – Natures Creatures Nature (TV series)
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Anna Katalin Lovrity – Rosie and Sapphire (TV series)
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Eszter Molnár – Paradise Island (TV series)
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Adél Szegedi – Sun in Retrograde (short film)
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Balázs Turai – Killin’ It (short film)
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Zsófia Zelles-Görgey – Myrtle in Paperland (immersive / VR project)
Professional Insights
"The goal of the Hunimation Pitch Forum is to build a bridge between Hungarian animation creators and international professional platforms. Recent successes prove that domestic projects are competitive on a global scale, which is why we want to actively help them reach the most important forums and partners."
— Réka Temple, President of the Hungarian Animation Producers Association.
"The most important goal of Friss Hús is to provide a debut platform for talent and support them in their long-term careers. The submitted works clearly show that Hungarian animation is becoming simultaneously more professional and more unique, which is the key to international success."
— Dániel Deák, Director of Friss Hús and jury member.
International Masterclass: Focus on Co-production and Distribution
This year’s forum includes a new element: an international masterclass held by Luce Grosjean, head of the Paris-based Miyu Productions. Miyu has achieved numerous international festival successes over the past decade, including Oscar-nominated animations. They are a defining player in positioning European auteur animation globally and distributed Flóra Anna Buda’s short film 27, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
The presentation will take place on March 27 at 3:00 PM at Magvető Café, focusing on co-production opportunities, financing, and festival/distribution strategies for animation projects.
The Hunimation – Hungarian Animation Pitch Forum is a collaboration between the Hungarian Animation Producers Association and Friss Hús, supported by the National Film Institute (NFI).
