From now on, Friss Hús can qualify films for the Oscars® (the Academy Awards®) in the categories of Best Hungarian Live-Action Short Film and Best Hungarian Animated Short Film. The winning films automatically become eligible for nomination, bypassing the otherwise  complicated rules. This achievement places Friss Hús in the exclusive club of Academy Awards®-qualifying festivals, alongside the world’s most prestigious film events – such as Cannes, Berlinale, and Venice – as well as highly esteemed short film festivals like Vienna Shorts and Tokyo ShortShorts.

At the next Friss Hús, films awarded in the two above-mentioned categories will be eligible to submit for the 98th Oscars®. The 13th edition of the festival, taking place in 2025, will run from May 29 to June 4 at the Puskin Cinema. Submissions are still open until October 30 via FilmFreeway and Shortfilmdepot.

“We grant the privilege of being listed as a qualifying festival to organizations that the Academy considers outstanding not only for the films they select but also for their ongoing commitment to the international filmmaking community,” stated the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“We’ve been working on Friss Hús for over a decade to ensure that film talents receive the recognition they deserve from both Hungarian and international audiences. The Academy’s decision marks our most significant milestone so far: as an Oscar®-qualifying festival, we can draw even more international attention to Hungarian films and Friss Hús itself. We hope this great opportunity will give momentum to the production of Hungarian animated and live-action short films, as well as to talent development in the film industry,” said Daniel Deák, founder and director of the festival.

Since 2013, Friss Hús has grown into the largest Hungarian short film festival and one of the most important film events in the country, attracting over ten thousand visitors annually. The program features fresh and valuable works by young, creative filmmakers with distinctive voices – for example, Kristóf Deák’s Oscar®-winning film "Sing" and Flóra Anna Buda’s "27," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. The general public and professionals can watch new Hungarian and international short films on the big screen, complemented by professional programs, workshops, panel discussions, concerts, and many other events. The week-long festival expands every year with more programs and venues; the most recent edition took place not only in Budapest but also in several other Hungarian cities, including Debrecen, Pécs, and Szeged.