Culture: Media Arts

The end of last week was a wonderful opportunity to experience the strong culture of film and media arts here in Eger. I had had a welcoming email from Csaba Bollók, who described himself as teaching moving images here at EKF, but also in Budapest. We planned to meet when he came to Eger to judge the student film festival. Included in the lunch was Dr. Paul Swann, a Fulbright scholar from Temple University, who is also a motion picture and visual arts teacher and researcher.

Csaba is a dynamic and very accomplished filmmaker. His film ISKA'S JOURNEY was nominated as the Hungarian entry for the Academy Award for best foreign film this year. We had a very interesting conversation, and hope to meet again in the future. He grew up in Eger, and even showed us the special spot in the Lyceum where the acoustics are perfect.

In the evening we attended the opening ceremony of the film festival. The festival has been going on for quite a few years, and Lajos Kis-Tóth and Zóltan Hauser, the Vice-Rector and Rector, recounted their involvement as students in the early years. Speeches (in Hungarian, so not much understood!) were followed by wonderful food and wine (no translation problems there!). It was a great evening.

There is a Film Klub here, with a season of showings just starting. We plan to attend some of the films--we've even figured out (thanks, Csaba) how to tell if the film is dubbed, subtitled, both or neither!

There are also multiple theaters, with current films playing. I think Slumdog Millionaire is here now--I wonder if it's dubbed in Hungarian?