World premiere
Hungarian Wedding
From Budapest to a local wedding. This trip is an adventure of a lifetime.
András and Péter are two young men trying to make it big with their rock band in Budapest in the early 1980s. When the opportunity arises to attend the wedding of András’s cousin in Transylvania, they decide to take it as a chance to raise some money. Once there, they embark on an unexpected adventure.
While visiting the locals, Péter meets Kati, the bride’s sister. Sparks could fly as they find themselves surrounded by the vibrant rituals of a traditional Kalotaszeg region wedding. The music, dancing and costumes provide a colourful backdrop to the daring plan of the two city boys.
Unlike in other films, music and dance are not mere decorations here. They form the beating heart of the story, with moments of passion, danger and devotion mirrored in the communal rhythms of the village and drawing the viewer into a passionate adventure. The film intertwines romance with the pulsating rhythms of folk music and dance to create an artistic gem and an engaging cinematic experience.
By blending romance and cultural heritage, “Hungarian Wedding” showcases popular traditions as timeless elements of film storytelling and a catalyst for human emotions.
Javier Garcia Puerto
Csaba Káel (1961) is a Hungarian film director and the CEO of Müpa Budapest (Palace of Arts). He has a degree in structural and architectural engineering but later studied film and television directing at the College of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest. He has also worked on operas, musical theatre productions. His film works include “Kötéltáncos a szocializmusban” (“Walking the Tightrope in the Era of Socialism”, 1994), “Szól a világ” (“The Sound of the World”, 1995) and “Bánk bán” (2002), an adaptation of an opera. His creative works have been screened and performed at events and venues around the world from Tokyo to Los Angeles.
Filmography:
Bánk bán (2002), Gyurika Egy pólós vallomásai (2015, doc), Makk Károly - Szerelmeim (2015, doc), Magyar Menyegzo (Hungarian Wedding, 2025)
Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela
