The Hungarian director will present in person his 2020 hit "Pieces of a Woman" this September
In 2021, the Special Award of the 25th Sofia Film Festival will be presented to three people, whose life is entirely connected with the cinema. Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó is one of them. Bulgarian audience knows him as we showed all his films at Sofia Film Festival over the years - since his debut feature „Pleasant Days“ (2002), winner of the Grand Prize for Best Film in the first international competition of Sofia Film Festival in 2003, through the omnibus „Generation: Lost and Found“ (2005), „Delta“ (2008), which won the FIPRESCI award in Cannes, as well as „Tender Son - the Frankenstein Project“ (2010), nominated for the „Golden Palm“ in Cannes. In 2014, Mundruczó presented to the world an exceptional provocation – „White God“, winner of the grand prize of the „Un Certain Regard“ competition from Cannes and the cutest award from one of the most prestigious festivals in the world – „Palm Dog“, awarded to two of the 250 dogs in the film. The original and impressive „Jupiter's Moon“ (2017) also participated in Cannes, again in the main competition.
„Delta“, „Tender Son - the Frankenstein Project“, „White God“ are three films that have won serious positions for Mundruczó in the world of cinema. Here is what he shared immediately after the premiere of „White God“ in Sofia, in the 19th Sofia Film Festival's programme.
„After 10 years in cinema, I have four popular films - „Pleasant Days“, „Delta“, „Tender Son - the Frankenstein Project“ and „White God“ and I think they all recreate the same theme. „Tender Son“ is the way I express what I have to do with creation, it is much more inward, to the soul of the characters. After that, I felt like I had said everything that was in me, I felt empty. So I tried to find new topics. It was then that I realized - the reality in Eastern Europe and Hungary had changed completely. The meanings of the words have changed. Eastern Europe is no longer melancholic, slow, insensitive, it is aggressive, fast. It shows also in the cinema - the styles begin to intertwine. „White God“ is a reflection of my view on these changes. Honestly, this is my most Hungarian film. I express my anger against the chauvinistic, racist issues circulating in our society - and exactly this film that has become the most international. That says a lot!“
„Pieces of A Woman“ is a co-production between the United States, Canada and Hungary and it premiered in the Venice 2020 programme. The main roles are entrusted to Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf. The outstanding Kirby won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress in Venice, Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for Best Leading Actress.
„Every tragedy or every drama at the end gives you a lot of power in your own life. I always tell my stories from my heart and I want to reach out to the hearts of the audience... I wanted to talk about a taboo, which I think really exists. Women who lose their babies are so relegated to isolation. People around them just don't know how to deal with these losses and tragedies, both within society and family. That was the origin. Then, I also wanted to put the story in an environment that I know, and am close to... The main question in the film is how people deal with tragedies and what are the imprints that we give to our children“, said Kornél Mundruczó about his film.
„Pieces of A Woman“ will be screened exclusively at 25th Sofia Film Festival #Autumn's edition and our audience will have an opportunity to meet Kornél Mundruczó and to witness the presentation of the Special Award of the anniversary 25th Sofia Film Festival.
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Sofia Film Festival is supported by Sofia Municipality and is a part of the Calendar of Cultural Events of Sofia Municipality.
Main
co-organizers and partners are the Ministry of Culture, EA „Bulgarian
National Film Center“ and „Creative Europe MEDIA“ Programme of European
Union.
We wait for you at the #CINEMAs* #25SofiaIFF