This year, Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival will open on November 9, 2021, in Trafó Budapest, screening the HBO documentary Divas, directed by Máté Kőrösi, which will also be the film’s Hungarian premiere. The festival will be on during November 9–21 with on-site and online programs and screenings in Budapest and in five other Hungarian cities.
The organizers of the 18th Verzió Film Festival have selected nearly 60 news films, representing the most sought-after international and Hungarian human rights documentaries, of which the majority will have their Hungarian premiere at the festival.
No matter the circumstances, documentary filmmakers have tirelessly worked on the frontlines, gathering evidence of changes and challenges, and capturing the current state of the world. Films, discussions, and round table programs all encourage audiences to face the multilayered reality they live in. Oksana Sarkisova, Verzió Festival Director, summarized this message as follows; “We have chosen ‘Layers of Reality’ as this year’s Verzió motto. We truly believe that all of the approaches and experiences conveyed by different documentaries should help us comprehend as much as possible about the world around us. Even though we consume a great deal of news every day, we are barely impacted by it. The films selected this year will help us delve into our selected topics and discover their complexity through personal stories.“
Complying with all pandemic restrictions and recommendations, this year’s film festival will return to the cinemas. Owing to Verzió’s experience and success online last year, the program—including films, recorded discussions, and round table programs—will be online during the week November 15–21.
During the 18th Verzió, along with the films shown in the International, Student & Debut Film, and Hungarian Competition, audiences can explore the layers of reality emerging through various topics. This year, films in the Anthropocene section demonstrate the human impact on the environment, while the Parrhesia: The Moment of Truth section highlights stories of young journalists, artists, teenagers, and activists fighting tooth and nail for a future in countries where the (im)possibility of fighting against power or authoritarian regimes unveils a different layer of reality. Films included in Dive into the Mind section place an emphasis on mental health, while the works in Viewfinder tell stories about the power of images and the camera, as well as the capacity of storytelling.
The detailed festival program will be available mid-October.