Editor

The 2nd Hungarian Documentary and Short Film Festival in Los Angeles came to its end after ten days of continuous screenings on Sunday.

The event was organized by the Consulate General of Hungary, the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the Wende Musem of Cold War, the United Hungarian House and the South-Eastern-European Film Festival of Los Angeles.. „Civil Report - A Report by the Civil Law Committee on the Abuse of Human Rights", a film by János Gulyás won the „Ember Judit Award" out of the 31 participating films. The Consulate General of Hungary established the „Ember Judit Award" in 2010 as a tribute to the memory of the world famous Hungarian documentary film director, Judit Ember. The films participating at the festival were about the significant issues of the last decades` important historical developments,the daily life of the Hungarian minorities living in the neighbouring to Hungary countries, the Hungarian social problems and Hungarian traditions. They could present a deeper and a more personal picture on Hungary then the television and the internet. They could tell our history in an American environment. The films were selected by a Hungarian professional jury. Thanks for it to the Ministry of National Resources of Hungary, the Hungarian Documentary Film Directors` Association and the Documentary Department of the Hungarian Filmartists` Association.
Consul General Balázs Bokor underlined at the Award presenting night that the „Ember Judit Award" was given according to the votes of the audiance. All guests had the chance to cast their votes just after each screening in a written form. Apart from the award winning film the „Muzsikás Story" by Péter Pál Tóth, „Hungarian retro" by Zsigmond Gábor Papp, „Tripe and Onions" by Márton Szirmai and the „Csangos" by Ibolya Fekete were in the group of the best 5 films. According to the Consul General it is worth continuing this initiative in the future as the demonstrating of the films to an American public also contributed to increasing the Hungarian identity in the local Hungarian American community.
Daughter of Judit Ember from Texas was present at the award presentation, as she specially arrived at Los Angeles to participate at the Festival`s last night.
A separate Facebok page operated during the filmfestival where all interested people could get fresh information on the festival and about all related events, news is located here.

Civil Report - A Report by the Civil Law Committee on the Abuse of Human Rights

Director: János Gulyás, 2007
102 minutes
At a press conference held in February 2007, members of the Civil Law Committee presented cases of human rights abuse committed in Hungary in September 2006 and on the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Revolution on 23 October. They spoke about ferenc Gyurcsány s infamous Öszöd speech, banning of public gatherings, the siege of the headquarters of the Hungarian television, police overreaction, illegal acts and serious injury caused by the use of rubber bullets. We also hear from the victims of these events whose cases are still in court with still no mention of compensation or restitution. The film includes news footage of some of the more dramatic moments of street-fighting as unarmed, peaceful demonstration struggle against an overwhelming armed response.