CINEMA CONTACT is the result of cooperation between the Department of Visual Culture and Literary Theory of the University of Szeged and Cinema City film festival. It was supported by Hungary-Serbia IPA Cross-border Co-operation programme, which is co-financed by the EU. The aim of this project is to promote cultural diversity and education through cultural exchange and understanding between the people living in the border region, primarily through film as a very popular and effective type of media.
A special focus during the project was put on film students, who had a chance to work together under the tutelage of seasoned professionals. Young film authors from Hungary and Serbia were invited to participate in Young Talents Competition, which is a special competition programme within the Cinema City festival. Furthermore, the educational programme of the festival included lectures for a select group of students from the border region, and some of the most renowned film authors and professionals in film industry. The films of young authors from the Up to 10,000 bucks selection were screened at the University of Szeged, while Focus: Hungary selection screened the films that best represent the new independent Hungarian cinema. The films were hand-picked by the famous Hungarian author Béla Tarr, In addition, the movie was also acquired by Fandango movie.
Cinema Contact forged a new connection in form of a creative friendship between the Cinema City Association and the University of Szeged, young authors and film aficionados from the border region, and contributed to the promotion of the Serbian and Hungarian cinemas, and education of film students on both sides of the border.
