The international premiere of documentary “Spring Wind – The Awakening,” charting the political journey of Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar that culminated with his historic victory on Sunday in the country’s general elections, will open Italy’s Riviera International Film Festival on May 5.
“Spring Wind – The Awakening,” which is directed by Tamás Yvan Topolánszky, takes viewers behind the scenes of Magyar’s political rise that has led to the dethroning of Hungary’s longtime prime minister Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power, rejecting Orbán’s far-right policies and anti-European Union stance.
“For over a year, the filmmakers worked incognito with a small crew, following the politician on national tours, at campaign sites and during informal conversations,” says the provided synopsis. “This experience also allowed them to witness Magyar’s quiet and intimate moments – often in his own home – that would otherwise have remained hidden from the public. The film therefore does not simply document events, but reveals human decisions, motivations, doubts and personal experiences.”
The doc, independently produced by Topolánszky and Claudia Sümeghy with Juno 11 Pictures and Halluci-Nation, played prominently in Hungary in movie theaters, on HBO, and also as an online freebie in the lead-up to the Hungarian elections.
Juno 11 Distribution is handling international sales.
“Produced entirely independently and without external influence, the film reflects our belief that integrity and authenticity must come first. Its extraordinary reach and impact have strengthened our belief that documentary filmmaking can play a significant role in shaping real social change,” Topolánszky and Sümeghy said in a statement. “We are truly delighted to return to the Riviera International Film Festival, a place that we feel is our creative home.”
The Riviera film fest, which is held in the picturesque seaside town of Sestri Levante on Italy’s ligurian coast, is the event from which Topolánszky and Sümeghy launched their first feature “Curtiz,” about the making of the 1942 classic Humphrey Bogart-starrer “Casablanca” by Hungarian director Michael Curtiz.
Topolánszky won the fest’s best director award in 2019 for “Curtiz.” He subsequently returned to the Riviera fest in 2023 as a jury member.
The 10th edition of the Riviera International Film Festival, which is headed by Los Angeles-based Italian producer Stefano Gallini-Durante, will run May 5-10.
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