#FIRSTLOOK: BUDAPEST CLASSICS FILM MARATHON TO HONOUR ROBERT LANTOS

The 8th Budapest Classics Film Marathon (BKFM), organized by the National Film Institute – Hungary, will honour internationally celebrated Canadian-Hungarian film producer Robert Lantos. 14 of his most iconic films will be screened as part of a tribute to his decades-long contribution to contemporary cinema. Past honourees include Costa Gavras, Wim Wenders, and Károly Makk.

Running from September 16–21, 2025, The Budapest Classics Film Marathon will open with the 2004 Canada/Hungary co-production, Being Julia. Produced by Robert Lantos, directed by Istvan Szabo, the film stars Annette Bening, whose performance earned her the Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Jeremy Irons co-stars.

The festival returns with some of the most important Hungarian and international works of film history on the big screen, fully restored. For six days, across six venues, audiences can immerse themselves in cinematic history while celebrating 130 years of cinema.

Lantos will attend the festival alongside his long-time collaborators, legendary directors David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan, both of whom will also be honoured guests. Together, the trio has shaped the landscape of Canadian and global cinema.

“I am deeply touched by this retrospective,” said Lantos. “While my career as a filmmaker has unfolded in Canada, Hungary is where my own story began. All 14 selected films are Canadian. Some, like In Praise of Older Women and Sunshine, have shared Canadian-Hungarian heritage. Several were made with longtime friends and collaborators, Istvan Szabo, Atom Egoyan, and David Cronenberg, who will accompany me at the Marathon.”

The Budapest Classics Film Marathon has become a major international platform for celebrating restored film heritage, bringing together iconic creators and rare cinematic experiences.

The Budapest Classics Film Marathon will feature screenings of 14 films produced by Robert Lantos, including:

In Praise of Older Women (1978)

Directed by: George Kaczender

Screenplay by: Paul Gottlieb

Based on the novel by: Stephen Vizinczey

Starring: Tom Berenger, Karen Black, Susan Strasberg, Helen Shaver, Alexandra Stewart

Opening Night Gala: Toronto International Film Festival

Winner: 4 Canadian Screen Awards

Joshua Then and Now (1985)

Directed by: Ted Kotcheff

Screenplay by: Mordechai Richler Based on the novel by: Mordechai Richler

Starring: James Woods, Gabrielle Lazure, Alan Arkin

Official Selection in competition: Cannes International Film Festival

Toronto International Film Festival: Opening Night Gala

Winner: 5 Canadian Screen Awards

Black Robe (1991)

Directed by: Bruces Beresford

Screenplay by: Brian Moore

Based on the novel by: Brian Moore

Starring: Lothaire Bluteau, Aden Young, Sandrine Holt

Opening Night Gala Selection: Toronto International Film Festival

Winner: 7 Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture

Winner: Golden Reel Award

Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

Directed by: Robert Longo

Screenplay by: William Gibson

Based on the Short Story by: William Gibson

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Dina Meyer, Takeshi Kitano

Winner: Golden Reel Award

Crash (1996)

Written and Directed by: David Cronenberg

Based on the novel by: J.G. Ballard

Starring: James Spader, Holly Hunter, Deborah Kara Unger, Elias Kotias, Rosanna Arquette

Official Selection In competition: Cannes International Film Festival

Winner: Cannes International Film Festival, Special Jury Prize

Winner: 6 Canadian Screen Awards

Official Selection: Tokyo International Film Festival

Official Selection: Busan International Film Festival

Official Selection: Mar Del Plata Film Festival

Official Section: Athens Film Festival

Winner: Golden Reel Award

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

Written and Directed by: Atom Egoyan

Based on the novel by: Russell Banks

Starring: Ian Holme, Sarah Polley, Arsinee Khanjian, Alberta Watson, Bruce Greenwood,

Maury Chakin

Nominee: 2 Academy Awards

Official Selection in Competition: Cannes International Film Festival

Winner: Cannes International Film Festival, Grand Prix, International Critics Award,

Ecumenical Prize

Winner: 7 Canadian Screen Awards including Best Picture

Nominee: 3 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

Winner: 2 National Board of Review Awards

Winner: 5 Toronto Critics Association Awards

Opening Night Gala Selection: Toronto International Film Festival, Best Canadian Feature

Winner: 3 Awards, Valladolid International Film Festival

Winner: Independent Spirit Award, Best Foreign Film

Official Selection: Locarno Film Festival

Official Selection: Centrepiece, New York Film Festival

eXistenZ (1999)

Written and Directed by: David Cronenberg

Starring: Jude Law, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sarah Polley, Willem Dafoe

Official Selection in Competition: Berlin International Film Festival

Winner: Berlin International Film Festival, Silver Bear

Winner: Canadian Screen Award

Sunshine (1999)

Directed by: Istvan Szabo

Screenplay by: Istvan Szabo and Israel Horovitz

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Jennifer Ehle, Molly Parker, Deborah Kara Unger,

Rosemary Harris, William Hurt

Nominee: 3 Golden Globes including Best Picture

Winner: 3 European Film Awards

Gala Selection: Toronto International Film Festival

Winner: Political Film Society Award, Best Film

Winner: National Board of Review Awards, Top 10 Films

Winner: Canadian Screen Award, Best Picture

Winner: Writers Guild of Canada Award

Ararat (2002)

Written and Directed by: Atom Egoyan

Starring: Marie-Josee Croze, David Alpay, Charles Aznavour, Christopher Plummer, Arsinee

Khanjian, Bruce Greenwood, Elias Koteas

Official Selection: Cannes International Film Festival

Opening Night Gala: Toronto International Film Festival

Winner: National Board of Review, Freedom of Expression Award

Winner: Political Society Human Rights Award

Winner: 5 Canadian Screen Awards including Best Picture

Winner: Durban International Film Festival, 3 awards including Best Picture

Being Julia (2004)

Directed by: Istvan Szabo

Screenplay by: Ronald Harwood

Based on the novel “Theatre” by: W. Somerset Maugham

Starring: Annette Bening; Jeremy Irons; Shaun Evans; Bruce Greenwood; Michael

Gambon; Juliet Stevenson; Lucy Punch

Nominee: Academy Award, Best Actress

Winner: Golden Globe, Best Actress

Opening Night Gala: Toronto International Film Festival

Official Selection: Telluride International Film Festival

Official Selection: San Sebastian International Film Festival

Nominee: Critics Choice Award

Nominee: 2 European Film Awards

Winner: National Board of Review Award

Nominee: Canadian Screen Award, Best Picture

Winner: Hollywood Film Award, Actress of the Year

Where the Truth Lies (2005)

Written and Directed by: Atom Egoyan

Based on the novel by: Rupert Holmes

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth, Alison Lohman

Official Selection, In Competition: Cannes International Film Festival

Gala Selection: Toronto International Film Festival

Winner: Canadian Screen Award

Winner: Directors Guild of Canada Award

Eastern Promises (2007)

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Screenplay by: Steven Knight

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel

Nominee: Academy Award for Best Actor

Nominee: 3 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture

Nominee: 2 BAFTA Awards • Nominee: Critics Choice Award

Winner: British Independent Film Award

Winner: Toronto International Film Festival, People’s Choice Award

Opening Night Selection: San Sebastian International Film Festival

Opening Night Selection: London Film Festival

Winner: 7 Canadian Screen Awards

Barney’s Version (2010)

Directed by: Richard J. Lewis

Screenplay by: Michael Konyves

Based on the novel by: Mordechai Richler

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Scott Speedman

Nominee: Academy Award

Winner: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor

Official Selection: Venice International Film Festival

Winner: Venice Film Festival, Leoncino D’Oro Award

Winner: San Sebastian International Film Festival, Audience Award

Gala Selection: Toronto International Film Festival

Nominee, 2 London Critics Circle Awards

Winner: 7 Canadian Screen Awards

Remember (2015)

Directed by: Atom Egoyan

Screenplay by: Benjamin August

Starring: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Dean Norris, Bruno Ganz

Official Selection: In Competition, Venice International Film Festival

Venice Film Festival: Winner, Audience Award

Toronto International Film Festival: Gala Selection

Nominated for 4 Canadian Screen Awards including Best Picture

Mar Del Plata Film Festival: Winner, Audience Award

BFI London Film Festival: Official Selection

ABOUT ROBERT LANTOS

Robert Lantos is the founder, former Chairman and CEO of Alliance Communications Corporation which, under his watch, became Canada’s premier content producer, distributor, and specialty broadcaster. After selling Alliance, he launched Serendipity Point Films. Eleven of his films have been in the Cannes Official Selection, including Grand Prix and International Critics’ Prize Winner The Sweet Hereafter and Jury Prize winner Crash. His films Barney’s Version and Remember received the audience award at Venice Film Festival, while eXistenz and Museo won Silver Bears in Berlin. Eastern Promises, Sunshine, Being Julia, The Sweet Hereafter, and Barney’s Version earned Oscar nominations and won Golden Globes. His most recent film Crimes of the Future premiered in Cannes in competition. His most recent production is the 10-part Rise of the Raven (Hunyadi), an epic series set in the 15th century about the Ottoman invasion of Europe and the Hungarian hero who vanquishes them and in whose honour church bells ring at noon each day.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE – HUNGARY

The National Film Institute (NFI), as the leading organization of the Hungarian film industry, focuses on the entire domestic film sector. Its diverse activities share the common goal of ensuring the industry’s comprehensive development and long-term competitiveness in the region. As a key institution of the audiovisual sector, the NFI promotes the development of the Hungarian film industry and supports the creation of outstanding works that generate cultural value. The NFI considers it its main mission to enhance the recognition and reputation of Hungarian film and film production both domestically and internationally.