Best Script, Discovery of the Year, Best New Director and much, much more… all these international film awards have landed in the pockets of György Pálfi, internationally acclaimed, much loved, much understood and misunderstood Hungarian film director. Palfi will be presenting his latest film, Ász Póker, at The CineFest International Festival of Young Filmmakers, Miskolc, as well as delivering an exclusive DJ set following the ZAGAR set on Friday night. We caught up with him in the middle of a busy day so you, movie-loving FUNZINErs, could get some insiders’ advice from the maestro himself on how to make the most of CineFest.
I’ve heard you’re a real CineFester. What would you say about it to someone who’s never been?
CineFest is quite a new event on Europe’s film festival map. It’s not yet this big bang, faceless event; the best about it is that it’s still this informal, behind-the-scenes, spontaneous get-together and it has this really great festival vibe about it. It’s not just about movies; the atmosphere of the city, the parties, that jolly crowd, movie and non-movie heads mingling together makes the perfect combo for some big time fun.
What would you say we should definitely check out at CineFest?
Just go with the flow, feel the festival atmosphere and watch, listen, soak in whatever comes your way! Oh, by the way, this year I’m gonna spin the disks at the CineFest party on Friday night with Roland Vranik one of my director friends … film directors turning into wild DJs!
This year, you’re taking Ász Póker, a short movie with a script from the USA. How is it different from your previous works?
A lot. Ász Póker is a comedy and it was made along the lines of American style film-making. My good friend George Polson Paulson wrote the script, and asked me to make a movie out of it (hint, hint: George Paulson means György Pálfi in Hungarian), the script was written by Balázs Lovas.
You were mainly working with full-length features before. What were the new challenges for you in making a short film?
Well, every movie means a new challenge for me. But with Ász Póker, there were many things set already in the beginning: the genre, the script, the time limit and, as I love improvising and spontaneity, it was something new for me to deal with… but I think I’ve managed. Well, you can tell me at CineFest!
You bet. Thanks a lot, and see you at CineFest!
Veronika Tarján
Dates: September 18-20
FUNZINE CineFest Trip
The CineFest International Festival of Young Filmmakers, Miskolc
Tickets: 16,000 HUF
Register at event@funzine.hu
Full details here
www.cinefest.hu