04/03/2025 - The event will offer a behind-the-scenes look at global cinema, featuring masterclasses, discussions and screenings with renowned industry professionals

British composer Chris Benstead (© Katie Lister)

The Visegrad Film Forum, an educational and networking event which will celebrate its 12th edition in Bratislava from 19 to 22 March, has announced its programme of masterclasses, discussions and screenings.

As already announced (read the news), the event will welcome high-profile guests Juliette Welfling, an esteemed editor nominated for an Academy Award for her work on Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], US editor Jay Rabinowitz, whose iconic editing on Requiem for a Dream (2000) earned it its place among the best-edited films of all time, and Ada Solomon, one of Romania's most influential producers.

Joining the guest list is now Chris Benstead, a British composer and sound designer. Known for his collaborations with director Guy Ritchie on The Covenant (2023), Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023), and Netflix’s The Gentlemen (2024), Benstead also contributed to major Disney productions like Aladdin (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2017). His work on Gravity [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile] (2013) won both an Academy Award and a BAFTA.

Ádám Felszeghy, a Hungarian film producer recognised for his innovative storytelling, will also be present. His film Pelikan Blue [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laszló Csaki
film profile] (2023), an animated documentary on 1990s international ticket forgery, showcases his unique approach to blending fiction with documentary elements. Thanks to a partnership with the Association of Animated Film Producers (APAF), attendees will gain exclusive insights into his creative process.

Szabolcs Hajdu, celebrated for his fusion of realism and poetic abstraction, will present his latest film, One Percent Indian (2024). His past works include White Palms [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Szabolcs Hajdu
film profile] (2006), which premiered at Cannes, Bibliothèque Pascal [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Szabolcs Hajdu - director
interview: Szabolcs Hajdu
film profile] (2010), screened at the Berlinale’s Forum, and It’s Not the Time of My Life [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Szabolcs Hajdu
film profile] (2016), which won the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary.

Festival director Jakub Viktorín expressed enthusiasm about the lineup: “We are delighted to once again provide a space for young filmmakers to share their experiences and discuss their work in a broader context. This year, we have invited professionals who will share their stories of working with world-renowned directors—not just with students but also with the general public.”

A key feature of VFF is its student film programme, showcasing works from partner schools such as FAMO (Czech Republic), Eszterházy Károly Catholic University (Hungary), the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School (Poland), the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School (Estonia), the Film Academy Vienna (Austria), and VŠMU (Slovakia).