Chapters from the history of Italian-Hungarian heritage, Part 3

In the first quarter of 2016, National Széchényi Library organized a free series of screenings of films which were presented at the Hungarian Pavilion of Expo Milano 2015. Katalin Pethényi and Barna Kabay made a series of documentaries, consisting of ten episodes, in order to present some of the milestones of Italian-Hungarian cultural relations. The 11th episode, presenting the oeuvre of Mikós Ybl, was made by Bence Gyöngyössy.

Attendance of our screenings is free. We are looking forward to seeing you and your friends in National Széchényi Library! Date of the third screening is Thursday March 10, 2016, 5 p.m.; venue is Ceremonial Hall on Floor 6 of the Library. First come first served seat reservation.

After screening, writer-director Katalin Petényi and director-producer Barna Kabay invite you to an informal conversation.

Scheduled date of the next screening is Thrusday April 21, 2016.
Address: National Széchényi Library. Wing “F” of Buda Royal Palace, 1^st District of Budapest

For more information contact Press Officer Nóra Piskorán.
Phone: +361 224 3746, e-mail

Program (films screened):

Hope and Myth – Poet, film director Imre Gyöngyössy, Part 1
Writer-director: Petényi Katalin, director-producer: Barna Kabay
Hope and Myth is a documentary, coming in two parts, presenting the life path of charismatic poet-film director Imre Gyöngyössy who had been to prisons of the Stalin era, via his films.
The expressive imagery of Part 1 is accompanied, as an inner monologue, by the artist’s poems, ars poetica and confessions about those pursued by the century, about faith and the creative power of love.

Hope and Myth – Poet, film director Imre Gyöngyössy, Part 2
Writer-director: Petényi Katalin, director-producer: Barna Kabay
Hope and Myth is a documentary, coming in two parts, presenting the life path of charismatic poet-film director Imre Gyöngyössy who had been to prisons of the Stalin era, via his films.
In Part 2, renowned international film critics and esthetes evaluate the works of Imre Gyöngyössy, the film director who had been nominated for Oscar and was awarded with the Grimme Award of the German state and also with the Peace Award of Italy.

Maestro Peskó
Writer-director: Petényi Katalin, director-producer: Barna Kabay
Zoltán Peskó, maestro of La Scala Milan, Teatro La Fenice Venice, RAI and of the opera houses and concert halls of Europe is a committed and excellent interpreter of classical and modern music. The documentary explores Peskó’s human and artistic creed, his creative days via the recollections of the maestro. Theater and opera director Toni Servillo and Luciana Abbado Pestalozza, onetime directress of contemporary music festival Milano Musica evaluate the oeuvre of the maestro, recollecting their common works.

Invitation card of the event