Dear Festival Friends,

Few cities can claim to have such a rich cultural history as our city, Szolnok, which turns 950 this year. If its squares and streets could tell stories, we would be enriched with many stories that would be perfect for the screen of the TISZApART Cinema. One of these very colorful films would tell the story of the film festival that has been held in the city for 56 years, which is one of the most prestigious film events in Hungary.

As festival director, I am proud that since 1988, TISZApART Cinema has been organizing the film festival in Szolnok, which took on the name of Alexandre Trauner on its thirtieth anniversary. By paying tribute to the work of the Oscar-winning production designer, we also express that visual design, fine arts and cinema go hand in hand.

Our city on the banks of the Tisza River will be dressed up for the festival in mid-October and for five days we will celebrate the works of domestic and foreign filmmakers together with the audience. Uniquely in the country, we will traditionally host students, teachers from nine universities besides the filmmakers who have entered the competition. The growing international recognition of ATAFF is also indicated by the composition of the jury.

At this year's festival, we can also welcome two excellent foreign production designers whose films have received awards at the most prestigious film festivals. Sabine Hviid created the Oscarwinning Another Round, while Eggert Ketillson created the visuals for the films Dunkirk, Interstellar and Tenet - among others. The Hungarian members of the jury, production designer Imola Láng (On Body and Soul, The Informant series) and film director Attila Szász, a native of our city (Tall Tales, Rise of the Raven series) will judge the works in the feature film competition.

What does this year's ATAFF promise? Unmissable master classes with world-famous experts, pre-premiere film screenings, gap-filling conferences and interesting book launches as well as unforgettable concerts in the evenings and exciting encounters. The event will once again take place at the city's most popular community venue, the TISZApART Cinema and on the Square of Muses, which is also the main meeting point for ATAFF.

I encourage everyone to visit the screenings, exchange opinions about what they have seen; learn, ask the best, talk, brainstorm together, but most importantly, have a great time, because cinema is for the eyes, but the festival is for the soul! Who knows—maybe one day someone will make an award-winning film about this experience... If so, I promise we will screen it here at the festival.

Have fun, everyone!

Éva Demeter
festival director