Film on Nobel Laureate Ferenc Krausz Wins Best Documentary in Kraków

Ferenc Krausz – Capturing the Electrons, a documentary about the Nobel Prize-winning Hungarian physicist, took home the Best Feature Documentary Film award at the 1st International Science and Technology Film Festival in Kraków over the weekend.

The National Film Institute (NFI) announced that the professional jury praised “the film’s masterful blend of scientific knowledge with an emotional, human story—a story of passion, perseverance, and the power of dreams.

The documentary offers a glimpse into the world of leading laboratories, reminding us that even the most significant discoveries begin with the curiosity of a young mind.”

The portrait film about the life of Ferenc Krausz and his career leading up to the Nobel Prize was first shown to an international audience at the Science and Technology Film Festival held from October 22 to 25. Ferenc Krausz greeted the festival participants in a video message.

L-R: Producer Tamás Lajos, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ferenc Krausz, and director Gábor István Kiss at the press screening of the film at the Puskin Cinema in Budapest on December 13, 2024. Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán

The aim of the thematic review, held under the motto “From Dreams to Stars – Science on the Big Screen,” is to showcase the best of science and technology films and to create a platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences between representatives of various fields of science and creative industries, as well as film-loving audiences.

In the portrait film Ferenc Krausz – Capturing the Electrons, the Hungarian scientist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2023, tells the story of his life for the first time. The rural high school student, who as a teenager traded gatherings with friends for thick physics and mathematics books, is now at the forefront of scientific life with his research. His exemplary life story is characterized by constantly pushing boundaries and perseverance: he learned from his father that with hard work and a good team, any goal can be achieved.

The film also presents his unique discovery, which made electrons visible to the human eye, revolutionizing not only the scientific world but also creating new opportunities in medical diagnostics and other fields.

This field of science belongs to the world, and perhaps one day it will benefit everyone, even the man on the street. That is what I am working on,”

he stated his credo in the film.

The press release quoted Gábor István Kiss, the film’s director, who emphasized: “It was exciting to get to know his restless nature when faced with a challenge or an unanswered question in his field of expertise. Despite all this, he is characterized by extraordinary calmness and focus: he is able to block out the noise of doubts and uncertainties and firmly believes in the power of perseverance and hard work—values he learned from his father.”

For him, every failure is just another step forward. He pursues his research with complete dedication, putting his heart and soul into it, and he approaches his work with enthusiastic passion,”

he added.

The 61-minute documentary film was produced by Film Positive, with Tamás Lajos as producer, Dávid Gajdics as cinematographer, Anna Vághy as editor, and Péter Dózsa as composer.

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