Triple Victory for “The Riddle Pact” at Vegas Movie Awards

Las Vegas

A Hungarian film “The Riddle Pact” won three awards at the Vegas Movie Awards in Las Vegas over the weekend. This was the first major international festival where it was screened, the filmmakers announced.

According to the announcement, the film, which recounts the secret meeting between Charles Robert (Charles I of Hungary) and the kings of Bohemia and Poland in 1335, won the Best Inspirational Film award, its director, Zsolt Pozsgai, won the Best Director award, and his team – including Attila Dolhai, Nelly Fésűs, Samu Puskás, Ramóna Gecse, Rodrigo Crespo, Ignác Farkas, Csaba Pindroch, István Verebes – won the Best Ensemble Cast award.

This festival is often referred to as the Oscars of independent film, with similar circumstances surrounding the event, a prestigious American jury, screenings and a gala evening,”

wrote the creators.

The festival jury highlighted the extremely consistent acting, the precise directing, and the fact that although the film deals with a historical event that is local in nature, it was able to rise above this and create a work that is valid and enjoyable for everyone.

The film takes a novel approach to the 1335 meeting in Visegrád. After the alliance was formed, Central Europe experienced unprecedented economic development and a long period of peace. However, the film does not primarily deal with the political pact; old and new grievances between the characters must be resolved in order for the alliance to be formed. They reach an agreement through passionate human situations, reckonings, and settlements.

The film was shot in 2024 at the Eszterházy Castle in Majk (northwestern Hungary) and its surroundings.

Interestingly, the costumes were designed with the help of AI, and cinematographer Gábor Szabó worked with one of the most advanced intelligent cameras,

reads the press release.

The film was supported by the National Film Institute (NFI) and produced by Ágnes M. Berecz. The cinematographer was Gábor Szabó, the editor was Réka Epresi-Pálfai, and the writer-director was Zsolt Pozsgai. The film was produced by Horatio Film and premiered a month ago at the Uránia National Film Theater.

Zsolt Pozsgai already won the award for Best Screenplay at the same festival two years ago. The award ceremony will take place at the end of September, with the creators invited to receive the statue in person.

They also mentioned that “The Riddle Pact” will be competing in the finals of the Moz.Go Film Festival in Veszprém (western Hungary, near Lake Balaton) and Balatonfüred (northern shore of Lake Balaton).

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