10th ZSIGMOND VILMOS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Venue: Szeged, Hungary
Date: 13 - 17 May 2026
‘In case the topic of a film is daunting, God forbid we shoot it appealingly…’
(Vilmos Zsigmond)
Vilmos Zsigmond (1930-2016), the world-famous, Academy Award-winning cinematographer was born in Szeged. With his words in mind, our festival invites cinematographers to compete, and focuses on the quality of the film image.
The honorary patron of the festival is Susan Zsigmond.
Festival goals:
The Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival draws attention to cinematographers, one of the most important co-creators of a film, together with giving an opportunity to young artists to show their art.
The festival jury will evaluate the films submitted to the festival primarily on the basis of innovative cinematography, but will also consider the overall artistic quality.
APPLICANTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE DIFFERENT AWARDS OF THIS FESTIVAL GO TO THE CINEMATOGRAPHERS.
THE FESTIVAL PAYS NEITHER RENTAL FEES NOR COPYRIGHT FEES FOR THE FILMS SCREENED WITHIN THE FESTIVAL PROGRAM.
Applicants:
The call is open to individual filmmakers and artistic communities without age restriction, and the festival organisers also look forward to receiving films made by students majoring in film studies, directing or cinematography.
As for films selected for the competition program, in case the film was not submitted by the cinematographer, we will later ask for his/her declaration of consent.
The call is open to films completed after the 1st of January 2023, in four categories:
FEATURE FILMS
SHORT FILMS (with no restrictions on genre or technical aspects, but maximum 60 min long)
DOCUMENTARIES
MUSIC VIDEOS
One filmmaker can submit more than one film.
Part of the competition program of the festival is a section called HUNGARIAN CINEMATOGRAPHERS' WEEK, in which the films are selected from the works submitted by the selection jury. The winner in this category is awarded by the Hungarian Cinematographers Association (HCA).
Each and every submission is subject to a registration fee: 10 euros for short films and music videos, 15 euros for works longer than 60 minutes. Please apply and pay on our FILMFREEWAY page.
Technical requirements:
For viewing purposes we only accept online screeners, and if applicable, with a password that will expire after the festival. All films should be subtitled in English. Please note that the viewing copy should be the final cut of the film submitted.
Submissions selected for the competition programme will be accepted only in DCP format.
Application via the FilmFreeway page of Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival.
Application deadline: 15 January 2026, midnight (CET)
The competition programme of the festival will be announced on the 3rd of February 2026.
An integral part of the Call for Application is our Submission Policy.
Evaluation:
The films submitted will be pre-selected by a jury of cinematographers, film directors and film professionals.
The awards will be voted by a professional jury chaired by Gábor Szabó, Béla Balázs Award-winning cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond’s former colleague, founder and current president of the Hungarian Cinematographers Association (HCA). The main festival prize, the Zsigmond Vilmos Main Award for Best Cinematography, will be given to the best cinematographer. The best films in each category will also be awarded while the City of Szeged, the Association of Hungarian Film Directors (AHD), the Film critics’ jury, the Student jury and the aforementioned Hungarian Cinematographers Association (HCA) will also hand out an award respectively.
The jury reserves the right not to present every award.