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11-03-2008

Hungarian New Wave directors on webTV

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    Hungary's New Wave directors, seeking a way to counter declining film admissions, have launched a webTV site (www.madzagtv.hu) to get their films before a wider audience. Eight directors and three other members of the Madzag Film Club have agreed to put their works from the last 14 years on the website.

    The Madzag Film Club was founded in 2001 as a professional forum to help members in a creative way. "The members of the club think that cinema attendance is falling and it's very important to take films to the audience," director Daniel Erdelyi, a member of Madzag, told FNE. The website holds a wide selection of films, shorts, clips, documentaries, trailers and teasers. Director Ferenc Torok added the organizers also want to make brand new works directly for the webTV.

    The directors of the so-called Simo-class who are participating are Diana Groo, Daniel Erdelyi, Szabolcs Hajdu, Ferenc Torok, Gabor Fischer, Bence Miklauzic, Gyoergy Palfi and Csaba Fazekas. Other members of the Madzag Film Club who have works on the site are Bela Barsi, Reka Lemhenyi and Orsolya Torok-Illyes.

    The new site will not compete with existing portals; the movies can't be downloaded, and can only be watched onsite. "We don't want to make profit with the site so there won't be any paid ads on madzagtv.hu," said Erdelyi.

    The young directors of the Simo-class have experienced international critical successes in recent years. Among the leaders are Gyorgy Palfi with Hukkle and Taxidermia, Szabolcs Hajdu with White Palms, and Ferenc Torok with Moszkva Square, Season and Overnight.