Oscar Race Heats Up: Hungary Stakes Claim With Ildiko Enyedi's 'Silent Friend' in International Feature Category!

Ildikó Enyedi’s latest cinematic achievement, “Silent Friend,” has been officially chosen as Hungary’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming 2027 Academy Awards. This marks another significant moment for Enyedi, whose previous film, “On Body and Soul,” won Berlin’s prestigious Golden Bear and secured an Oscar nomination in the same category in 2018, solidifying her reputation on the global stage.

“Silent Friend” boasts an impressive international cast, featuring renowned actors Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Luna Wedler, Enzo Brumm, and Léa Seydoux. The film is described as a poetic and profound exploration of the intricate relationship between humans, plants, and the passage of time, promising a unique and thought-provoking viewing experience.

The film has already garnered significant critical acclaim and industry recognition. It was a standout success at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, where it received a remarkable six awards. More recently, “Silent Friend” was honored as one of five distinguished nominees for the FIPRESCI Grand Prix, an accolade that celebrates the best films of the year. Esteemed critic Guy Lodge, in his review for Variety, lauded the film, stating, “After watching this loving, very funny and abundantly fertile film, hugging the nearest tree doesn’t seem like enough — it deserves your warmest embrace.” Earlier in the year, the film was also named best film at the 45th Hungarian Film Week held in Budapest.

Beyond the film’s overall success, key members of its creative team have also been individually recognized for their outstanding contributions. Gergely Pálos received the award for best cinematography, Károly Szalai was honored with best editing, and Mónika Mécs secured the award for best producer, highlighting the collective talent behind the production.

“Silent Friend” is a testament to international collaboration, produced as a co-production between Germany’s Pandora Film, Hungary’s Inforg-M&M Film, and France’s Galatée Films, with additional collaboration from China’s Rediance Films. Reinhard Brundig and Mónika Mécs served as producers, and the film received vital support from Hungary’s National Film Institute.

The film’s global reach is further underscored by its success in securing distribution in numerous territories worldwide. 1-2 Special will handle its release in the United States, while Films Boutique is managing its world sales. The selection of “Silent Friend” for Hungary’s Oscar bid was made by a distinguished committee comprising cinematographer Mátyás Erdély, screenwriter and director Gyula Gazdag, film historian and critic Gábor Gelencsér, festival organizer Kristóf Horváth, director Ágnes Kocsis, and producer Sára László.

Looking ahead to the 2027 Academy Awards, the shortlist for nominations will be revealed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 15. The final selection of nominees is scheduled for announcement on January 21, with the 99th Academy Awards ceremony itself slated to take place on March 14 in Los Angeles.