# Hungary National Film Institute leadership transition

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/hungary-national-film-institute-leadership-transition
> Updated: 2026-08-13T15:00:00.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 4.

On 10 July 2026, Hungary’s National Film Institute (NFI) saw its governing board, including chairman Csaba Káel, dismissed as part of a broader “film reform” intended to address sector-wide issues. A temporary board was installed to oversee essential daily matters during the transition.

By 24 July, the interim board created provisional film and television decision committees to clear a backlog of funding applications, maintain ongoing projects, and handle distribution, marketing, and special-case requests. While existing script-development and production grant programmes were suspended, support for the Incubator programme, festivals, and other sector events continued.

On 31 July 2026, the Ministry of Culture announced that the public competition for the NFI president-CEO is open, with a submission deadline of 14 September 2026. The interim board—comprising producer Ágnes Pataki, producer Csaba Tóth, and dramaturge Éva Zabezsinszkij—will evaluate candidates. Simultaneously, the Ministry introduced a mandatory competency-assessment framework for theatre directors and published applications for the leadership of Budapest’s Madách Színház and Új Színház. These new directors will serve five-year terms starting 1 January 2027 under a “zero-tolerance” stance on harassment.

On 13 August 2026, the NFI, in collaboration with Filmreform 2026, convened a committee to select Hungary's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The committee, including figures such as cinematographer Mátyás Erdély and director Ágnes Kocsis, is expected to announce the official selection in early September.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-13: National Film Institute forms committee for Hungarian Oscar selection

The National Film Institute has formed a committee of film professionals to select Hungary's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/national-film-institute-forms-committee-for-hungarian-oscar-selection

### 2026-07-31: Hungary appoints new heads for National Film Institute and major theatres

Hungary opens a public search for the National Film Institute CEO and launches mandatory competency tests for new directors of Madách and Új Színház, aiming for transparent, professional leadership in culture.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hungary-announces-new-head-of-national-film-institute-and-seeks-leaders-for-madch-and-jsznhz-theater

### 2026-07-24: Hungary's National Film Institute forms temporary decision panels

Hungary's National Film Institute appointed a temporary film and TV decision committee—Pataki Ágnes, Tóth Csaba, Zabezsinszkij Éva and deputy Zurbó Dorottya—to process pending applications and oversee urgent,

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hungarys-national-film-institute-forms-temporary-decision-panels

### 2026-07-10: Hungarian National Film Institute Board Dismissed, Reform Begins

Hungary dismisses the National Film Institute board, installs a temporary committee and launches a sector‑wide reform.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hungarian-national-film-institute-board-dismissed-reform-begins

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Cite as: Hungary National Film Institute leadership transition. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/hungary-national-film-institute-leadership-transition