31/05/2018 - The feature debut by Hungary’s László Csuja, produced by FocusFox Studio, will have its world premiere in the festival’s competitive East of the West section

Standing out among the 12 titles selected for the East of the West competition of the 53rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (29 June-7 July) is the Hungarian film Blossom Valley [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: László Csuja
film profile], the feature debut by László Csuja, who graduated from the Hungarian Academy of Film and Theatre in Budapest in 2012 and turned heads with his short film Phosphorus (screened at numerous international gatherings, including Tampere, Cork and Edinburgh).

Starring Bianka Berényi (an Instagram celebrity) and László Réti (a three-time winner of the Special Olympics World Games), who are both making their debut appearance on the big screen, the cast of Blossom Valley also includes Károly Kozma, György Karos and Róbert Kardos, among other non-professional actors.

Written by László Csuja and Nagy V Gergő, the story hinges on Bianka (20), who finds herself drifting in the suburbs without any particular purpose. She has the sudden urge to steal a baby, which she does, but now she has to find a father and a home. When none of her ex-boyfriends are willing to lend a hand, the only one happy to help is Laci (21), who is mentally disabled and living in a workers’ hostel. Bianka sees this whole situation as little less than a thrilling role play, but Laci starts to love her and the baby, and will do whatever it takes to ensure a happy family life – and that is a challenge.

Produced by András Muhi and Gábor Ferenczy for FocusFox Studio, Blossom Valley was developed as part of the Hungarian National Film Fund’s Incubator programme, and the HNFF is also in charge of the movie’s international sales.

As a reminder, FocusFox Studio recently produced Genesis [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Árpád Bogdán, Andrea Taschler
film profile] by Árpád Bogdán (revealed in this year’s Berlinale Panorama) and Strangled [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Árpád Sopsits (the big winner at last year’s Hungarian Film Awards), and has X - The eXploited [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Károly Ujj Mészáros in post-production. Interestingly, through other production outfits, András Muhi and Gábor Ferenczy have just kicked off the shoot for Spiral [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Cecilia Felméri; the former producer also staged the Berlin Golden Bear winner On Body and Soul [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ildiko Enyedi
interview: Ildiko Enyedi
interview: Réka Tenki
film profile] by Ildiko Enyedi and is readying the filmmaker’s next feature, The Story of My Wife (see the article).

(Translated from French)