Edited by Anna Popper
From 26 to 30 September, Budapest hosted the 3rd edition of the Latin American Film Days, organised in cooperation with the Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru in Hungary, together with the Uránia National Film Theatre. The diverse program, filled with cinematic gems, featured comedies, time-travel dramedies, neo-noir thrillers, and documentaries.
Opening Ceremony
The 2025 Latin American Film Days opened with remarks by H.E. Edgard Pérez Alván, Ambassador of Peru to Hungary:
“Excellencies, Ambassadors, Distinguished representatives of the Latin American Embassies, Esteemed representatives of the Uránia National Film Theatre, Dear guests and friends of Latin America, Ladies and Gentlemen,
it is a true honour to warmly welcome you to the opening of the Latin American Film Days 2025 – a space for dialogue and celebration of the art that unites our peoples.
We gather in this magnificent venue, the Uránia National Film Theatre, to celebrate together the richness, diversity, and vitality of our cinematography.
It is a great pleasure to have with us the Hungarian public, who have come today to discover – or reconnect with – Peruvian and Latin American cinema. I am also delighted to see members of the Peruvian community here tonight.
Our deepest gratitude goes to all those who made this festival possible: the Uránia National Film Theatre and its team for their cooperation, professionalism, and hospitality; the National Cultural Fund of Hungary for its steadfast support of art and culture; and, of course, the Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador – co-organizers of this event – whose films will be screened in the coming days.
Tonight, we have the privilege of opening the festival with the Peruvian film “Reinas” (2024), directed by the talented Peruvian-Swiss filmmaker Klaudia Reynicke. Set in Peru in 1992, during one of the deepest socio-economic and political crises of our history, the film portrays a dark and difficult period marked by terrorist violence, blackouts, curfews, hyperinflation, shortages, and harsh economic adjustments – a time when many Peruvians sought to emigrate in search of solutions. Fortunately, those difficult days are now behind us.
Within this context, Reinas tells a story of family, love, and the fear of separation, offering an intimate glimpse into a country that – even in its hardest moments – never stopped dreaming of a better future.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2024, won the Grand Prize in the Generation Kplus section at the Berlinale, and also received the UBS Audience Award at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
By bringing this work to Hungary, Peru wishes to share more than just a story from our past – we want to highlight the strength of family ties, the depth of our emotions, and the resilience of people who know how to reinvent themselves.
In Reinas, every gesture and silence reminds us that identity is not defined solely by territory, but also by the relationships that sustain us and the hope that drives us forward.
Allow me, therefore, to invite you to embark on this cinematic journey with open hearts. May this film inspire us to continue building bridges between our cultures and to reflect our own lives in the stories of others.
Without further ado, I officially declare open the Latin American Film Days 2025. Thank you very much.”
Ecuadorian Film – Los Wánabis
On 28 September, the Uránia National Film Theatre hosted a screening of the Ecuadorian film Los Wánabis, introduced by H.E. Cynthia Marie Mayer Zavala, Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Hungary.
The 2023’s most-watched Ecuadorian film is a dark comedy based on true events that explores the gullibility of people – and how far they’ll go, especially in groups – when promised an effortless way to change their lives.
The story follows Beto, Juan Pedro, and Diego, three friends who invest all their savings in a shady get-rich-quick scheme. Directed by Santiago Paladines, Los Wánabis became the first Ecuadorian film nominated for the Platino Award for Best Ibero-American Comedy, and notably, Latin America’s first carbon-neutral production.
Filmmaker Santiago Paladines attended the screening and participated in a lively post-screening discussion with the audience. The exchange proved inspiring for both professionals and cinema lovers, who praised the film’s clever use of humour to address social issues and its authentic, relatable characters drawn from everyday life.
Brazilian Film – The Secret Agent
On 27 September, audiences enjoyed The Secret Agent (18), a Brazilian film by Kleber Mendonça Filho that achieved great success at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Set in 1977, the story follows Marcelo – played by the acclaimed Wagner Moura – a man in his forties on the run from his mysterious past. Arriving in the coastal city of Recife during Carnival week, he hopes to reconnect with his son, but soon discovers that the city is far from the peaceful haven he had imagined. A series of increasingly wild adventures unfolds.
The Secret Agent became one of the biggest sensations at Cannes this year, winning major awards: Best Director for Kleber Mendonça Filho, Best Actor for Wagner Moura, as well as the FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Film and Art House Cinema Award. The film has been selected as Brazil’s official entry forBest International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.
Argentine Film – Message in a Bottle
The festival closed on 30 September with the Argentine comedy Mensaje en una Botella – Message in a Bottle (2025). The audience was welcomed by H.E. Lorena Capra, Ambassador of Argentina to Hungary, who also introduced the film.
Directed by Gabriel Nesci, the story follows Denise, a young sommelier who discovers a mysterious way to send messages to the past in order to correct her mistakes. However, each message increasingly disrupts her present, changing the fate of everyone around her.
The film stars Luisana Lopilato, one of Argentina’s most popular actresses, singers, and models. Having risen to fame as a child star, she now brings her versatility to this inventive mix of comedy and science fiction. The evening concluded with a tango performance and milonga in front of the Uránia cinema, offering a fittingly festive conclusion to a week of cinematic celebrations.
All films were screened once in their original language with Hungarian subtitles.
Culture, Cinema, and Diplomacy
The 3rd Latin American Film Days in Budapest once again demonstrated that cinema is far more than entertainment – it is a living bridge between cultures, languages, and peoples. Through the art of storytelling, the festival offered Hungarian audiences a vivid encounter with the diversity and creativity of Latin American filmmaking, while deepening friendship and mutual understanding between nations.
Among the arts, cinema stands beside music as the most universal – it speaks through images, a visual language that goes beyond words and borders, giving the seventh art its enduring power to move, inspire, and unite.
Events like these remind us that cultural diplomacy is a powerful tool for fostering empathy, dialogue, and collaboration – values that transcend borders and generations. For five days, the prominent Uránia National Film Theatre became a true meeting place of nations, united by the universal language of film – a celebration of culture, memory and shared humanity.
Sources: Embassies of Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil; Uránia National Film Theatre
Photos from the Embassies of Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil; Uránia National Film Theatre; Diplomatic Press Agency
