Adél Szegedi’s hybrid film “The Sun in Retrograde” honoured in Vilnius

Hungarian animation celebrated a major success at the 13th Baltic Pitching Forum, held October 7–10 in Vilnius, Lithuania — one of the leading industry events for international animated and short film co-productions. The Baltic region, known for its strong animation tradition, hosted Hungary as guest country this year, with three Hungarian projects featured in the official selection. Among them, Adél Szegedi’s hybrid film The Sun in Retrograde received two international awards.

The Hungarian focus was made possible through the partnership of the Friss Hús Budapest International Short Film Festival, which acted as the Hungarian partner of the Baltic Pitching Forum and coordinated the country’s participation. Szegedi’s project, blending live action and animation, was honoured with the Baltic Producers Jury Special Prize and the Up Records Sound Post-Production Award for its bold storytelling and inventive sound design.

Adél Szegedi, an animation director and production designer educated at MOME and the University of Westminster, is known for her visually imaginative short Password for the Stars, previously awarded at Friss Hús.

The recognition in Vilnius marks another step in the international rise of Hungarian animation, reinforcing creative ties between Hungarian and Baltic filmmakers.