Son of Saul wins Academy Award for best foreign film

Laszlo Nemes's first feature film won Hungary's second Oscar in the category, following its Golden Globe win earlier this year, and Grand Prix in Cannes last year.

In his acceptance speech, Nemes said "Even in the darkest hours of mankind, there might be a voice within us that allows us to remain human. That's the hope of this film." The director was inspired by the testimonies buried by members of the Sonderkommando in Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, the "Scrolls of Auschwitz".

As Andy Vajna, Government Commissioner for the film industry, said in an interview for The Hollywood Reporter, "This was an example of getting a three-page idea from a director that became a world success. The film is fantastic," he said. "For Hungary, it is a unique accomplishment that hasn't happened in the past three decades; the only previous Oscar was for Istvan Szabo's Mephisto in 1982."
Based on Nemes' screenplay and his previous short films, the Fund gave his debut feature film material support of 321 million forints, as well as developmental support.
This year, the Fund will continue to support new directors: five low-budget films will be fully funded to offer filmmakers a chance to begin their careers in the frames of the 'Incubator Program' initiative.

The Hungarian National Film Fund warmly congratulates the SON OF SAUL team

SON OF SAUL's international accolades:

  • 2015 - New York National Board of Review (NBR): Best Foreign Film Award
  • 2015 - New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC): Best First Film Award
  • 2015 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA): Best Foreign-Language Film Award
  • 2015 - Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA): Best Foreign-Language Film Award
  • 2015 - New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO): Best Foreign-Language Film Award
  • 2015 - Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA): Best Foreign-Language Film Award
  • 2015 - San Francisco Film Critics Circle (SFFCC): Best Foreign Language Picture Award
  • 2015 - The Village Voice Film Critcs Poll: Best Actor Award to Géza Röhrig
  • 2015 - Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA): Best Foreign-Language Film Award
  • 2015 - Indiana Film Journalists Association: Best Foreign Language Film
  • 2015 - Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association: Best Foreign Language Film
  • 2015 - Southeastern Film Critics Association: Best Foreign Language Film
  • 2015 - The Guardian: Best Film Released in the US in 2015
  • 2016 - Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch Award to László Nemes
  • 2016 - Critics’ Choice Awards (CCA): Best Foreign Language Film
  • 2016 - American Society of Cinematographers (ASC): Spotlight Award to Mátyás Erdély
  • 2016 - Variety’s 10 Europeans to Watch Award to Géza Röhrig
  • 2016 - Satellite Awards of the International Press Academy: Best International Film

Festival Prizes:

  • 2016 - Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Virtuoso Award to Géza Röhrig
  • 2015 - Bitola International Film Camera Festival Manaki Brothers: Golden Camera 300 Main Prize to Mátyás Erdély
  • 2015 - Cannes International Film Festival: Grand Prix, FIPRESCI Prize, Francois Chalais Prize, Vulcain Award for Best Sound to Tamás Zányi
  • 2015 - Chalons-en-Champagne War on Screen: Best Director
  • 2015 - London UK Jewish Film Festival: Best Debut Feature Award
  • 2015 - Luxembourg CinÉast: Critics' Prize
  • 2015 - Sarajevo Film Festival: Special Jury Prize
  • 2015 - Stockholm International Film Festival: Best Director Award
  • 2015 - Torún Plus Camerimage: Bronze Frog Award to Mátyás Erdély
  • 2015 - Zagreb Film Festival: Main Prize