Peter Hegedus
Encyclopedia
Peter Hegedus is an award winning writer, director and producer of both documentary and short fiction films. He is also the grandson of the former Prime Minister of Hungary
, Andras Hegedus
.
to study film. At twenty-one, he produced and directed a documentary for television Grandfathers and Revolutions about his grandfather; this marked the beginning of his professional career in filmmaking.
Australia. The film won multiple awards at international film festivals. (See Awards and achievements)
In 2002 Hegedus formed Soul Vision Films Pty Ltd. According to him, the company's philosophy is to produce and direct films which provide insight into the human condition. Under this company he produced Inheritance, a Fisherman’s Story, a Hungarian-Australian co-production based around the ecological disaster in Hungary
in 2000. The film was shortlisted for the 2004 Academy Awards
and won an additional seven awards around the world..
In 2004, Hegedus made his first short drama, Redemption which he says captures the nine most important minutes of a man's life in a single take. Redemption participated at many international film festivals and was also shown at the annual conference of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty accompanying the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11
by Michael Moore.
In 2005 Peter wrote and directed Hole in the Wall, an eleven-minute drama that explores the importance of dealing with the past in order to move on with our lives. The film participated in many festivals around the world and won best screenplay at the Queensland Short Film Festival.
In 2007 Peter produced and directed a longitudinal documentary for the ABC; Wings to Fly following the life of Catrina Lawrence, a 21 year old girl living in Mackay over seven years.
In 2011, Hegedus completed My America, a feature documentary about his search for the American dream. Peter co-produced, directed and wrote the film, which is due for theatrical release in late 2011. My America received a favorable review by Richard Kuipers in film-industry magazine Variety
. Also in 2011, Hegedus completed an observational documentary for ABC TV, The Trouble With St Mary’s following the life of a Catholic Priest who is sacked by the Vatican for unorthodox practices. The film has been selected to compete in the inaugural BIFFDOCS competition at the Brisbane International Film Festival
2011.
Alumni Recognition Award for his achievements in documentary filmmaking.
2011 - The Trouble with St Mary's - feature documentary (writer, director)
2011 - My America - feature documentary (co-producer, writer, director)
2008 - Awarded the Doctor of Visual Arts from Griffith University.
2005 - Hole in the Wall - short drama (Writer/director)
2004 - Redemption - short drama (Writer/director)
2003 - Inheritance, a Fisherman's Story - A feature length documentary for SBS TV Australia, RTBF
, Lichtpunt (Producer, writer, and director)
1999 - Grandfathers and Revolutions A 52-minute documentary for SBS TV, Australia (Producer, writer and director)
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Andras Hegedus
András Hegedus
András Hegedüs was a Hungarian Communist politician who served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1955 to 1956. Hegedüs fled to the Soviet Union on 28 October, the fifth day of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956...
.
Early Life
Peter Hegedus was born on the 21st of August 1976 in Budapest, Hungary and moved with his mother and two sisters to Brisbane, Australia in 1991. In 1995 Peter was accepted into the Queensland College of ArtQueensland College of Art
The Queensland College of Art is a specialist arts and design college located in South Bank, Brisbane, and Southport, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It was founded in 1881 and is the oldest arts institution in Australia....
to study film. At twenty-one, he produced and directed a documentary for television Grandfathers and Revolutions about his grandfather; this marked the beginning of his professional career in filmmaking.
Professional Career
Peter's first film, Grandfathers and Revolutions, is a story about his own grandfather, Andras Hegedus; the Prime Minister of Hungary who called in the Soviet troops to quash the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. The documentary was produced and directed by Hegedus for SBS TVSBS TV
SBS One is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 24 October 1980, it is the responsibility of SBS's television division, and is available nationally...
Australia. The film won multiple awards at international film festivals. (See Awards and achievements)
In 2002 Hegedus formed Soul Vision Films Pty Ltd. According to him, the company's philosophy is to produce and direct films which provide insight into the human condition. Under this company he produced Inheritance, a Fisherman’s Story, a Hungarian-Australian co-production based around the ecological disaster in Hungary
2000 Baia Mare cyanide spill
The 2000 Baia Mare cyanide spill was a leak of cyanide near Baia Mare, Romania, into the Someş River by the gold mining company Aurul, a joint-venture of the Australian company Esmeralda Exploration and the Romanian government....
in 2000. The film was shortlisted for the 2004 Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
and won an additional seven awards around the world..
In 2004, Hegedus made his first short drama, Redemption which he says captures the nine most important minutes of a man's life in a single take. Redemption participated at many international film festivals and was also shown at the annual conference of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty accompanying the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker and political commentator Michael Moore. The film takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and its coverage in the news media...
by Michael Moore.
In 2005 Peter wrote and directed Hole in the Wall, an eleven-minute drama that explores the importance of dealing with the past in order to move on with our lives. The film participated in many festivals around the world and won best screenplay at the Queensland Short Film Festival.
In 2007 Peter produced and directed a longitudinal documentary for the ABC; Wings to Fly following the life of Catrina Lawrence, a 21 year old girl living in Mackay over seven years.
In 2011, Hegedus completed My America, a feature documentary about his search for the American dream. Peter co-produced, directed and wrote the film, which is due for theatrical release in late 2011. My America received a favorable review by Richard Kuipers in film-industry magazine Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. Also in 2011, Hegedus completed an observational documentary for ABC TV, The Trouble With St Mary’s following the life of a Catholic Priest who is sacked by the Vatican for unorthodox practices. The film has been selected to compete in the inaugural BIFFDOCS competition at the Brisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival held in Brisbane provides a focus for film culture in Queensland, Australia. The festival has taken place since 1992 and focuses on films from the Asia-Pacific region. The event offers films including features, documentaries, shorts, experimental, silent films...
2011.
Awards and achievements
2011 - Awarded the Griffith UniversityGriffith University
Griffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
Alumni Recognition Award for his achievements in documentary filmmaking.
2011 - The Trouble with St Mary's - feature documentary (writer, director)
- Official selection at Brisbane International Film Festival (additionally selected to compete for the BIFFDOCS award).
2011 - My America - feature documentary (co-producer, writer, director)
- Official selection at Brisbane International Film Festival, Canberra International Film FestivalCanberra International Film FestivalThe Canberra International Film Festival began in 1996. All the films shown have been Canberra premieres, and many of them have also been Australian premieres.- History :...
, Global Peace Film Festival, Mumbai Film Festival and Sydney Film FestivalSydney Film FestivalThe Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
.
2008 - Awarded the Doctor of Visual Arts from Griffith University.
2005 - Hole in the Wall - short drama (Writer/director)
- Best screenplay and best actor at Queensland Short Film Festival
- Official selection Brisbane International Film Festival and Cleveland International Film FestivalCleveland International Film FestivalThe Cleveland International Film Festival, first held in 1977, is the largest film festival in Ohio. The 2010 festival featured over 300 films. Since 1991 the festival has been held at Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland.-Roxanne T...
2004 - Redemption - short drama (Writer/director)
- Official selection at Rhode Island International Film FestivalRhode Island International Film FestivalFlickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival takes place every year in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island as well as satellite locations throughout the state. Started in 1997, the Festival is produced by Flickers, the Newport Film/Video Society & Arts Collaborative, a 501 non-profit...
, Brisbane International Film Festival, Great Lakes Film Festival, the Hawaii International Film FestivalHawaii International Film FestivalThe Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
and Ashville International Film Festival.
2003 - Inheritance, a Fisherman's Story - A feature length documentary for SBS TV Australia, RTBF
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
, Lichtpunt (Producer, writer, and director)
- Short-listed for an Academy Award 2004
- Grand Prize at the Global Peace Film festival
- Grand Prize at Real Life on Film Festival
- Special Jury Prize – International Scientific Film Festival, Hungary
- Hungarian Film Critics Award for Best Documentary 2003
1999 - Grandfathers and Revolutions A 52-minute documentary for SBS TV, Australia (Producer, writer and director)
- Grand Prix at Brussels International Independent Film FestivalBrussels International Independent Film FestivalThe Brussels International Independent Film Festival, or le Festival International du Film Indépendant de Bruxelles, has taken place since 1974. It originally focused on Super 8 films and today is a showcase for all kind of independent films....
, Belgium - Crystal Heart Award at Heartland Film FestivalHeartland Film FestivalThe Heartland Film Festival is a film festival held each October in Indianapolis, Indiana. First held in 1992, its goal is to "recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."In May 2007, Heartland...
, USA - Honorary diploma and best documentary by student jury at the 37th Kraków Film FestivalKraków Film FestivalThe Kraków Film Festival is one of Europe's oldest events dedicated to documentary, animation and other short film forms. It has been organised year after year since 1961....
, Poland - Grand Prize for best Television documentary at the 14th Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival, Estonia