CANNES — István Szabó’s 1999 historical epic Sunshine has been restored and is making its debut at Cannes Classics this year. The film, which stars Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, and Jennifer Ehle, follows several generations of a Hungarian-Jewish family through the 20th century. Szabó, who is no stranger to Cannes, previously won acclaim for Mephisto (which also won an Academy Award) and Colonel Redl.
The 181-minute film has undergone a complete 4K digital restoration, which was prepared specifically for the Cannes screening. Viktória Sovák, director of NFI Filmlab, explained that the restoration process fixed issues with corrupted frames and enhanced visual details that were previously impossible to capture in the analog era. “It’s a great pleasure to bring out even the smallest details,” said cinematographer Lajos Koltai.
The restoration of Sunshine is part of NFI’s broader effort to preserve Hungarian cinema. The film’s producers, András Hámori and Robert Lantos, will attend the screening, along with Szabó, who will receive a special tribute for his work in honor of the FIPRESCI centenary celebration.
The FIPRESCI award, first given out in Cannes in 1946, will be presented to Szabó for his lifetime achievements in cinema. The director was previously awarded the FIPRESCI prize in 1981 for Mephisto.
Szabó, reflecting on the importance of film preservation, shared that Hungary’s National Film Archive played a vital role in saving Hungarian film history. He praised the archive’s dedication to technical development and digital restoration. “It is a great joy for me that Sunshine is one of these restored films,” he said.
The NFI Film Restoration Programme, which began in the 1990s, has restored 403 Hungarian films and documentaries. The programme continues to work on restoring classic films and preserving nitrate film stock. Upcoming projects include celebrating the works of Hungarian director Károly Makk, with 13 of his films being restored in 2025.
Szabó’s Sunshine restoration will also be showcased at upcoming festivals, including Annecy’s animation festival, which will focus on Hungarian films.
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