After 22 years of championing female filmmakers in Hollywood, the renowned La Femme International Film Festival has officially launched its European chapter. The inaugural La Femme International Film Festival Europe (LAFIFFE) concluded its highly anticipated debut in Budapest, Hungary (June 4–7, 2026) with a festive closing gala at the Hilton Budapest, where top honors and a direct pathway to the Academy Awards were presented to an international slate of visionary creators.
A 22-Year Legacy Arrives in Europe Since 2005, the Los Angeles-based La Femme International Film Festival has supported over 3,000 female creators globally, serving as a vital launchpad for projects that frequently land on major studio schedules and streaming platforms. By establishing LAFIFFE, the European sister festival aims to address the stark global imbalance in the film industry, where women currently occupy only 18% of key roles, 16% of directing spots, and a mere 6% of cinematography positions.
To be eligible for the competition, films were required to feature a woman in at least one key creative role (Director, Producer, or Screenwriter). A unique and highly coveted value of LAFIFFE is its “Gateway to Hollywood”: winners in the Short Film, Animated Short, Short Documentary, and Documentary categories receive a one-week theatrical screening in Los Angeles, qualifying them for Academy Award consideration.
The Inaugural Budapest Experience Brought to life by festival founder and producer Leslie La Page, alongside the European management team of Fanni Forgács, Judit Parádi, and Zita Szécsi, the four-day event in Budapest blossomed into a vibrant international cinematic gathering. Audiences at the Cinema City Mammut 2 were treated to a diverse lineup of nearly 80 films spanning over 20 countries.
The festival was characterized by intensive panel discussions, live-streamed filmmaker interviews, and a continuous exchange of experiences among creators, producers, and investors.
The Best Animated Short Film went to the Peruvian “Collective Memory,” directed by Cristina Colmenares. Three Hungarian productions also won awards: the Best Short Film award went to “Immortals,” directed by Edit Nagyistók; the jury recognized Anna Boglárka Varga’s film “You’re Gonna Kill a Deer!” with a special award in the Student Short Film category; while the special award offered by Origo Studios was awarded to the screenplay “Forsaken,” written by Fruzsina Fekete and Áron Horváth. The Best Short Documentary also had Hungarian ties, as the American production “Rocky’s Story,” directed by Hungarian director Linda Marian, earned the honor.
The award for Best Documentary was given to the Portuguese “We Are Two Abysses,” directed by Kopal Joshy, while the Best Feature Film was the Portuguese-American co-production “HoneyJoon” by Lilian T. Mehrel. The Best Screenplay award was won by the English Jen Lynn Romnes for “No Tell Motel,” and the Best TV Pilot Screenplay was awarded to the English Laura J. Harris for “Flame of the Iceni.” The festival’s guest of honor, Kosovan-Albanian actress-producer Arta Dobroshi, was honored with the “Legend Award” for her inspiring cinematic and social work.
The Official Laureates and Category Winners of LAFIFFE 2026
1. Best Animated Short Film
Winner: “Collective Memory” – Directed by: Cristina Colmenares (Peru)
Additional nominees: Till The Sun Sets, Yokaitopia
In 1983, during the darkest days of the Peruvian armed conflict, masked soldiers broke into Adelina’s home and took her husband on the grounds that he allegedly belonged to the “Shining Path” terrorist organization. She never saw him again. After facing silence and contempt from the police and the military, Adelina joins forces with other women who also lost their husbands and children in military operations that were supposed to protect them. They unite to demand justice.
2. Legjobb Rövidfilm
Winner: „Immortals” – Directed by: Nagyistók Edit (Magyarország)
Additional nominees: Our Monsters, A Small Service, Reborning, Dividing Lines
After his sister’s death, Zoli must complete dangerous, illegal online challenges to support his niece and sick nephew, Laci. When Laci’s condition suddenly worsens, Zoli must accept a challenge that could cost him his life.
3. Legjobb Forgatókönyv
Winner: „No Tell Motel“ – Written by: Jen Lynn Romnes (Anglia)
Additional nominee: Hurricane Huskies
The story is inspired by true events. A poignant and deeply human drama about family, addiction, second chances, and processing the past.
4. Legjobb TV Pilot Forgatókönyv
Winner: „Flame of the Iceni” – Written by: Laura J. Harris (Anglia)
Additional nominee: Dream Girl “The Ruth Handler Story”
The historical drama series tells a story of freedom, resistance, and identity through the losses and determination of a warrior Celtic princess.
5. Legjobb Rövid Dokumentumfilm
Winner: „Rocky’s Story” – Directed by: Linda Marian (USA)
Additional nominees: Searching For Home, My Mum Used To Call Me Sister
A true and deeply moving story about a special sea lion named Rocky, tracking his incredible journey from the moment he is placed into loving care at the Marine Mammal Care Center until he finally returns to his ocean home.
6. Legjobb Dokumentumfilm
Winner: „We Are Two Abysses” – Directed by: Kopal Joshy (Portugália)
Additional nominees: Free Daughter of Free Kyrgyzstan, Full Steam Ahead
Living alone among the highest peaks of the Portuguese mountains, Carlos spends years writing letters to his late beloved wife, suspended in a time that no longer exists. His solitary world is disrupted by a filmmaker who accidentally stumbles upon him while tracing a mysterious lake.
7. Legjobb Nagyjátékfilm
Winner: „HoneyJoon” – Directed by: Lilian T. Mehrel (Portugália-USA koprodukció)
Additional nominees: #SaveRose, Satisfaction
June and her Persian-British mother, Lela, travel to the romantic Azores on an anniversary of their grief, trying to cope with their loss in radically different ways. An attractive surfer guides them around as they ride the waves of life, loss, and flirting together—on an unforgettable journey.
8. Különdíj: Diák Rövidfilm
Winner: „You’re Gonna Kill A Deer!” – Directed by: Varga Anna Boglárka (Magyarország)
The film stands out for its passionate vision of a young couple as the girl confronts their empty relationship, her own loss, and the illusion of love—all balancing on the border between reality and imagination.
9. Origo Filmstúdió Különdíj
Winner: „Forsaken” – Written by: Fekete Fruzsina és Horváth Áron (Magyarország)
Forty-four years after the supposed death of her son, a woman learns that he is still alive and was abducted, and she sets out on a crusade of revenge. She is pursued by a female detective struggling with her own demons, and their fates unexpectedly intertwine. Two women’s struggle for justice in an absurd, yet genuinely Eastern European story woven with bizarre charm. With this recognition, Origo Studios has offered a service package worth 5 million HUF for the completion of the project.
LAFIFFE’s Honorary Recognition: Legend Award
Legend Award Honoree: Arta Dobroshi
The gala evening featured the presentation of this year’s Legend Award, which was accepted by Kosovan-Albanian actress and producer Arta Dobroshi. Dobroshi is the first Kosovan actress to walk the red carpets of the Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, and LA Femme film festivals. She is known for globally acclaimed films such as Lorna’s Silence, Three Worlds, and Stray.
Alongside her artistic endeavors, she is a dedicated humanitarian, actively advocating for refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). For her outstanding cultural and social contributions, she was previously honored by the French state with the prestigious Order of Arts and Letters. The artist shared her thoughts and valuable professional experiences with the audience during an exclusive podium discussion on Sunday.
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