The premiere of a ten-part television series about the life of János Hunyadi titled Rise of the Raven will take place at the upcoming MIPCOM (Marché International des Programmes de Communication) event in Cannes, which runs from 21 to 24 October, the National Film Institute (NFI) announced on Thursday.
According to the announcement, the series will debut at Europe’s most prestigious television and film industry event with a red carpet presentation. The project, co-financed by the NFI and Beta Film GmbH, one of the world’s leading independent film companies, is the first Hungarian production to receive this honour.
The series is a monumental historical drama that portrays the life, love, and battles of János Hunyadi, the legendary 15th century Hungarian military leader,
offering a glimpse into the political landscape of Europe at the time. What makes the series unique is its cast of over 600 international actors and stunt performers, with the characters speaking in their native languages, enhancing historical authenticity.
János Hunyadi is portrayed by Gellért Kádár L., while Vivien Rujder plays Erzsébet Szilágyi, and Franciska Töröcsik appears as Mara Brankovics. The Hungarian cast also includes Ernő Fekete, Mariann Hermányi, and Balázs Medveczky. Among the international actors are Laurence Rupp, Murathan Muslu, Giancarlo Giannini, Francesco Acquaroli, and Karel Roden. The directors of the series are Robert Dornhelm, Orsi Nagypál, Attila Szász, and Balázs Lengyel.
‘The story of Hunyadi shows the journey of a village boy who became a fearless warrior and later the saviour of Europe. Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by the story of the noon bell, and with this series, we have the opportunity to share a story that’s so familiar to us, Hungarians, with the entire world,’ Robert Lantos, the lead producer of the series is quoted as saying in the statement.
Based on the novel series by Mór Bán, Rise of the Raven is produced by Robert Lantos. As noted, Lantos and his fellow producers, including Tibor Krskó, have set ambitious goals: they aim to break into the global television market with the production, and MIPCOM Cannes is the first major step. MIPCOM is one of the most significant global events in the television industry, annually bringing together television professionals from over 100 countries and the leaders of the world’s largest studios on the French Riviera.
The four-day market showcases the latest television programmes and series, while offering numerous professional presentations and workshops. The red carpet premieres are a highlight of the event, providing significant productions with an opportunity to be presented. Last year, MIPCOM Cannes hosted over 11,000 participants representing more than 100 countries. For the 40th edition of the event, taking place from 21 to 24 October 2024, over 300 exhibitors have already registered.
Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM Cannes and MIP London, expressed her excitement about the series in the announcement: ‘With its ambitious storytelling, high production quality, exceptional creative team, and truly international cast, the series has generated growing interest worldwide since its announcement. We are delighted to host its first screening in Cannes.’
Related articles:
