Decisions concerning films: three online series, the appointment of Béla Ternovszky and a festival visit

Each successful applicant of the fifth round of the 2014 Neumann János programme will receive HUF 1 million in funding through the Hungarian Media Patronage programme, thanks to the decision of the Media Council. The series “ÉN és TE” (ME and YOU) will be available through Index.hu/video as five 6-minute episodes dealing with certain themes of adolescent sexuality, from the risks of starting too early to the importance of intimacy. On vs.hu, four similarly 6-minute videos, directed by Márton Szirmai, will portray charismatic teachers to present methods that can be integrated into general curricula to effectively develop the skills and abilities needed to succeed in life: curiosity in a school in Budapest's District VIII, desire for freedom in Berettyóújfalu, cooperation in Hejőkeresztúr and self-awareness in Pesthidegkút. Bonum TV will develop a series of five 10-minute episodes as a sequel to their youth information magazine Common Post which also received funding previously. The topics of the new series include Roma-Hungarian coexistence, methods for resolving potential conflicts between Christian and gay communities, a Catholic ceremony through the eyes of an outsider vlogger, the drug prevention efforts of the Emberbarát (Philanthropist) Christian Foundation in Kőbánya, and the background of commitment/dating stereotypes among members of the young generation. Since 2012, the Media Council has provided funding for almost 60 online videos and series.

The Media Council has decided to appoint Béla Ternovszky, director of the now-legendary animation film Macskafogó (Cat City) among others, as a new member of the jury for the Macskássy Gyula programme that provides funding for animation films. Mr. Ternovszky will take the place of Balázs Medveczky. The Council has also agreed on the members of this year’s jury for the Egri Lajos programme which promotes writing scripts for TV and animation films and developing TV film plans: the chairman will be cinematographer Emil Novák and the members will be Andrea Zaras, Head of Program Acquisitions at MTVA, and poet and writer Éva Petrőczi. In order to support Transylvanian film culture, the Council has also decided to offer a HUF 1 million prize at the 15th Filmtettfeszt – Hungarian Film Festival in Transylvania, to be held this autumn, for the best Transylvanian short-film director and the winner of the “Sárga Csikó” award which is presented to an influential figure in film who helped shape the careers of Transylvanian film-makers through his/her body of work.

Decisions concerning radio stations: fine due to deviation from the agreed programming; two unsuccessful tenders

The Media Council imposed a HUF 150,000 fine on the operator of the Lánchíd Rádió Száz pont kettő community radio in Szeged as official controls revealed that it has deviated from its contractually agreed programming. It aired the same programmes as Lánchíd Rádió in Budapest in certain time bands, played less Hungarian musical content than agreed under contract and provided by law, broadcast more reruns and less programmes on local public life and did not ensure the necessary proportion of minority programmes, despite its commitment. The media operator concerned may submit a request for the review of the decision as in the case of similar official decisions by the Media Council.

The Media Council found the bids submitted for the tender for the use of local radio frequencies in Piliscsaba (104.2 MHz) and Dabas (97.5 MHz) to be formally invalid. Mária Rádió Frekvencia Kft. submitted bids for both frequencies, while Magyar Katolikus Rádió Zrt. only submitted a bid for the frequency in Dabas.