Festival Season:
January 2026
WINGS OVER BUDAPEST
Directors:
Writers:
Barbara Fritz
Barbara Fritz
Producers:
Run Time:
0:07:01
Awarded for the following Category(s):
Awarded Category(s)
This film takes the viewer back to the winter of 1945, into the heart of the Siege of Budapest—an urban battlefield where 70–80% of the city was damaged, all five bridges were destroyed within days, and 800,000 civilians were trapped without food, heat, or escape. Through reconstructed scenes and archival references, the story evokes not only the physical devastation but the profound psychological shock that still reverberates through Hungarian families today.
Generational trauma becomes a central motif: the film shows how fear, survival patterns, and loss imprint themselves on descendants, shaping behaviors and identities decades later. Personal memories—such as a my grandmother’s compulsive hoarding after losing her children, husband, and brothers—illustrate the human cost far beyond military history.
At the center stands Anikó, a real woman whose archived photos were used to create a virtual double. Her vulnerable on-screen presence symbolizes both individual fragility and the nation’s precarious position throughout history. The choice to portray her with minimal protection reflects the helplessness Hungary experienced—and the unsettling possibility that such vulnerability could return.
The film is also a tribute to cultural memory: historical images, especially from Fortepan, are reinterpreted as cinematic locations, reminding viewers how easily heritage can be reduced to rubble. The appearance of the Saker falconserves as a symbolic guardian of resilience, freedom, and national identity of Hungary.
Ultimately, the synopsis underscores the responsibility of remembering. Peace and stability are fragile achievements, maintained through awareness, empathy, and the courage to confront the wounds carried across generations.
*The black-and-white photos among the uploaded images are original 1945 photographs from the Fortepan historical archive. I used them as an input frame for the AI generated scenes.
Submitter Statement
The film Wings over Budapest invites viewers to confront the past and to recognize how deeply history shapes who we become.
It explores the long shadow that war leaves on families, communities, and entire generations.
Through personal stories and visual reconstructions, it shows how unprocessed trauma silently travels from parent to child.
The narrative reminds us that understanding our history is not an academic exercise, but a path to self-knowledge and collective healing.
The film also highlights that even the darkest memories can be transformed when they are finally spoken, acknowledged, and integrated.
By giving voice to those who lived through tragedy, it opens space for empathy and reconciliation.
Ultimately, it suggests that healing is possible—both individually and across generations—when we dare to face the wounds left behind by war.
Barbara Fritz:
I was born in Hungary and currently live here with my family. My original profession is economics. Alongside my work, I have always been passionate about the arts—especially filmmaking.
As a member of the Hungarian image prompter community (Prompters Hungary), I participated in creating a collaborative film, titled "Downgrade," was produced in January 2024. I wrote the screenplay and actively contributed to designing scenes and the visual world. Our film received numerous awards and selections in the AI short film categories at independent film festivals.
In early 2024, I co-founded a new AI film studio within the Hungarian image generation community. Operating under the name AIllusionStudio. Within this community, I primarily represent the artistic side—I write screenplays, direct, and my constant creative and directing partner is Szilvia Szakács. We are committed to crafting stories or film-embedded messages that resonate with the questions people face daily worldwide.
In the autumn of 2024, we completed Dark Skies All Around, a film largely generated with AI, for which I served as both writer and director. The film was inspired by a true family story. It went on to win several awards, both in AI and non-AI categories.
In 2025, I also had the opportunity to contribute to a true-crime documentary series—created with mixed techniques (traditional and AI)—by participating in various smaller production phases as an AI prompter. The series explores one of the most shocking murder cases in Hungary in the period following the political transition.
Independently from studio works, I write blog posts articles illustrating with videos under the stage name FacingMirrors. The posted content explore the intersection of our cultural heritage and future technology. I consider AI an excellent tool for widely rediscovering and reinterpreting our cultural traditions. I also strive to stay updated on world events by following cultural, economic, and social analyses.
Key Cast
Other Credits