Filmunio carries on during shake-up

MOSCOW -- Hungary's international film promotion body Filmunio is still working despite reports that it had fallen victim to the country's shake-up of publicly funded cultural bodies. Csaba Bereczki, head of international relations at Hungary's Motion Picture Public Foundation, said Friday that Katalin Vajda, a long-serving official at Filmunio had been appointed as managing director. The announcement comes just weeks after former Filmunio head Eva Vezer exited when her contract was not renewed. Vezer sent a private letter by email to film industry contacts worldwide at the time thanking them for their friendship and support over many years. The changes come as Budapest-born Hollywood producer Andrew Vajna, who has been put in charge of the reorganization of state film funding in Hungary, made a series of staffing decisions. "Contrary to some false information Magyar Filmunio is existing and operating continuously," Bereczki said. "The management and financing of Hungarian film production is being renewed alongside a concept which meets international experience. "Based on Katalin's experience for decades, I am convinced that she will manage Magyar Filmunio successfully and this will contribute to the successful integration of this activity into the recently established Hungarian Film Fund." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com