While Hungarians are frequently present at the Oscars, due to the international nature of the film industry, and the disproportionate amount of Hungarians working in Hollywood, they are far less represented at international television awards ceremonies. That’s why it’s so exciting that this year saw the first win by a Hungarian actor for an International Emmy, ‘the Oscars of television.’ Actor Marina Gera took home the Best Performance by an Actress statue for her lead role in drama Eternal Winter at this year’s ceremony.

The World War Two drama tells the story of Hungarians deported to Ukraine and interned into forced labor, Gulag-like camps. In Film Threat’s fawning review, they summarize the drama as such: “Irén (Marina Gera) is trying to celebrate a melancholy Christmas with her parents (Anikó Für, Tibor Gáspár) and daughter Ági (Norina Fehérvári), despite her soldier husband (Gábor Jászberényi) being long absent from the dinner table. While they struggle to maintain a unified household, Soviet soldiers arrive in Hungary to force all young women with possible German origins away from their village. Effectively kidnapping them and transporting them to a Gulag camp, the women are forced to work in the nearby coal mines. While the abysmally inhumane conditions bare down on everyone in the camp, Irén meets Rajmund (Sándor Csányi), who decides to teach her his rules of survival.”

Directed by Attila Szász, Eternal Winter is a story that is very close to home in these parts, as it is estimated that around 700,000 Hungarians were held in such labor camps, many of whom died there. In her acceptance speech, Gera paid homage to their lives, dedicating the award to “all the Hungarian victims who suffered in the Soviet Union.” Naturally, the film was shot in and around Budapest and Transylvania.

The International Emmy Award is an award given by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS) in recognition of the best television programs initially produced and aired outside the United States. Originated in 1973, it attracts over 1,200 television professionals. Here’s hoping that this success sets the tone for many more Hungarian faces at the Emmys. 

Below you can watch the trailer for Eternal Winter, in Hungarian with English subtitles.

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