Hungary Selects ‘Semmelweis’ as Entry for Best International Feature at Oscars
Hungary has selected Lajos Koltai’s biopic Semmelweis as its entry for the 2025 Oscars in the best international feature category.
The film follows the life of Hungarian doctor Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis, a pioneer of antiseptic procedures who was known as “the savior of mothers” for his work in combating deadly infections after childbirth. Set in 19th-century Vienna, it depicts Semmelweis, portrayed by Miklós H. Vecsei, as a passionate doctor determined to uncover the cause of puerperal fever. Despite his discoveries and efforts to prevent the infection, he faces opposition from his peers and superiors.
Semmelweis received great success in Hungary, selling over 350,000 tickets and grossing more than $2 million during its theatrical run, making it the most successful Hungarian film in the last five years. NFI World Sales is handling worldwide distribution for the film.
Apart from his work on Semmelweis, Koltai is renowned for his cinematography on films like Sunshine, The Legend of 1900, and Taking Sides. He earned an Oscar nomination in 2001 for his work on Giuseppe Tornatore’s Malena.
The Hungarian Oscar Committee, consisting of representatives from the Hungarian National Film Institute, the Film Academy, and industry professionals, chose Semmelweis to represent Hungary in the 2024 Oscars.
Hungary has a strong history at the Oscars with 10 nominations and two wins for films like Mephisto in 1981 and Son of Saul in 2015. However, no Hungarian film has been nominated since 2017, when On Body and Soul reached the final five but did not win.
Watch the teaser trailer for Semmelweis below.