Judit Elek
Directing
- Born
- November 10, 1937 · Budapest, Hungary
- Died
- October 1, 2025 (age 87)
Judit Elek (10 November 1937 - 1 October 2025) was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter. She has directed 16 films between 1962 and 2006. Her film Mária-nap was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival.
She graduated in 1961 from the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest (now the University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest), and joined Mafilm as an assistant director. She is one of the founders of the Béla Balász Studio for young filmmakers. Between 1962 and 2011, she made multiple short films, documentaries and features. The renowned film Mária-nap (1984) screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival. She was also one of the participants in the IFFR jubilee project 25 Encounters. Elek’s films are the subject of a focus programme at IFFR 2023, featuring titles such as Találkozás (1963), Kastélyok lakói (1966) and Istenmezején, 1972-73-ban (1974).
Known for
Nobody's Daughter
March 4, 1976
The Lady from Constantinople
September 4, 1969
Maria's Day
March 26, 1984
Maybe Tomorrow
May 5, 1980
Memories of a River
February 8, 1990
Encounter
January 1, 1963
The Trial of Martinovics and the Hungarian Jacobins
January 25, 1980
How Long Does Man Live?
April 11, 1967
Castle Dwellers
January 12, 1966
We Will Meet in 1972 – In Dark and in Light
January 1, 1970
Elie Wiesel Goes Home
February 12, 1997
Awakening
October 5, 1995
Behind the camera19
- 2018After All the Dead Sing Again... Director
- 2011Retrace Director
- 2006The Eighth Day of the Week Director, Writer, Producer
- 1997Elie Wiesel Goes Home Director, Editor, Producer
- 1996A Free Man – The Life of Ernő Fisch Director
- 1995Awakening Screenplay, Director, Editor
- 1990Memories of a River Writer, Director
- 1984Maria's Day Director
- 1980Maybe Tomorrow Director
- 1980The Trial of Martinovics and the Hungarian Jacobins