Democracy Noir: A New Dawn

Democracy Noir: A New Dawn, tells the inspiring story of resistance in Hungary to Viktor Orban’s regime and of his stunning defeat. Our film tells this story through the brave activism of its three subjects, opposition politician Tímea Szabo, journalist Babett Oroszi, and nurse Nikoletta (Niko) Antal.

The film provides a sweeping account of how Viktor Orbán used a free and democratic election to install authoritarian rule in Hungary, enjoying widespread approval from Hungarian nationalists as well as global conservatives inclined to his illiberal views. He changed the constitution, took over the courts, dismantled the rule of law, and took over the media. Revered by Donald Trump and the Heritage Foundation, Orban’s influence helped shape Project 2025 and the current policies of the Republican Party.

On April 12, 2026 Péter Magyar’s party Tisza came to power in Hungary after 16 years of the autocratic rule of Viktor Orbán. The triumph was unique in our era of democratic backsliding — and it holds clear lessons for the United States.

In his campaign Péter Magyar enumerated the ways in which Orbán had damaged Hungary: a stalled economy, inadequate health care, an atmosphere of hatred and fear. Orbán had "stolen from the common good of the Hungarian nation — from the pockets of the Hungarian people, and from the tables of Hungarian children and the elderly." He called Orbán's government a mafia state — a fundamentally criminal enterprise.

His win revealed that in-person politics can be a powerful antidote to media fear-mongering. 79% of the Hungarian population voted, the highest ever! Young people drove the campaign, 90% voting for Magyar.

Magyar did not create his political machine from scratch. A panoply of grass-roots protest movements joined ordinary Hungarians to end the Orbán era.

F:ACT Award Nominee CPH:DOX,
Tim Hetherington Award Nominee, Sheffield DocFest
Best Documentary and Impact Award, Boston Film Festival
Jury Award, One World Festival Prague
Best Documentary, Sebastopol Film Festival
Best Human Rights Film, Chicago International Women’s Film Festival

A film by Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Winning Director Connie Field
and Producer Sigrid Dyekjaer

"Every single minute of Oscar-nominated American director Connie Fields' film 'Democracy Noir' sends chills down your spine. One of the most important films at this year's CPH:DOX." – Cinemadsen. DK

"The film follows three pillars of Hungarian democracy, movingly personified by politician Tímea Szabo as the legislature, journalist Babett Oroszi as the fourth estate and, activist and nurse Niko Antal as a young and empathetic welfare hero in Viktor Orbán's Hungary. His unexpected defeat in 2026 is extraordinary. This film is a must see." – Magazine Europa

"On the heels of striking opening shots of the Danube and Budapest the moral of the tale becomes clear. This is not just about the politics of a smallish east-central European country. It has universal resonance and urgent relevance for American audiences grappling with the consequences of Trump." – The Guardian

"A Hungarian tale that rings poignantly in the American ear." – Roger & Ebert