Bonnie Anderle Bunyik, co-founder of the Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles, has died. She was 77.
Bunyik died on May 19 in Los Angeles following a battle with ALS, according to her representatives who said she “passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones.”
The veteran film distributor was raised in L.A. by her parents Albert and Pauline Anderle and went on to graduate from Fairfax High School in 1962. Two decades later, she and husband Bela Bunyik founded European Video Distributors and Bunyik Enterprises. The European film distribution company brought overseas cinema westward and distributed films throughout the United States and Canada. Propelled by their mission to bring Hungary’s greatest in feature films, documentaries, shorts and student and animated movies to North American audiences, the Bunyiks produced and distributed over 900 films. Titles included “My 20th Century,” “We Never Die” and “Simon the Magician.”
Building on their success, Bunyik co-founded the Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles, for which she served as co-producer and vice president. With support from her husband, Bunyik ran 19 Hungarian film festivals over the course of several years. The yearly showcase presents the very best of film from Hungary, including the country’s entry for the Academy Awards. In the past, the festival has screened “Son of Saul,” “On Body and Soul,” “The Notebook” (from director János Szász) and “Those Who Remained.” In more recent years, the Bunyiks partnered in Hungarian entertainment company Connoisseur Bt.
Bunyik is survived by Bela, her husband of 48 years; her daughters Anna and Amalia; her sister Barbara and her grandchildren and extended family. A private family service will be held to honor her memory.