Can Togay

Can Togay, born János Can Togay on August 27, 1955, is a multifaceted Hungarian artist renowned for his contributions as a film director, screenwriter, actor, poet, producer, cultural manager, and diplomat. His roots trace back to Turkish parents, and he spent his formative years in Germany, which profoundly influenced his artistic perspective.

Togay's artistic journey began in 1969 when he joined the Péter Halász theatre troupe. He pursued higher education at Eötvös Loránd University, studying German and English from 1973 to 1978, followed by postgraduate studies in German-French comparative linguistics at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, completing his degree in 1980. He further honed his craft at the Színház- és Filmművészeti Főiskola in Budapest, graduating in 1984 under the mentorship of the esteemed Zoltán Fábri. In 1991, Togay relocated to Finland for four years, expanding his cultural horizons.

Togay gained international recognition when his film "A nyaraló" was featured in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. His literary talent blossomed as well, with a collection of his poetry published in 2004 by Aranykor Kiadó. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the Holocaust memorial "Shoes on the Danube Promenade" in Budapest, collaborating with Gyula Pauer.

Since January 1, 2008, Togay has served as the director of the Collegium Hungaricum Berlin, representing Hungarian culture and science in Germany while also acting as a cultural attaché at the Hungarian Embassy.