The talking newsreel Hungarian World News (Magyar Világhíradó) produced by the Hungarian Film Bureau between 1931 and 1944 is one of the most important visual resources for the Horthy era. The news compilations, shown in theatres independently or as a mandatory screening before other shows, are not only reflections on current affairs, but also frequently used to thematise events in the historical past. News about national celebrations, anniversaries and commemorative events repeatedly reiterate which historical moments form the undisputable milestones of the nation’s collective memory. Utilising the means of efficient and professional mass communication the show also integrates these events into the practice of social communication. What were the events and historical periods most frequently featured in these moving images? Did the focus of memory undergo any changes across the production seasons? What can content analysis tell us about their strategies of interpreting the past?Barkóczi examines the corpus of moving image from the angle of the theory of ritual culture. Her premise is that, besides broadcasting information about current events, an equally important function of the World News was to communicate a value system, presented as stable and permanent, in order to forge a community out of the viewers. This function gains momentum in historic moments, which create a significant social demand for the strengthening or (re-)positioning of symbols. The medium of moving image is particularly predisposed for ritual perceptions and is thus able produce instant and informed responses.