Why Hungary?
Hungary enjoys strong traditions in the field of motion picture production. Even during the very early days of cinematic art quite a few sons of this little country cropped up among the most prominent figures of the genre, and made their mark with their respective talent and aptitude, playing an active part in our audiovisual heritage, thus adding to the global treasure of motion pictures.
Foremost among these pioneering filmmakers of Hungarian origin were Adolph Zukor, Alexander Korda, George Czukor, Lajos Bíró, Michael Curtiz and Béla Lugosi, or the film aesthetician Béla Balázs. Today’s living legends in film history, Miklós Jancsó, Károly Makk, István Szabó, and Béla Tarr have also exerted a major influence on the cinematic art of the recent past. Hungary has given some phenomenal cinematographers to the world, such as Vilmos Zsigmond, Elemér Ragályi, Lajos Koltai and Gyula Pados, while Hungarian producers Andrew G. Vajna, Kornél Sípos, Dénes Szekeres and Gábor Váradi have helped bring numerous productions into being.
The competence of our A-category professionals has already become established in the world. In addition to the internationally high standards of our crews we have beautiful, varied outdoor locations that are able to satisfy the requirements of A-category Hollywood super-productions such as Eragon, which was recently shot here, and Steven Spielberg’s film Munich. Jim Gianopulos, the president of Fox Filmed Entertainment, stated in January that if Eragon comes up to expectations at cinemas, he will shoot the second part in Hungary too since the studio thinks of Hungary in superlative terms.
Thanks to the varied configurations of the terrain concentrated in a handful of places our outdoor natural locations and special microclimate are able to satisfy almost every demand, and the our cities offer unique and fascinating Secessionist buildings for shooting locations.
Thanks to the varied configurations of the terrain concentrated in a handful of places our outdoor natural locations and special microclimate are able to satisfy almost every demand, and the our cities offer unique and fascinating Secessionist buildings for shooting locations.
As far as the technical background and specific implementation are concerned, grandiose development plans have been drawn up and put into effect in recent years: the biggest studio in the world is being built in Etyek, its floor space of 39,811 sq. metres making it even bigger than the Pinewood Bond Stage. The 6,000 sq. metre counter sunk pool in the Alexander Korda complex will be suitable for shooting sea scenes. The A-category Stern studio in Pomáz, which will soon be opening, is very closely located to the 23,000 sq.metre outdoor area of the atmospheric Fót Film Factory with a floor space of 23,000 sq metres and includes two separate studios of approximately 1,000 sq metres each. The Fóti Film Factory has been providing productions with sets, costumes, equipment props and pyrotechnic services since the seventies.
The 20% tax concession system on investment on both large-scale projects and works with small budgets has made us exceptionally attractive to foreign investors.
The 20% tax concession system on investment on both large-scale projects and works with small budgets has made us exceptionally attractive to foreign investors.
Approved by the Parliament in its session held on 22 December 2003. In order to enhance and preserve the values of the Hungarian motion picture culture, to develop the Hungarian film industry and to make it internationally competitive, to create a support system that promotes the efficient use of resources that serve to develop the culture of films and to establish a legal background that serves this purpose and is aligned to the regulations of the European Union, the Parliament of the Republic of Hungary drafts the following act:
Decree 14 of 2004 (VI.9.) of the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Finance on the Detailed Rules of the Organization, Operation and Procedures of the National Motion picture Bureau.
On the basis of the authorization provided in section 37(1) of Act II of 2004 on Motion Pictures (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) and section 67(2) of Act XCIII of 1990 on Duties, we order the following:
Films have the most powerful communication force, regarding that besides recognizing them as an independent art branch they can also be considered as entertainment industry enterprises.
Background to the new film profession regulation coming into realization by the II. Act of 2004.
The new film tax incentive system of Hungary: what does this tax incentive system offer to motion picture producers? The new system is intended to increase the number of films produced - partly or entirely - in Hungary, therefore to strengthen the Hungarian audiovisual industry, to increase the production capacity of the country and the number of experts employed in this sector, thus to generate a positive impact on the entire economy.
Decree 14 of 2004 (VI.9.) of the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Finance on the Detailed Rules of the Organization, Operation and Procedures of the National Motion picture Bureau.
On the basis of the authorization provided in section 37(1) of Act II of 2004 on Motion Pictures (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) and section 67(2) of Act XCIII of 1990 on Duties, we order the following:
Films have the most powerful communication force, regarding that besides recognizing them as an independent art branch they can also be considered as entertainment industry enterprises.
Background to the new film profession regulation coming into realization by the II. Act of 2004.
The new film tax incentive system of Hungary: what does this tax incentive system offer to motion picture producers? The new system is intended to increase the number of films produced - partly or entirely - in Hungary, therefore to strengthen the Hungarian audiovisual industry, to increase the production capacity of the country and the number of experts employed in this sector, thus to generate a positive impact on the entire economy.
