Filmed in Hungary: Six Recent Movie & Series Releases

There’s been another steady stream of releases this fall-winter of international films and TV series that were filmed in Hungary. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Now you see me

This is the third instalment of the franchise Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, directed by Ruben Fleischer. The story sees the original Four Horseman–a group of rebellious magicians played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco–teaming up again to steal the world’s largest diamond from South African mogul, Veronkia Vanderberg (played by Rosamund Pike).

Although the film heavily features the group’s adventures around the world (from Belgium to Abu Dhabi), the bulk of the filming took place in Hungary. Originally chosen for budgetary reasons, it was soon apparent that Hungary could stand in for other European locations. Fleischer commented that,

“Once we realised that we were shooting in Hungary, we specifically scripted things to take place in Europe. Originally, the first act was more New York-based. Instead of trying to create New York in Budapest, we decided to lean into the Europe of it all.”

2. Amadeus (Sky TV)

Remember the legendary film from 1984? Now you’ll be able to relive the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through this limited, five-part series that will reportedly be released sometime in December. The story is based on Peter Shaffer’s award-winning 1979 stage play, a fictional account of the ups and downs of one of the world’s greatest composers. Mozart arrives in Vienna during the 18th century, meets the singer who will become his wife (Constanze) and the composer who will become his nemesis (Salieri). The play itself was inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s short 1830 play, Mozart and Salieri.

First look images from the production were released a few months back showing Will Sharpe in the title role and Paul Bettany as Antonio Salieri. No surprises that the show was filmed in Budapest. Standing in for 18thcentury Vienna is at this point child’s play for the city.

 3. Dust Bunny

Touted as a family-horror film, the story revolves around a young girl (Aurora, played by Sophie Sloan) who’s convinced there’s a monster living under her bed. She asks her enigmatic neighbour for help, a hitman played by Mads Mikkelsen. Written and directed by Bryan Fuller–well-known for his work in TV on series such as Pushing Daisies and Hannibal–the film is a mix of horror and dark fantasy. Other cast members include  Sigourney Weaver, and David Dastmalchian.

Dust Bunny was filmed on location in Budapest at Origo Studios, with the production also using city streets and interiors as locations. Fuller’s feature film debut premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this year and released not long after.  

4. Death by Lightening (Netflix) 

This historical drama miniseries is based on a book by Candice Millard, Destiny of the Republic. The story centres on the election of James A. Garfield (played by Michael Shannon), standing on a platform of anti-corruption and pro-civil rights. He went on to becume the 20th President of the United States but only served for six months as he was shot by a delusion admirer, Charles J. Guiteau (played by Matthew Macfadyen).

Set in 19th-century America, some questioned why the series was shot in Hungary. But the country has built a reputation of being able to depict a range of locations, especially those set in period genres. This is thanks to its diversity of architecture, ranging from Gothic, Baroque to Art Nouveau. For this particular series, filming also took place at Budapest’s Old Train Musuem. The interiors of several historic carriages were used for scenes where characters journeyed across America.

 5. Nuremberg

The much anticipated American psychological thriller / historical drama film, directed by James Vanderbilt, is based on Jack El-Hai’s book, The Nazi and the Psychiatrist. The film tracks the story of Douglas Kelley (played by Rami Malek), a U.S. Army psychiatrist sent to examine and monitor the mental state of  high-ranking Nazis such as Herman Göring (Russell Crowe) as they await trial in Nuremberg. Also premiering at TIFF this year, the film received a four-minute standing ovation, one of the longest in the history of the festival. 

Leaning into its reputation of being able to provide authentic period locations, Budapest again did not disappoint in providing this production a base for principal photography. As well as soundstages, city streets were also used to capture the post-world-war-two era, with some key scenes being shot at Duna Palota, a building in downtown Budapest. Special focus was placed on getting visuals details of the time correct, with Vanderbilt allegedly working closely with designers and historians to ensure authenticity of the sets.

6. The Testament of Ann Lee

A historical, musical drama film based on the life of Ann Lee, the founding leader of the Shaker movement. This was a religious sect of the 18th century, the followers of which proclaimed Lee as a female Christ and showed their worship through song and dance. Directed by Mona Fastvold, the film stars Amanda Seyfried in the title role as she tries to establish a utopian society. Premiering in competition at the Venice International Film Festival, the feature will be released in late December in the U.S. and early 2026 for other territories.

Budapest was again, perhaps surprisingly, chosen as the main production base for the film. Thanks to the city’s range in terms of historical architecture, it was able to depict England (where Ann Lee was born) and later the U.S. of the mid-18th-century where the Shaker religion found its footing.   

Sources & further information

Now You See Me, Now You Don't

Amadeus

Dust Bunny

Death by Lightning

Nuremberg

The Testament of Ann Lee

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Booker Prize Winning Novel FLESH to be Adapted for the Screen

David Szalay, the Hungarian-British writer who recently won the Booker Prize with his latest novel, FLESH, is reportedly in talks to bring the story to the screen.

David Szalay. Photo via Wikipedia

Writers of Hungarian extraction seem to be having a moment. Hot on the heels of the Nobel Prize for Literature being awarded to Hungarian László Krasznahorkai follows the news that Hungarian-British author David Szalay has won the Booker Prize. Now it seems his book is to be adapted for the screen by House Productions in the U.K., the producers behind Conclave (2024) and Zone of Interest (2023).

Szalay was born in 1974 in Montreal to a Canadian mother and Hungarian father. He grew up in the U.K. where he attended the University of Oxford and worked various jobs before spending several years in Hungary. 

Flesh, Szalay’s sixth novel, has been described as an unconventional rags to riches tale. It follows the life of an alluring but emotionally detached and taciturn Hungarian man and his unconventional journey from living on a housing estate in Hungary to rubbing shoulders with the mega-rich in London. There’s been much discussion regarding the novel as a comment on toxic masculinity and the writer’s use of a sparse prose style seems to underline that theme.

Beyond that, the novel is a story about alienation. While talking about Flesh, Szalay explained that he, "wanted to write a book that stretched between Hungary and London and involved a character who was not quite at home in either place." In part this was because Szalay was also, at the time, living between Hungary and the U.K. and he felt that fact needed to be reflected in his choice of subject matter. This was why writing about a Hungarian immigrant made sense.

The Booker Prize is one of the most esteemed literary awards in the world and there’s a history of past winning novels (such as The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje and The Handmaid’s Taleby Margaret Atwood) going on to become hits of the both the big and small screen.

According to an exclusive report from Deadline, it seems it’s not yet been decided whether a film or series format would best suit the project. While discussing both options, Szalay commented that, “There were arguments on both sides. On the film side, [the argument was] it could be made as a single, impactful work that can be taken in at one sitting… it would be a way of extracting the greatest power from it, and I can see that.” The article further revealed that there’s chatter İlker Çatak, the German writer-director of the Oscar-nominated film The Teachers’ Lounge, is in talks regarding possibly directing the film. Nothing has been confirmed as yet, but Szalay has publicly welcomed the possibility, describing himself as a fan of the director’s previous work.

Should an adaptation of Flesh make it to the screen, regardless of whether it’s in film or series form, we can’t wait to watch it. No doubt filming would take place at least partly in Hungary to reflect the authenticity of this very unique story.

Sources and further information

Deadline

The Booker Prize

Wikipedia

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Biopic of Hungarian Actor Béla Lugosi in the Works?

It’s recently been reported that a biopic of Béla Lugosi–the Hungarian actor who made a name for himself playing Dracula on the stage and in the classic film of 1931– is in the works at Universal.

Béla Lugosi as Dracula, 1931. Picture via Wikipedia.

The news first broke the week before Halloween in an exclusive story for Deadline by Matt Grobar. Although the project is apparently still in the early planning stage, Leonardo Di Caprio’s production company has teamed up with producers Alex Cutler and Darryl Marshak to develop the film. It sounds like a bit of a passion project for Cutler and Darryl, who have been keen to get a movie about Lugosi off the ground ever since they were both teens.

It’s also been reported that there’s a script already in place from celebrated screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the duo behind Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Dolemite Is My Name and American Crime Story. The film would revolve around Lugosi’s younger years, following his immigration from Hungary to his eventual success starring in Dracula on Broadway and the 1931 Hollywood horror film classic of the same name.

Who was Bela Lugosi?

Born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó in 1882, the man the public would come to recognize as the original on-screen Dracula took the name of the town he was born in–Lugos, in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Lugoj, Romania). Lugosi found acting at a young age and appeared in more than 170 productions in Hungary before serving in World War I as an infantry officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army. After the failed Hungarian Communist Revolution in 1919, Lugosi was forced to flee the country due to his Socialist activities.

He ended up in New Orleans in 1920 and, after appearing in various Hungarian language productions staged for the Hungarian diaspora, landed his first part in a Broadway play, The Red Poppy, in 1922. What followed were various stage and film parts where he usually played villains and various “foreign” types.

Lugosi’s big break came in 1927 when he starred as Count Dracula in a Broadway adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. This eventually led to the starring role in the 1931 film version of Dracula. But despite the critically acclaimed reception Lugosi had received for his performance on the stage, several other more prominent actors of the time were originally considered for the title role. Lugosi had to campaign hard to win over a team of studio executives who were against giving him the part. One of the key reasons they eventually relented was Lugosi’s willingness to accept a paycheck of $3,500 for the seven-week shoot.

Béla Lugasi at 18 year old, clearly born for the part of Dracula. Picture via Wikipedia.

The downside for the actor, with his thick Hungarian accent, was that he was forever battling being typecast as the villain in horror films after the success of the film. Nevertheless, Lugosi’s fame endures to this day. Nearly a hundred years later, his name is still synonymous with the role of Dracula. Fingers crossed that the stars align to bring this great Hungarian actor’s life behind the scenes to the big screen.

Sources & further information 

Deadline

Wikipedia

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.  

Gyula Czimra: A Quiet Life Leading to Exceptional Art

Gyula Czimra (1901–1966) might be one of the most fascinating painters of 20th-century Hungary that you’ve never heard of. A reclusive and introspective artist, his work is admired for its clarity, diversity of style and quiet strength, placing him, without doubt, among the leading Hungarian painters of his time.

Self-portrait, 1934. Via Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

A recent exhibition at the National Gallery in Budapest, Without Shadow, presents nearly half of Czimra’s life’s work—around 180 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and tapestries.

Czimra was working as a technical draftsman when he started taking art classes at night. Serious in his intentions of becoming an artist, he travelled to Paris in 1923, taking a job as an engine fitter at the Renault factory to support himself. Czimra was soon enrolled in the Ecole National Supérieure des Beaux-Arts where he studied under Lucien Simon for a year. His first solo show, comprising mostly of his drawings, was held in 1926 at the Galerie de Zodiaque.

Gauguin Changes Everything

A turning point in Czimre’s art can be attributed to a major exhibition of Paul Gauguin’s work in Basel, Switzerland in 1928, which Czimra attended on his way back to Hungary. Gauguin clearly made a deep impression on Czimra, freeing him from his prior convictions regarding colour and form. This is strongly evident in his paintings and sculptures of the time. After returning to Hungary, Czimra reconnected with some of his old friends at the artists’ colony in Szentendre that had been established three years previously. His self-portraits here reveal a much more self-assured artist, and he began to attract critical attention.

Artist and his Wife, 1932. Hungarian National Gallery.

Retreat into a Secluded Life

The next year, in 1930, he married Etelka Zombory, who was working in the supreme court. Although Czimra built a house for them in Rákoshegy outside Budapest, the couple’s relationship was not completely conventional considering the time period. Until his death in 1966, Czimra tended his beloved garden and continued to experiment artistically, mostly at home and on the fringes of the artistic community, while Etelka remained the breadwinner of the family. It was in Rákoshegy that he developed his distinctive post-impressionistic style and experimented with his use of colour, clearly influenced by Vincent Van Gogh.

Retreating from the world and devoting himself to his garden, Czimra was eventually able to find his own unique style within the seclusion of his family home. After a period of painting very little between 1938 and 1954, he returned to his art with renewed vigour, producing some of his finest and most accomplished work. His love of geometric symmetry evident, the art of this period portrays the intimate interiors of his home life done in a minimalist, almost naïve style.

Still Life in the Kitchen, 1962. Hungarian National Gallery.

Gyula Czimra: Emerging from the Shadows

The title of the exhibition, Without Shadow, symbolizes the clarity of Czimra’s artistic vision, maintained throughout his evolution of an artist, as well as his love of a quiet, introspective life. The exhibition has hopefully gone some way to recognize this artist as one of the major figures of modern Hungarian art after having flown far too long under the radar.

View, 1964. Hungarian National Gallery.

Sources and further information:

Hungarian National Gallery

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Budapest Classics Film Marathon 2025

Since 2017, the Budapest Classics Film Marathon has been celebrating restored movie favourites every year for a week in autumn. This year, as well as commemorating some classic films, the festival also honoured esteemed Hungarian-Canadian director, Robert Lantos, and hosted three great directors he has collaborated with repeatedly over the span of his illustrious career.

Via NFI.

Honouring Producer Robert Lantos

Organized by the NFI (National Film Institute of Hungary), the film marathon this year presented a special retrospective, screening the films of renowned film producer Robert Lantos. Lantos has more recently been one of the driving forces behind the historical epic tv series, Rise of the Raven.

This year’s film marathon also hosted two Canadian filmmakers who have worked in close collaboration with the producer: David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan, as well as legendary Hungarian director, István Szabó.

Fourteen films that Lantos produced were screened, including Cronenberg’s Crash (1996) and Eastern Promises (2007); Egoyan’s Oscar-nominated The Sweet Hereafter (1997) and Szabó’s Sunshine (1999) and Being Julia (2004).

During a roundtable discussion, the filmmakers shared their experiences and opinions on the delicate relationship between producer and director. Lantos revealed how he has chosen his projects in the past, seeking out films that added to the conversation, rather than rehashing what’s already been said before. In addition to his commercial successes, the producer has also endeavoured to make at least one or two more artistically-inclined films a year, ones that interest him personally. 

It was also interesting to hear first-hand about the initial significant controversy Cronenberg’s film Crash stirred when it premiered at Cannes in 1996. Both Lantos and the director remembered being surprised at the scandal it caused among the press corps, especially considering it was based on a well-known novel by J. G. Ballard. In fact, Cronenberg went on to reveal that Ballard, also present at the premier, hit back at critics claiming that he thought the film was even better than the original book.

Picture via Imdb.

Focus of Budapest Classics Film Marathon 2025

This year the festival also paid special tribute to Hungarian director, Károly Makk as well as celebrated Hungarian-born screenwriter, Joe Eszterhas, whose film credits include Flashdance (1983) and Basic Instinct(1992) – and who we’ve recently written about here. Additionally, as part of the festival’s principal aim to bring archived material back to life, a restored 1943 film, Light and Shadow, from one of Hungary’s first female directors, Klára Tüdős Zsindelyné, was also screened and proved to be one of the highlights of the program.

The Lumière Brothers: where it all began

Another high point of the festival was presented by Thierry Frémaux, Artistic Director of the Cannes Film Festival and President of the Lumière Institute, in the form of a screening of Lumière! The Adventure Continues. This featured restored footage from the dawn of cinema 130 years ago.

The Lumière Brothers are widely considered to be the pioneering founding fathers of “cinématographe” using a device they invented – a portable camera, developer and projector which used 35 mmm film. The brothers screened the first cinematic experience in 1895 in Paris: a film of workers leaving the Lumière factory and a train arriving at a station.

This year’s festival included 122 screening, 26 student sessions (where David Cronenberg met with students at the University of Theatre and Film and reportedly revealed aspects of his creative process), six roundtables and four ciné-concerts with live music.

With films shown across a range of venues in Budapest – including a huge open-air cinema in beautiful Szent István square using the basilica as a backdrop – we’re already counting down for the next one in 2026.

Sources & further information

NFI

Deccan Herald

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Writer, Novelist and Screenwriter: Hungary’s László Krasznahorkai Wins the 2025 Nobel Prize for Literature

On 9th October 2025, the Swedish Academy awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature to László Krasznahorkai, praising “his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.”

László Krasznahorkai. Photo via Wikipedia.

The Swedish Academy went on to say in a statement that, “Laszlo Krasznahorkai is a great epic writer in the Central European tradition that extends through Kafka to Thomas Bernhard and is characterised by absurdism and grotesque excess."

The 71-year-old writer of nine novels as well as many short stories, essays and screenplays is renowned for not only his pessimistic – although at times darkly humorous – work, but also his never-ending sentences. His 400-page novel of 2022, “Herscht 07769”, is allegedly written in a single sentence (we haven’t read that one yet, so are unable to confirm). The words that typically characterize Krasznahorkai’s work: dystopian and surreal. Susan Sonntag labelled the author “the master of apocalypse.” His novels move with slow deliberation, often portraying moments when societies are on the brink of collapse.

Krasznahorkai’s stories capture the absurdity of the world we live in; it should come as no surprise then that the author is deeply influenced by Kafka, and in particular “The Castle”. In 2013 Krasznahorkai told the White Review, "When I am not reading Kafka, I am thinking about Kafka. When I am not thinking about Kafka, I miss thinking about him." While speaking to Swedish Radio, he also revealed that, as a novelist, “bitterness” was his greatest inspiration.

Published in 1985, Krasznahorkai’s first novel “Sátántangó” is set in a remote rural area of Hungary where a group of poverty-stricken residents live on an abandoned collective farm. The author admitted that he had only planned on writing this one book. However, upon re-reading it, he decided to start another in the hope of improving, adding, "My life is a permanent correction". Wise words we should all live by.

Film poster via Wikipedia.

This first novel was turned into a film in 1994 by legendary Hungarian film director Béla Tarr, with Krasznahorkai writing the screenplay of the seven-hour film. He also adapted his second novel into a screenplay, “The Melancholy of Resistance” for the director, which was released as WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES (2000). Frequent collaborators – Tarr has only made films from screenplays written by Krasznahorkai – the two men co-wrote several films  together including DAMNATION (1988), THE MAN FROM LONDON (2007) and THE TURIN HORSE (2011).

Born and bred in the small town of Gyula in south-east Hungary near the Romanian border, Krasznahorkai studied in Szeged and Budapest before spending a year in West Berlin in 1987 as part of a student exchange program. The experiences of living under communism and the ensuing change of regime in 1989 clearly impacted him deeply. Frequently going back and forth to reside in either Germany or Hungary, the writer has also travelled widely through Europe and the United States. Spending significant periods of time in China and Japan has also informed his work.

Krasznahorkai’s latest novel was released in 2024, ”Zsomle is Waiting”. Also set in rural Hungary, it’s a tale about 91-year-old Uncle Józsi Kada, a retired electrician and descendant of King Béla IV and Genghis Khan. Although he could lay claim to the Hungarian throne, he goes to great lengths to disappear – until he’s found by his faithful followers. We’ve put it on our TBR pile of books!

Sources and further information:

White Review 

 Wikipedia

 Euronews

Financial Times

Reuters

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Game of Throne’s Star Filming in Budapest

Kit Harington, who played Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, utterer of the famous line, “Winter is coming,” is the latest in a line of famous faces gracing the streets of Budapest over the last few months.

Kit Harington. Picture via Wikipedia

According to Daily News Hungary, Harington was spotted at a sandwich shop, Sarki Fűszeres, tucked away on Pozsonyi út near Szent István Park in the thirteenth district. The actor is in Budapest filming the BBC One drama based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel, A Tale of Two Cities.

He’s not the only famous face getting out and about in the city. Other stars such as Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, his squeeze Kyle Jenner, and Anya Taylor-Joy have also been seen in various restaurants, shops and cafés casually living their lives in Budapest due to the many major international TV and film productions that get to call the capital home for a few months.

Who’ll be spotted next?

Sources and further information:

The Cinemaholic

 Daily News Hungary

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Acclaimed Hungarian-American Screenwriter Lands $4 Million Amazon Script Deal

In what is being touted as the most lucrative spec deal of the year, Joe Eszterhas, legendary screenwriter of hit films from the 1980s and 1990s, has been asked to pen a reboot of his now iconic erotic thriller, Basic Instinct (1992).

Joe Eszterhas. Photo via Wikipedia.

In a story first reported by The Wrap, it’s been revealed that Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists and producer Scott Stuber have acquired the rights to the film, Basic Instinct, one of the big hits of the 90s. Joe Eszterhas, writer of the original who will also write the new film, is reported as saying that the reboot will be “…. about serial killers. It’s about copycats. There’s a demonic element to it that I think will be spooky.”

According to the interview in The Wrap, it seems Eszterhas is hoping that Sharon Stone might co-star in the new film. If she did, she’d be reprising her role of Catherine Tramell, a crime novelist and serial killer who, in the original film, has an affair with the detective (played by Michael Douglas) investigating a brutal murder.

Eszterhas is being paid the eyewatering sum of $2 million to write the script and will receive a total of $4 million should the project go into production. In a wry acknowledgment of his age–Eszterhas is 80–he explained that he’ll be leaning heavily on his “writing partner”. This “twisted little man” (essentially his alter-ego) remains stagnant at 29 years of age and, according to Eszterhas, is sure to provide a “wild and orgasmic ride”.

A journalist-turned-screenwriter, Eszterhas was born in Hungary in 1944 and moved in 1950 to Cleveland, Ohio where his family struggled to make ends meet. Growing up with a self-described, "chip on his shoulder”, Eszterhas admits that it was his father who convinced him to get into reading rather than continue brawling in the back streets of Cleveland. After university, Eszterhas became a journalist, writing for newspapers and Rolling Stone Magazine before publishing a novel. Encouraged by a producer to try his hand at scripts, Eszterhas was, by the early 90s, the highest-paid screenwriter in Hollywood.

Eszterhas does not shy away from controversial themes. Riding a wave of success in the 80s and 90s, he was behind other hits such as Flashdance (which he co-wrote), Jagged Edge and Showgirls. In 2004 he published a memoir detailing his years in Tinseltown, Hollywood Animal (2004). He also wrote a feature that was partly filmed in Budapest, Music Box (1989), about a Hungarian immigrant accused of committing war crimes during WWII who is defended by his lawyer-daughter. The film contains a twist at the end, but perhaps the greatest twist was that ten years after writing the film, Eszterhas made a shocking discovery about his own father and the role he played during WWII.

Having seen a live interview with Joe Eszterhas when he was in Budapest some ten years ago, we can confirm that the man is certainly a larger-than-life character. We’re curious to see what he makes of the Basic Instinct reboot.

Sources & further information

The Wrap

 Deadline

BBJ

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Filmed in Hungary: Newly Released TV Series 2025

Budapest has long been favoured by international productions as a filming location, repeatedly proving its ability to stand in for a range of places. In these newly released (or soon to be) TV shows, we’ll be able to watch parts of our favourite city morph into Italy, a town in the U.K. and Vienna.

Via Wikipedia.

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (Hulu & Disney+)

This true-crime limited series dramatizes the story of Amanda Knox, the woman who was wrongfully convicted for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Italy in 2007. Before being acquitted in 2011, Knox (along with her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito) spent four years in prison. The show delves into the emotional toll the media frenzy of the time took on Knox and her family while they relentlessly struggled for justice.

Filming for the series took place in Italy, Hungary and British Columbia. Scenes involving the police station and prison were filmed in Budapest, as the city became the second base for the production. Well-known as being a major filming hub in Europe, Budapest made sense as a filming location to shoot interior scenes and to stand in as a replacement for places that could not be shot in Italy.

Via Imdb.

The Rumour (Channel 5)

Five-part crime thriller THE RUMOUR has recently been broadcast on channel 5 in the U.K. Based on a bestselling novel written by Lesley Kara, the series revolves around a single mother who moves to the quiet town of Flinstead. When rumour gets out about a child killer who might be living in the area, fear begins to impact the lives of people in the town and things quickly unravel from there.

Although this show is set in a small British (fictional) town, it was primarily filmed in Hungary in late 2024. Again, demonstrating its chameleon-like ability, Budapest took up the challenge by supplying homes, courtyards and forests that could convincingly pass as a small-town in Sussex. Popular down-town establishment Gerlóczy Kávéház was also used by the production, standing in as a local café. It was reported that director Richard Clark was able to efficiently solve cost and logistical issues by filming in Budapest, commenting in the TV Guide that, 

 “The Hungarian crew were outstanding. We had one of the best crews I’ve ever worked with in terms of temperament and efficiency. They were an absolute joy. A lot of them had just come off big, big Hollywood feature films. They are very, very skilled.”

Clark also commended the art department, mentioning that they did an “astonishing job” on a very tight budget.

Image via Sky Group.

 Amadeus (Sky TV)

You remember the legendary film, now you’ll be able to rewatch the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through this limited, five-part series that will reportedly be released sometime before the end of the year. The story is based on Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play which examines the ups and downs of one of the world’s greatest composers. 

First look images from the production have recently been released showing Will Sharpe in the title role and Paul Bettany as his secret nemesis, Antonio Salieri. No surprises that the show was filmed in Budapest; standing in for 18th century Vienna is at this point child’s play for the city.

We can’t wait to binge-watch this series and more while playing the game that is now second nature to local viewers: where in Hungary was this filmed?

 Sources & further information

Soap Central

The Cinemaholic

 High on Film

 TV Guide 

Televisual

The Hollywood Reporter

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.  

Hungary Shines at Venice Film Festival: A Big Year for Hungarian Cinema

Hungary arrived at the Venice Film Festival with not one but two films in competition for the Golden Lion, claiming some well-deserved international limelight on the Lido.

Picture via Imdb

It’s been over half a century since two Hungarian films ran side by side in Venice’s main competition. This year, László Nemes’s ORPHAN (Árva) and Ildikó Enyedi’s SILENT FRIEND did just that.

Nemes, already acclaimed for his Oscar-winning film SON OF SAUL, returned with ORPHAN, a Hungarian-British-French-German co-production. Shot on 35mm film in Hungary, it tells the story of a boy navigating the post-1956-revolution era in Budapest while searching for his father.

Enyedi is an Oscar-nominated director who won the Golden Bear at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival for ON BODY & SOUL. Her newest film, SILENT FRIEND, is a poetic tale playing across three timelines about the relationship between humans and plants. The feature, starring an international cast (Léa Seydoux, Tony Leung, and Luna Wedler), captivated critics and audiences alike in Venice. The film won not only the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Wedler but also secured five major collateral prizes, including the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film in Competition and the Green Drop Award.

Shooting on 35mm in Hungary: A Growing Trend

Both Hungarian competition films share another connection: they were shot on film and developed at the NFI Filmlab in Budapest. The NFI Filmlab, part of the National Film Institute Hungary, is one of the very few facilities worldwide still offering analogue film processing services — from 16mm, 35mm, and 65mm film development to positive printing and efilm cutting.

With over 60 years of expertise, this Budapest-based facility has become the most experienced film laboratory in Central Europe. With analogue making a come-back, international productions such as THE BRUTALIST continue to rely on the Filmlab’s unique services.

Ildikó Enyedi and the Philosophy Behind Silent Friend

In an interview with Marta Balaga for Variety, Enyedi explained her fascination with plant communication — an idea rooted in the “flower power” era of the 1970s and further explored in SILENT FRIEND. The film spans 1908, 1972, and 2020 at a German university, weaving together stories of a pioneering student, a love-struck caretaker, and a neuroscientist (Tony Leung) obsessed with a mysterious ginkgo tree.

For Enyedi, the film is not an overt ecological statement but rather an invitation to rethink how we perceive the world around us. “Many changes in our life could happen effortlessly if we just shifted our point of view a little,” she says.

Sources & further information

Variety

Screen Daily

Budapest Reporter

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

10 Films and TV Series Filming in Hungary 2025

Hungary has long been considered one of the top filming destinations in Europe for international productions. As summer draws to a close, we’ve scoured industry news to get more details on some of the major international films and TV series filmed in Hungary so far this year and when we can expect to see them released.

Stock Image.

It’s been a busy, busy year for Hungary. We’ve taken stock of 2025 to bring you up to date on the wide range of TV and feature projects that have called Hungary home (at least for a little while) while being filming here in 2025.

THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IS DOWN

The year kicked off with acclaimed Swedish director Ruben Östlund arriving in Budapest with a decommissioned (and deconstructed) Boeing 747 which became the set for his newest feature. A social satire, the film follows the fate of bored passengers on a long-haul flight from London to Sydney devoid of functioning screens to keep them occupied.  The film, starring Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst and Daniel Brühl, is slated for release in 2026, potentially in time for the Cannes Film Festival.

MATCHBOX

No doubt hoping to replicate the success of the Barbie film, this action-adventure feature is based on the Matchbox toy brand and follows the story of a former soldier and his childhood mates who rediscover their friendship while on a high-stakes adventure trying to clear their names.  Directed by Sam Hargrave and filmed partly in Hungary in the first part of the year, the film stars John Cena, Jessica Biel, Corey Stoll, Danai Gurira, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, and Arturo Castro. Release is expected next year.

ALPHA GANG 

Another heady mix of big-name actors descended on Hungary earlier this year for the filming of this sci-fi comedy. The film, by writer-director duo Nathan and David Zellner, is about alien beings attacking Earth but then taking pity on humanity. It stars Cate Blanchett, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, and Riley Keough. Here’s hoping that if we ever do face such a situation, life will imitate art and we’ll be spared. The film is reportedly currently in post-production.

PONIES

We’ve written before about how apt Hungary is location-wise to host any Cold War spy story. So, it’s no surprise that this espionage-thriller TV series, set in Moscow of the 1970s, found a home filming here in Budapest. Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson star, playing two secretaries at the American embassy who become CIA operatives after their husbands are killed. Filming wrapped in the middle of summer. An official release date has not yet been announced.

DUNE: PART THREE

Hungary has attracted further A-list talent thanks to the filming of DUNE: Part Three since July 2025. There have been frequent sightings of stars such as Zendaya and Anya Taylor-Joy on the streets of Budapest shopping or having a meal. Meanwhile, Jason Momoa took advantage of his time in the city by staging a concert with his band Öof Tatata at popular downtown nightspot, Aquarium Klub. Timothee Chalamet was also spotted casually having coffee with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner in a café. The film is scheduled for release December 18th, 2026.

Stock Image.

BRIDES

It’s also been reported that the psychological horror feature BRIDES starring Olivia Cooke is also filming in Hungary through the summer. Written and directed by Chloe Okuno, the script apparently draws some of its inspiration from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Set in the 1960s, the story involves a woman recovering from a nervous breakdown in a remote part of Italy with her husband. Attracting the attention of the mysterious villa owner where they are staying, she introduces her feminist ways to his other vampire brides. No release date has been announced yet.

3 BODY PROBLEM

Netflix has recently confirmed that season two of the sci-fi series 3 BODY PROBLEM is currently filming in Hungary with season three also planned to shoot here. This follows the successful debut of the first season in 2024. Based on the novels by Cixin Liu, the plot follows an astrophysicist’s decision to contact an alien civilization in 1960s China which triggers an existential threat to Earth in the present day. Season two is expected to hit our screens sometime in 2026.

12/12/12

This cat and mouse heist drama, a co-production between Skydance Television and Anonymous Content, is reported to be currently filming in Budapest. The story runs across three intertwined timelines, incorporating the 12 months’ planning in the run-up to the heist, the 12 hours of the actual heist, and the 12 days that follow (hence the title of the series). Set against a backdrop of several European locations, the series is set to be released on Apple TV+ sometime in 2026.

BILLION DOLLAR SPY

More Cold War espionage–this one is a thriller starring Russell Crowe and has also been reportedly filming in Budapest across the summer months. Directed by BAFTA-winner Amma Asante, the feature is based on the 2015 non-fiction book of the same name by David E. Hoffman which chronicles the story of Adolf Tolkachev, one of the CIA’s most valuable Soviet assets of the era (Tolkachev passed thousands of pages of top-secret information to the U.S.). No confirmation as yet on a release date.

TURNCOAT

Also reportedly filming in Budapest since August 2025 is this psychological thriller directed by Christian Pichler and written by Renee L. Logan. Revolving around a psychotic mastermind who manipulates a group of interconnected strangers with deadly consequences, the film is slated for release in 2026.

What’s filming in Budapest next? We’ll be monitoring the news for reports on what’s coming to film in Hungary for the last quarter of 2025. Stay tuned!

Sources & further information

Budapest Reporter

Hungary Today

Film New Europe

 Screen Daily

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Hungarian Film Talent on Display at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival

The Sarajevo Film Festival 2025 is currently underway, showcasing the best of regional and world cinema, including several Hungarian films that are in competition.

The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival

Founded in 1995 during the siege of Sarajevo, the festival has grown into one of the largest film festivals in Southeast Europe and one of the most prestigious in Europe. Each year, it attracts more than 100,000 visitors and some of the biggest names in international cinema.

Bálint Kenyeres Competes with THE SPECTACLE

This year features Hungarian filmmakers with five films competing across categories, including a short film from Bálint Kenyeres, THE SPECTACLE. Flatpack Films’ very own Zita Kisgergely is one of the co-producers of the film.  

A Hungarian-French co-production, the story follows a Roma boy with a unique talent who is suddenly thrust into the public eye after a television crew come to film him. Touching upon themes of identity and media influence, Kenyeres has been open about the origins of the short film and explained that the idea came to him in a dream. Upon waking, he felt compelled to turn it into a short film. You can read more about the film and its production here.

Hungarian writer & director, Bálint Kenyeres

Hungarian Films Across All Sections

Feature Competition: The world premiere of Renátó Olasz’s debut feature MINDEN CSILLAG (ALL THE STARS) tells the story of two siblings returning from Budapest to their hometown for Christmas, only to find that nothing is as they remember.

Documentary Competition: Katalin Bársony’s SUNO DIKHLEM, a Belgian-Hungarian co-production, portrays the struggle of a Kosovar Roma boy facing deportation from Germany.

Student Films: Two young Hungarian talents join the lineup. Mirjana Balogh’s WISH YOU WERE EAR, an animated short about how relationships shape identity, and Jakob Ladányi Jancsó’s LIVING STONES, set in an isolated rehabilitation facility. Both submissions add fresh voices to the festival.

The 31st Sarajevo Film Festival

The festival this year opened with the world premiere of THE PAVILION. The film is a Bosnian black comedy from Dino Mustafić, who, as well as being the former artistic director of drama at the National Theatre Sarajevo, has extensive experience directing theatre and documentaries. The feature, written by Viktor Ivančić, follows a group of poorly treated elderly residents of a retirement home who exact revenge on their abusers by staging an armed rebellion.

In other news from the festival, veteran Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård has received the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo. It was presented to the actor by Mirsad Purivatra, founder of the Sarajevo Film Festival.

The festival runs from August 15th to August 22nd

Sources & further information:

Sarajevo Film Festival

Variety

Budapest Reporter

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Location Scout in Budapest: Parisi Udvar

A Lavishly ornate building built at the beginning of the 1900s that housed shops, bank offices and apartments, fell into disrepair during the Communist years but regained its former glory after extensive restoration work in 2019.

Parisi Udvar

The building was constructed on the site of a former department store, Brudern House, one of the first of its kind in Hungary. The shopping corridor there had been designed on the model of the Passage des Panoramas in Paris, which is why people began to refer to it colloquially as the “Parisian House”. After the Brudern House was demolished at the turn of the 20th Century, the land was bought by the inner city’s savings bank (Belvárosi Takarékpénztár) in 1906 in order to build and establish a new HQ there.

A Brief History

Nestled in the heart of downtown Budapest and dripping in Gothic-inspired detail, Parisi Udvar, or "Paris Courtyard", finished construction in 1913. Featuring an intricate glass ceilings and dome, the ground-floor of the building was originally designed to function as a shopping arcade with open pedestrian entrances at either side, reflecting the elegance of Parisian shopping arcades.

With its tiled façade, ornate mosaics and gargoyles, this eclectic building is a fusion of Gothic and Moorish-elements. It’s no surprise that it was designed by German-born architect Henrik Schmahl, the man behind the similarly remarkable Uránia Cinema in Budapest’s 7th district. We’ve written about the Urania before, which shares this distinctive Moorish ornamental architectural style with the Parisi Udvar.

Urania Cinema. Picture from Wikipedia.

Falling into disrepair after the Second World War and during Hungary’s Communist era, the building was patched up from time-to-time. However, it wasn’t until it was purchased by the Mellow Mood Group of investors in 2014 that the site began to be lovingly restored to its former glory using high-quality, appropriate materials and an extensive team of craftsmen. The renovations, concluded in 2019, reportedly cost 12 billion HUF (52 million euro in today’s terms), including the purchase price of the building.

Parisi Udvar now functions as a five star hotel, part of the Unbound Collection of the Hyatt group.

Párisi Udvar in Films

Budapest is already well-established in the film world for its versatility and ability to stand in for diverse locations. It’s doubled for Berlin, Munich, Moscow, Paris and even cities in the U.K. and U.S. Before its restoration, Parisi Udvar also featured in the movie series UNDERWORLD (2003) about vampires (which was visually heavy on the Gothic elements), as well as the film, TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (2011), an espionage thriller set during the Cold War.

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Venice Film Festival 2025: Spotlight on Hungarian Talent

The 82nd Venice Film Festival has announced an impressive lineup of new features from several big-name directors, including two veterans from Hungary: Ildikó Enyedi and László Nemes.

One of the world’s oldest film festivals, and one of the “Big Five” worldwide (the others being Cannes, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance), the 82nd Venice Film Festival will run from August 27 to September 9, 2025, debuting exciting new features from world-renowned directors. Highlights include Guillermo del Toro’s FRANKENSTEIN, Yorgos Lanthimos’ BUGONIA with Emma Stone, Luca Guadagnino’s AFTER THE HUNT, Kathryn Bigelow’s A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, Jim Jarmusch’s FATHER MOTHER SISTER with Cate Blanchett, Adam Driver and Charlotte Rampling, and Park Chan-wook’s NO OTHER CHOICE.

Additionally, esteemed Hungarian directors Ildikó Enyedi and László Nemes also have films screening in the main competition: Enyedi's SILENT FRIEND is a collaboration between Germany, France, and Hungary, while Nemes' ORPHAN is a joint effort between Hungary, the UK, Germany, and France. 

Ildikó Enyedi

Ildikó Enyedi, celebrated for her thought-provoking and visually stunning films, is best known for her 2017 feature ON BODY AND SOUL which tells the story of a neurodivergent woman who finds love and connection through a shared dream with a colleague at an abattoir. The film won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Her 2021 film, THE STORY OF MY WIFE, is based on a novel by Milán Füst and follows a sea captain who becomes obsessed with his spouse despite his indifferent attitude towards marriage.

Born in 1955, Enyedi studied at the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest after earning a B.A. in Economics. She won the Golden Camera award at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival for her film MY 20th CENTURY and received her doctorate from the University of Theatre and Film Arts in Budapest in 2011.

Her sensitive and philosophical exploration of the human condition and our place in the world continues with her new feature to be presented in Venice, SILENT FRIEND. The story spans across three time periods in the 20th and 21st centuries, following the lives of individuals who are drawn to a tree located in a botanical garden in Marburg, Germany.

László Nemes

László Nemes, born Nemes Jeles László in 1977, is a Hungarian filmmaker and screenwriter who spent his formative teenage years in Paris. After studying History, International Relations and Screenwriting, Nemes worked as an Assistant Director in Hungary and France for various shorts and features, and for two years was Béla Tarr’s assistant while filming THE MAN FROM LONDON.

His first feature film, SON OF SAUL, premiered in main competition at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Grand Prix. The feature, which was also the second Hungarian film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, is the harrowing account of Saul, a Jewish prisoner working at an Auschwitz crematorium, determined to give a deceased young boy a proper Jewish burial. Nemes is also the first Hungarian director to have secured a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.

His second feature, SUNSET, is a period piece about a young woman who uncovers family secrets while trying to secure work at an illustrious hat company in Budapest during the last days of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1913.

Nemes’ third feature to be unveiled in Venice, ORPHAN, is also an historical drama, set in the aftermath of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The story centres on a 12-year-old boy who is confronted by the truth of an idolized father he thought was dead.

Romanian director Cristian Mungiu will serve on the Competition Jury, led by Alexander Payne.

Here is the Venice Film Festival lineup for 2025:

In Competition

The Wizard of the Kremlin, dir. Olivier Assayas (France)
Jay Kelly, dir. Noah Baumbach (USA, UK, Italy)
The Voice of Hind Rajab, dir. Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia, France)
A House of Dynamite, dir. Kathryn Bigelow (USA)
Sun Rises on Us All, dir. Cai Shangjun (China)
Frankenstein, dir. Guillermo Del Toro (USA)
Elisa, dir. Leonardo Di Costanzo (Italy, Switzerland)
À pied d’œuvre, dir. Valérie Donzelli (France)
Silent Friend, dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Germany, France, Hungary)
The Testament of Ann Lee, dir. Mona Fastvold (UK)
Father Mother Sister Brother, dir. Jim Jarmusch (USA, Ireland, France)
Bugonia, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos (United Kingdom)
Duse, dir. Pietro Marcello (Italy)
Un film fatto per Bene, dir. Franco Maresco (Italy)
Orphan, dir. László Nemes (Hungary, United Kingdom, Germany, France)
The Stranger, dir. François Ozon (France)
No Other Choice, dir. Park Chan-wook (South Korea)
Sotto le nuvole, dir. Gianfranco Rosi (Italy)
The Smashing Machine, dir. Benny Safdie (Canada, USA, Japan)
Girl, dir. Shu Qi (Taipei)
La Grazia, dir. Paolo Sorrentino (Italy)

Sources & further information:

82nd Venice Film Festival: Full list of films in competition.

Film New Europe

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IS DOWN and MATCHBOX: Both Filmed in Budapest

News from two high-profile (and very different) films that wrapped production in Budapest over the last few months: Ruben Östlund’s THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IS DOWN and the MATCHBOX film from director Sam Hargrave.

Parliament in Budapest.

The Entertainment System is Down

As reported by Screen Daily, Östlund was recently in Croatia participating in Slano Film Days while he edited his most recent film on his laptop and his family enjoyed some beach time.

The celebrated Swedish director’s second English language film shot in Budapest over 70 days at the beginning of the year. The film’s story takes place almost exclusively on a long-haul flight where the passengers are confronted with in-flight screens that stop working. To ensure the utmost authenticity, Östlund and his producers (Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober) purchased a decommissioned Boeing 747 which they dismantled and shipped to Budapest where it was reassembled into a working set.

The film stars include Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, Daniel Bruhl, Nicholas Braun, Tobias Menzies and Julie Delpy, as well as a cast of 150 extras. Despite calling it a “tough shoot” due to the single set and sheer numbers of extras involved in every shot, Östlund added that, “Technically and production-wise, everything worked very well”. 

To overcome the difficulty of filming inside the tight quarters of an airplane, Östlund used what he referred to as a "robot"—a programmable mechanical arm operated with a PlayStation controller. This device could extend into cramped areas where it would be impossible for both a camera and its operator to both fit .

Although Östlund had used similar tech in the past, this project marked a significant expansion in its application. “They’re now compact enough to work in very tight spots,” he said. Working alongside cinematographer Fredrik Wenzel, he helped program the device to handle complex shots. “It was a huge asset,” he noted.

Known for his Palme d’Or-winning films The Square and Triangle of Sadness, Östlund is aiming to premiere The Entertainment System Is Down as his sixth out of seven features at Cannes. He also repeated his goal of sparking “the biggest walkout in the history of the Cannes Film Festival,” referencing a single-take sequence where a young girl is forced to go 15 minutes without her family’s iPad.

Matchbox

Meanwhile, in an interview with Collider, John Cena (star of the upcoming Matchbox feature that also filmed partly in Budapest), has called the movie “kick-ass” and commended the storytelling chops of director Sam Hargrave. The actor explained, “What really stood out to me about Matchbox is that Sam gets to show more of his storytelling skills.”

Matchbox is the first time Cena has worked with Hargrave, who’s known for his stunt coordination work on major franchises like Marvel, The Hunger Games, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Cena spoke highly of the experience, both on a personal and professional level.

“The biggest thing I took from working on this film is that I gained a friend and developed huge respect for Sam Hargrave,” he said. “He’s someone I look up to—he brings out the best in everyone, every single day. I admire his drive and work ethic. After seeing how dedicated he is, it makes sense why his films look the way they do. I’m really hoping we get to team up again. Matchbox is a powerhouse of a movie, and Sam really had the chance to dig deeper into storytelling, not just focus on jaw-dropping stunts.”

The cast joining Cena includes Jessica Biel, Corey Stoll, Danai Gurira, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, and Arturo Castro. The screenplay was written by David Coggeshall and Jonathan Tropper—the latter also working on a future Star Wars project.

Although an official release date hasn’t been announced, Matchbox is currently in post-production.

Sources & further information

Screen Daily

Collider

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

DUNE: Part Three Filming in Budapest

The third instalment of the sci-fi saga DUNE officially kicked off production in Budapest at Origo Studios this week.

From Imdb.

Turns out the rumours were true. Sightings of Zendaya (who plays Chani in the previous DUNE films) in Budapest over the last few days had led to suspicions that DUNE: Part Three was about to start filming in the Hungarian capital. Zendaya was snapped in a café as well as petting someone’s dog on the street a few days ago, while a post on IG featured a photo of the star spending time at the Neroli luxury perfumery on Andrássy Avenue.

Additionally, there had been reports on social media that Timothée Chalamet had shaved his head–although the actor seemed to be trying to keep it, literally, under wraps with a headscarf and baseball cap. This sent devoted fans into a fit of speculation that he was in prep to reprise his role of Paul Atreides. Turns out, the fans were right.

Based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert, the two previous instalments of DUNE were also partly filmed in Hungary. The director behind this cinematic vision of the franchise, Denis Villeneuve, is using material in the second novel of the series (DUNE MESSIAH) for the third instalment which follows the story of Paul Atreides. (Incidentally, Villeneuve is also slated to direct the next James Bond film, the first one since Amazon-MGM Studios took over creative control of the franchise).

On X (formerly Twitter), the official DUNE account described the new DUNE film as "a journey into that land where we walk without footprints". The quote, taken from the second novel, describes the character Paul Atreides’ spiritual transformation beyond the physical as he graduates to a near-prophetic state.

DUNE: Part Three is expected to again involve an extensive multi-location, multi-month-long shoot. It sees the return of Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, and Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho.

Fun Facts about the original film

Released in 1984, the first DUNE film was directed and written by David Lynch. Production took place in Mexico City at Churubusco Studios and the cast featured a range of prominent actors of the time, including Kyle MacLachlan–who would go on to star in Lynch’s TWIN PEAKS.

With a budget estimated at between $40 and $42 million, the film struggled commercially when it was released, earning just under $31 million. Multiple versions of the movie were released, with Lynch distancing himself from the project and removing his name from some. But despite this controversy, the film has since gained a cult following.

Sources & further information

Screen Daily

Screen Rant

Hungary Today

MSN

Wikipedia

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Movies & Thermal Baths in July in Budapest

It’s heating up and we’re not just talking about the weather, or even the number of international productions filming in Budapest. It’s been announced that CineSpa is back, an event that combines two of our favourite activities.

Széchenyi Baths. Picture via Wikipedia.

Hungary has a rich thermal bath culture thanks to an abundance of natural hot springs, over 100 just in Budapest alone. As a result, the city (already a well-established hub for filmmakers looking for professional crews, state-of-the-art sound stages and diverse locations) has also become a mecca for spa lovers the world over.

Budapest has seven thermal baths open to the public, three of which were built over 100 years ago: Széchenyi, Gellért and Lukács. Four of the city’s baths hark back several hundred years to the time of the Ottoman occupation: Rudas, Király, Veli bej and Rácz (see our previous blog post to explore these places further).

If you’ve never been to a thermal bath, then it can take some time to wrap your head around the notion. Unlike a public swimming pool, in a thermal bath patrons tend to not move very much. There’s a lot of sitting in one place basically guarding your underwater perch like it’s a piece of prime real estate. But there’s certainly nothing more relaxing when combined with the array of steam, sauna and plunge pools that can be found in every establishment.

In an effort to continuously push the envelope in the realm of relaxation, the organization that operates these baths (Budapest Spa and Thermal Baths Co.) recently announced that CineSpa is back for July. This is an event that combines soaking in the neo-baroque vibes (as well as some essential minerals) of the Széchenyi Baths while re-watching classic films.

Movie night, but in a communal bath

Every Tuesday in July, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath will host a movie night, running under the catchy slogan: “CineSpa – Immersed in Films”. You’ll be able to watch a series of open-air movie screenings in the outdoor pool, with this years’ line-up including cult classics as well as crowd-pleasers:

A Star is Born (July 1st)

The Greatest Showman (July 8th)

Pulp Fiction (July 15th)

Snatch (July 29th)

It’s a rare chance to float under the stars while watching big hits of the past. Screenings start at 9 p.m. Budapest locals with a residence card can take advantage of a 50% discount.

Welcome to the concept of the Spa Party

But there will be other opportunities to have a soak after dark this summer. At least one of the thermal baths in the city will remain open until 10 p.m. daily throughout the season. What better way for film crews in Budapest to unwind after a shooting day?

Incidentally, there are party nights held into the wee hours at Széchenyi on Saturday nights (tickets can be purchased through a third-party operator). Strictly for those who want a touch more decadence with their relaxation,

Sources & further information:

Daily News Hungary

trademagazin.hu

Thermal Hungary

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.  

Hungarian Short Film "The Spectacle" in Competition in Cannes

Only 11 short films were selected from a whopping 4,700 global entries at this year’s 7 Cannes Film Festival. One of the lucky selected films was from Hungarian filmmaker, Bálint Kenyeres with “The Spectacle”.

On set of the short film, “The Spectacle”. Photo via Anna Vághy

The Story Behind The Film

As was revealed in magyar.film.hu, Kenyeres has been very open in revealing what inspired the film. It quite literally came to him in a dream. Upon awakening, the writer-director knew that he had to bring it to life and commit it to the screen, especially since its themes are so very relevant to the world we live in today.

The Spectacle tells the story of a young Roma boy with a unique ability who, thanks to his unexpected appearance on a TV show, finds himself thrust into the limelight. The film explores issues surrounding identity, media exposure, and the negative impact of instant fame.  

A Fast and Friendly Shoot

Shot in only two days in Monor in January, The Spectacle was financed with independent funding under the banner of Anabanana Productions. The cinematography was handled by Thimios Bakatakis, known for his work on The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Lobster, which no doubt added major visual impact to the short.

Leaning heavily into realism to ensure emotional authenticity, the film stars non-professional actors Vilmos Jónás and Jolika Oláh Józsefné, alongside Soma Sándor, Tímea Udvari-Kardos, and Gábor Váradi. A tight-knit crew behind the scenes handled everything from costumes to post-production, with Anna Vághy editing, Sandra Sztevanovity designing the sets, and Annamari Nagy on costumes.

Produced by Anna Bartók, Flatpack’s very own Zita Kisgergely, Tamás Hutlassa, Jeremy Zelnik, and Judit Romwalter, and cast by Hermina Fátyol, the film is a testament to what focused filmmaking can achieve—even on a limited budget.

A Cannes Comeback

Although the film missed out on an award this time round, going to Cannes was a return to familiar ground for Kenyeres. Back in 2005, his short film Before Dawn debuted at Cannes and went on to a successful global festival run. His 2009 short The History of Aviation was featured in the Directors' Fortnight, and in 2011, the screenplay for his feature Yesterday received recognition from Cannes’ L’Atelier program.

Hungary’s Film Industry

As a Budapest-based film production service company, Flatpack Films see firsthand how much talent and vision flows through Hungary’s creative veins. From world-class cinematographers to innovative directors and set designers, Hungary continues to be a prime destination for international film production–The Spectacle is just another example of that.

The Spectacle will reach Hungarian audiences this autumn.

Sources & further information

magyar.film.hu

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Friss Hús Budapest: Hungary’s First Oscar-Qualifying Short Film Festival

The Friss Hús (Fresh Meat) Budapest International Film Festival has just concluded its program for 2025. As the first Oscar-qualifying film festival in Hungary, this means its winners in Best Hungarian Live-Action Short Film and Best Hungarian Animated Short Film categories will now be eligible for Oscar consideration.

This prestigious honour that was granted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences upon this little but mighty film festival puts it in the same league as the likes of Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, as well as respected short film showcases like Vienna Shorts and Tokyo Short Shorts. To put this in perspective, from the tens of thousands of film festivals worldwide, only around 100-150 hold this title—making this inclusion of Friss Hús kind of a big deal for the Hungarian film industry.

Humble Beginnings

Founded in 2013 by filmmaker Dániel Deák, Friss Hús started as a two-day screening event at Budapest’s Toldi Cinema. In its early days, the festival was a response to demand from local short filmmakers eager to showcase their work. Since that time, it has grown into Hungary’s largest short film festival, attracting over 10,000 visitors annually and expanding to include international competitions, thematic sections, workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions.

This year’s 13th edition ran from May 29 to June 4, 2025, at the Puskin Cinema.

Hungary Steps into the Oscar’s Spotlight

Receiving Oscar-qualifying status was a surprise even to the organizers. Deák explains:

“We applied without expectations, and to our amazement, the Academy said yes.”

This means that two Hungarian films will now automatically enter consideration for an Academy Award every year. This is a heady opportunity in a region with very few such qualifying festivals.

At this year’s event, the top awards went to:

Best Hungarian Live-Action Short: Dögsúly by Bese Komáromy

Best Hungarian Animated Short: Üvegház by Katalin Sárdi

These two films are now one step closer to the Oscars.

Other Rising Stars

Further winners from this year’s competition include Zsófia Tóth, who won Best Actress for Világvége, and Benjámin Lengyel, who took Best Actor for Két felnőtt. The Magyar Telekom Award for Most Promising Director Under 30 went to Kristóf Zsolt Tóth for Túlpart and Denisa.

Hungary: An Established Player in International Film

With its rising global profile, the levelling-up of Friss Hús’ international status is yet another indicator of Hungary’s position as a vibrant filming hub, and not just for locations, studios, crew and talent, but for storytelling nous.

Sources and further information

Friss Hús

Euronews

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

House of Music in Budapest Celebrates Global Music with New Exhibit

Hungary’s House of Music has opened an exciting new temporary exhibition–LISTEN. Touted as a musical journey around the world, LISTEN was born of a decade-long global filmmaking project by Japanese producer Tomoko Yamaguchi and American director Garry Bassin.

House of Music, Hungary

While attending the opening of the exhibit back in March, the filmmaker explained that the project had been intended as a sort of musical time capsule for the planet. He further reflected that the LISTEN series (the first part of which was filmed in Hungary), shows how no matter where people live in the world, humans strive to covey human emotions through music

From musical expressions of identity by Greek migrants in Turkey in the early twentieth century to Inuit throat singing in the Canadian arctic circle (and everything in between), the exhibition is a rare visual and oratory feast documented through installations, photographs, film and musical instruments. The film was shot in thirty countries with over 100 musicians over a span of more than ten years.

Capturing raw, powerful performances in a space of 1,000 square metres, this ambitious project delves into how music shapes human life—from birth to death—highlighting both our differences as well as our shared love of music. The exhibits feature renowned international and Hungarian artists (including Hungary’s Márta Sebestyén and Portugal’s Carminho–the most recognized representative of Portuguese fado). Hungarian talents like cinematographer Attila Csoboth and photographer Péter Rákossy also helped bring the project to life.

House of Music, Hungary

Budapest’s House of Music (HoM) Hungary was opened on the edge of City Park in 2022. With its striking architecture–the building’s head-turning modern design was designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto–it represents a unique space for concerts and immersive experiences. HoM recently earned special recognition at the prestigious European Museum of the Year Awards where the jury commended HoM’s bold, interactive approach and praised it as a model for making music culture accessible to all.

With concerts, educational programs, and exhibitions spanning genres (see our post on its outstanding DIVAS exhibition held last year), the House of Music is much more than just a venue and rather a tribute to sound, creativity and cultural exchange.

LISTEN can be experienced until 31st August 2025

Sources and further information

House of Music, Hungary

Architonic

Flatpack Films has years of experience servicing international brands, agencies, and production companies. Filming in Hungary is easy when relying on their knowledge of the market and ability to solve complex needs. They bring the best that Hungary has to offer in terms of unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top-of-the-line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more.

Get in touch and learn more about Budapest film locations, Hungarian film incentives, film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.