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.

István Szabó’s SUNSHINE Rises Again at Cannes

Restored by the NFI’s Film Archive and Filmlab, István Szabó’s 1999 award-winning film SUNSHINE gets a new lease on life as it screens in Cannes Classics this year.

Legendary Hungarian director István Szabó will be in attendance at the Cannes Film Festival where he’s set to receive a special lifetime tribute award as part of the centenary celebration of FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics. Szabó was also a recipient of a FIPRESCI prize in Cannes in 1981 for Mephisto, which went on to win Hungary its first Academy Award for best foreign-language film.

Szabó has presented films for competition in Cannes five times. Apart from his wins with Mephisto in 1981, he won the jury prize in 1985 for Colonel Redl and participated as a jury member in 1986.

Director of the Filmlab in Hungary Viktória Sovák revealed that the meticulous and time-consuming restoration of Sunshine was done specially in preparation for the film’s screening in Cannes. She further explained that the frames of the film had been partially corrupted and spotted with white blotches and colour imbalances.

Hungarian director, István Szabó. Picture via Imdb.

The film’s original cinematographer Lajos Koltai (another giant of the Hungarian film industry) was able to make adjustments to the digital version thanks to advances in technology since the time the film was shot. This meant that new, minute and hitherto invisible background details of the film were able to be highlighted.

Sunshine, which stars Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz and Jennifer Ehle, is a sweeping narrative that follows five generations of a Hungarian-Jewish family from the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the mid-19th century to the Cold War era and fall of the Iron Curtain. After its premier in 1999, Sunshine went on to secure three European Film Awards.

The ambitious 4K digital revamp of Sunshine is part of a broader film restoration program that began in the 1990s. Since that time, over 400 feature films, documentaries and animations have been completely restored, along with the digitization of 55 volumes of historic newsreels. Other important works that have been given a new lease on life include films by iconic directors Miklós Jancsó, Márta Mészáros and Béla Tarr. The restoration program is not only reintroducing classic films to a global audience but also underlines Hungary’s capacity in film restoration and post-production services.

For international production companies seeking expertise in filmmaking, diverse locations rich in period details and state-of-the-art facilities, filming in Hungary offers a complete package—from soundstage to screening. Recent international productions such as Pablo Larraín’s Maria, Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things, and Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist have utilized Hungary’s top-tier production and post-production capabilities.

More Hungarian classics are sure to be reborn soon. Don’t miss the Budapest Classics Film Marathon this September where Szabó’s Being Julia will also make its restored debut.

Sources & further information

Cannes Classic 2025   

Variety

Screen Daily

Imdb

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 Animation and Live Action Films Having a Moment at International Film Festivals

That’s right, not one, but two Hungarian films are currently making waves on the circuit. I ACCIDENTALLY WROTE A BOOK (Véletlenül írtam egy könyvet) from writer-director Nóra Lakos, and PELIKAN BLUE, Hungary’s first ever animated feature-documentary, have both taken home awards recently from various international festivals

Via Imdb

I Accidentally Wrote a Book

A very personal story revolving around a young teen girl (Nina) who uncovers the power of self-expression through creativity. Nina starts to write and in doing so uncovers stories from her family’s history. But there’s more to this than connecting with family lore. The healing power of the written word is celebrated in this touching film as Nina begins to process the loss of her mother.

Incorporating classic coming-of-age elements, the film allows the audience to witness how every decision Nina makes impacts the narrative going forward. There are conflicts with her younger brother as well as the experience surrounding f first love and growing up. The story of the film is illustrated through a unique visual style that mixes live action and animation.

This is feel-good family film from writer-director Nóra Lakos has been hitting home runs in North America and Europe. The film won Audience Favorite at the Tumbleweeds Film Festival in Utah. Just days later, the film snapped up the award for Best European Feature-Length Children’s Film at Norway’s Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival—a huge cultural event for young audiences. The European Children’s Film Association (ECFA) jury praised the film’s dreamlike visual tone and emotional depth, calling it a “pan-European film with extraordinary potential.” That accolade also secured the film a nomination for CFA’s Best European Children’s Film of the Year, to be announced during the prestigious 2026 Berlinale.

Adding to its international success, the film also won the Grand Prix at the Montréal International Children’s Film Festival, and star Villő Demeter took home Best Young European Talent at Poland’s Ale Kino! Festival.

Backed by Hungary’s National Film Institute (NFI) and distributed by JUNO 11 Distribution and the Human Rights and Cultural Foundation, Lakos’ film has already drawn over 155,000 viewers in Hungarian cinemas and is currently streaming on Netflix. It’s the first green production supported by the NFI, co-produced with the Dutch studio BIND and funded by Eurimages and the Netherlands Film Fund. Notable names behind the scenes include producer Claudia Sümeghy, cinematographer Dániel Reich, and composer duo Jacob Meijer and Alexander Reumers.

Pelikan Blue

Via Imdb

This unique animated documentary-feature film tells the story of three young men in the 1990s with a hankering to discover the world that’s just opened up to them after the collapse of Communism. Big on dreams but short on funds, they hit upon a scheme that will allow them to see Europe by forging Hungarian Railways international tickets using blue indigo paper. Needless to say, things start to spiral out of control…

We’ve written about our love for this film before, and it’s not just us. It recently won the AniMovie Award at Germany’s Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film. The film also won multiple accolades after its release in 2024, including the Golden Dove Award at the DOK Leipzig Festival, and has screened globally at festivals like Annecy, Hot Docs Toronto, and the Silk Road International Film Festival in China.

Directed by László Csáki, the film is a creative blend of animation and real-life storytelling, incorporating audio interviews from the 2010s. Set to a soundtrack of classic Hungarian hits, Pelikan Blue is more than an off-the-wall (and very Hungarian) nostalgia trip. It’s a light-hearted yet insightful look at freedom, rebellion, and post-socialist identity, combined successfully with playful visuals and a dynamic soundtrack. The Stuttgart jury called it “fun and entertaining,” with engaging characters and contemporary flair.

Produced by Umbrella Entertainment and supported by the NFI, the film’s producers are Ádám Felszeghy and Miklós Kázmér, cinematographer Árpád Horváth, and editor Dániel Szabó. The film is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Sources & further information:

I Accidentally Wrote a Book

Pelikan Blue

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.

Why Are So Many Productions Filmed in Hungary?

Following Donald Trump’s comments heralding tariffs on films made abroad, there’s been a lot of chatter about why a significant number of U.S. productions choose to film in foreign locations such as Hungary. Let’s break it down.

Hollywood has been hit by a series of setbacks over the past five years such as the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 followed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes of 2023. According to last year’s report by production technology and research company ProdPro (first published by The Los Angeles Times), the number of global film and television productions is down 20% from 2022. With U.S. film and TV production still significantly below 2022 levels, studios are looking to cut costs by filming abroad in places that offer better deals.

Currently, the top filming spots worldwide are all located outside the U.S. as productions, tempted by lower costs and tax incentives, move to Canada, the U.K., Australia and Hungary. Production spend in Hungary neared $1 billion in 2024 and, with the number of international film and TV series being filmed in the country continuously increasing, the National Film Institute of Hungary projects expenditure will grow to $3 billion by 2030.

Hungary has hosted several major productions in recent years, including:

• Alien: Romulus, directed by Ridley Scott

• Dune: Part Two, from Denis Villeneuve

• Poor Things, from Yorgos Lanthimos

• The Brutalist, from Brady Corbet 

 What makes Hungary stand out:

• State-of-the-art studios like Origo, Korda, and NFI Studios

• A 30% tax rebate—one of the most competitive in Europe and recently extended to 2030.

• Highly skilled and experienced crew as well as diverse talent available on the ground.

• Versatile locations that double for cities and landscapes around the world.

• Competitive costs

Features and TV Series currently filming in Budapest

Budapest is abuzz at the moment with major international film and TV productions filming as we speak.

Major international projects that are currently filming in the country:

• 3 Body Problem (Seasons 2 and 3)

• Dune: Messiah (Feature film)

• Matchbox (Action-adventure-comedy feature)

• Ponies (Espionage-thriller TV series)

• The Entertainment System Is Down (Rolund Östlund’s new satirical film starring Keanu Reeves and Kirsten Dunst)

Newly announced titles about to be filmed in Hungary:

• Alpha Gang (a sci-fi comedy starring Cate Blanchett)

• The Billion Dollar Spy (a cold war thriller with Russel Crowe)

But these productions are not just taking advantage of tax breaks and cheaper costs. Productions are often moved to locations outside the country due to creative decisions made at script stage–films such as Mission Impossible, Harry Potter or the James Bond franchise spring to mind.

It remains unclear how proposed levies would be imposed on films, which can also be viewed as digital products or services and thus (currently) exempt from tariffs. Yet another question is which productions specifically they might be imposed on considering the complex way many films are funded and put together, incorporating investment and skills from various countries. What will constitute an “American” film?

So, as the global film industry prepares for Cannes among much second-guessing of how these tariffs will work, we’ll have to wait and see how decisions made in Washington will affect the sector and its choice of film locations.

Sources & further information

Film New Europe

Variety 

LA Times

 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.

New Netflix Heist Movie Filmed in Hungary

The Indian Hindi-language action film, Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, featuring Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan and filmed last year in Budapest, Mumbai and Istanbul, has recently made its debut on Netflix.

Jewel Thief. Picture via Imdb

Persuaded to steal the legendary African Red Sun diamond for a mafia boss, Khan’s character (Rehan Roy) meticulously plans a heist with detective Vikram Patel (played by Kunal Kapoor) in hot pursuit. Rehan Roy is a master thief who’s been hiding out in Budapest, and who could blame him? It’s a great city to hole up, surrounded by a choice of cultural or more hedonistic pursuits.

It’s also become a major hub for international film production with no let-up in sight.

Jewel Thief is the latest in a long list of films to showcase the sights and scenes of Budapest. In this case, the city plays herself, although she’s an expert of disguise. A real chameleon, Budapest has stood in for a range of European, British, and even U.S. cities.

Other Bollywood films of note that have likewise been lured to film in Budapest include:

·       Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1991)

Now considered a Bollywood classic, the film is about a man who discovers that the woman he’s just married is in love with someone else. Decidng to help, he takes his wife to Europe (Budapest standing in here for Italy) so he can reunite her with the object of her affection.

·      Force 2 (2016)

An action-espionage thriller (which allegedly took its inspiration from Skyfall), this was filmed partly at locations in Budapest, including the Ethnographical museum. In the lead roles the film featured John Abraham, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Sonakshi Sinha.

·       Jab Harry met Sejal (2017)

A romantic comedy filmed across Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest starring iconic Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma. A woman loses her engagement ring while holidaying in Europe. She’s helped by a jaded tour guide to retrace her steps in an attempt to find the ring.

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.

Sir Alexander Korda: The Hungarian-born British Movie Mogul

Hungarians like to tell you that filmmaking is in their blood. The connection goes back to the early days of cinema, embodied by Hungarian immigrants like Adolph Zuker, who co-founded Paramount in Hollywood, and Sir Alexander Korda, who helped lay the foundations of the British Film Industry.

Alexander Korda. Picture via Imdb.

European Film Roots

Alexander Korda started his journey in movie making by writing film reviews to support his family after his father died. He quickly made a name for himself during the First World War as a screenwriter in the Hungarian film industry, having been excused from military service due to his short-sightedness. Quickly graduating to making his own films, Korda established his first production company in 1916, Corvin Film, which would go on to become one of the largest film companies in the country. Although widely recognized as a leading voice in the Hungarian film industry, Korda left Hungary in 1919 for Austria due to the political turbulence of the period. He would never return.

It was in Vienna where Korda first tasted major international success while working with Count Alexander Kolowrat’ company, Sascha-Film, on the film The Prince and the Pauper (1920). This experience sparked something in Korda; a desire to make films that had global box office appeal. The pursuit of this dream would propel him to move to Germany where he continued to make films, often with his actress wife Maria Corda (sic) in the starring role.

Mixed-Success in Hollywood

Taking up a contract with a US studio, Korda arrived in Hollywood with Maria in 1926. The pairs’ first break-out film came in the form of The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927), a parody portraying figures of antiquity as everyday people navigating marriage, friendships and parenting. It proved to be a hit, but pigeon-holed Korda as a director of films set in exotic, foreign locales. He grew increasingly frustrated with the studio system. There were also tensions on the home front as the advent of talking pictures meant the demise of Maria’s career–her accented English precluded her from appearing in most American films. They divorced before Korda made the move back to Europe around 1930–to France, this time–where he worked for Paramount adapting Hollywood films for the French and German markets.

London Beckons

Leslie Howard in Service for Ladies (1932). Picture via BFI Southbank.

In 1931, Korda arrived in Britain to oversee the UK operations of Paramount. He injected a jolt of quality into the so-called ‘quota’ films of the time–movies made on the cheap and in a hurry to bolster home-grown production. The first film of this kind that Korda made, Service for Ladies (1932), featured one of Paramount’s rising stars, Leslie Howard–the UK born actor with Hungarian heritage who would go on to star in Gone with the Wind. A resounding hit, it was described by the weekly magazine Bioscope as, “one of the most enjoyable [films] ever to emanate from a British studio”. Interestingly, the film was a remake of one of Paramount’s successes from the silent era, which was in turn based on a novel by Hungarian writer Ernest Vajda.

Leveraging the success of Service for Ladies, Korda set up his own company, London Film Productions, which would become one of the most successful production companies in the U.K. He made several modestly budgeted films before embarking on one more ambitious in scale. It was based on the template that had brought him success back in Hollywood: The Private Life of Henry VIII. The film was a hit, grossing £500,000 within a year. Korda had arrived in Britain only three previously, but was already proving that the country could sustain an international film industry independent of Hollywood.

Korda went on to build a seven-stage studio at Denham, which would later merge with Pinewood Studios. He produced and directed many more films, including a trilogy centred on the theme of empire: Sanders of the River (1935), The Ghost goes West (1935) and The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), as well as other movies centring on Britain’s imperial legacy. Although he escaped the financial crises in the film industry around 1937, his own extravagance in spending came under fire leading to his eventual loss of control over Denham studios. This forced him to return to Hollywood in 1940. Despite being essentially in exile for three years, Korda continued to produce and direct British-led movies during this time, many of which were made to sway American public opinion regarding the Second World War. 

Links to Winston Churchill and MI6

Winston Churchill. Picture via Wikipedia.

It may seem incongruous now, but around 1934, when Winston Churchill was in the wilderness politically, Korda paid him £10,000 to write The Reign of King George V, a film to commemorate the silver jubilee in 1935. The film never got off the ground, but Korda certainly left an impression on Churchill. Writing to his wife, Clementine, Churchill remarked,

            “Korda certainly gives me the feeling of a genius at this kind of thing…. I have great confidence in this man and in his flair.”

The men would later collaborate on films designed to garner American sympathy and support for the British war effort against Hitler. Particularly notable was the film, That Hamilton Woman, which cast Laurence Olivier as Admirable Nelson and Vivien Leigh (hot off the heels of Gone with the Wind) as his lover Emma Hamilton.

Beyond the fact that Korda bolstered wartime morale through his films, he also provided cover for MI6 agents in Europe by claiming they were employees of his production company. In 1942, Alexander Korda’s efforts for the cause were recognized when he was knighted by Churchill, cementing his role not only in establishing the British film industry, but as a committed ally to his adopted country.

To pay tribute to his contribution to the British film industry, the "Outstanding British Film of the Year" (an award bestowed by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts) was known as The Alexander Korda award until 2007.

Sources and further information:

BFI

Open University

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.  

Death of a Unicorn: Filmed in Hungary

A central European country standing in for Canada? Done. With the release of Death of a Unicorn last month, it’s clear that Hungary’s versatility as an international film location continues to evolve and grow.

Via Imdb

A 2025 American comedy-horror film written and directed by Alex Scharfman, the film stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega playing a father and his teen daughter. The pair accidentally run over a unicorn foal while on the way to spend the weekend with Elliot’s boss–owner of a pharmaceutical company–and his family at his estate in rural Canada.

We don’t want to venture too deeply into spoiler territory, but this being a horror-comedy, there’ll be plenty of satirical jibes involving the miraculous power of unicorns and their potential exploitation in our modern, cynical, post-capitalist society. Needless to say, there’ll also be gore in the form of bloody, drawn-out deaths.

The film is produced by the much-celebrated American independent entertainment company A24, which has become synonymous for its distinctively quirky and critically acclaimed features and TV series. Filming for the movie began in Hungary in July 2023.  It was able to continue with production during the 2023 SAG-AFRA strike because A24 is not part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Other A24 movies filmed in Hungary include The Brutalist–set in Philadelphia and rural Pennsylvania–and Midsommar–set in rural Sweden. The company also acquired the U.S. rights for Ruben Östlund’s new movie, The Entertainment System is Down, which is currently also filming in, you guessed it, Budapest.

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.

Rob Lowe and Adam Scott Discuss Filming Outside L.A.

In a recent episode of the podcast, Literally! With Rob Lowe, Rob Lowe and Adam Scott discussed the reasons why so many productions are choosing not to film in L.A. Let’s just say that Lowe did not hold back in voicing his criticisms.

Rob Lowe. Photo via Wikipedia.

Rob Lowe is one of the original members of the so-called Brat Pack of the 1980s–a nickname bestowed upon a group of young actors (Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson) who  often starred in popular coming-of-age films of the era. They appeared in hits such as Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, The Outsiders and About Last Night.

Forty-odd years of working and maintaining industry success has obviously given Lowe certain insight into the business and he’s not afraid to voice his opinion, no matter how unpopular that might be. During the last episode of his podcast, Lowe spoke to his ex-co-star Adam Scott from the sitcom Parks & Recreation (Scott is now star of the cult hit show streaming on Apple TV, Severance). In a wide-ranging chat, the discussion turned to why there is so much filming going on outside of L.A. Cost was obviously stated as the number one factor.  

Lowe bemoaned the situation of film and television production in California, specifically the fact that there has been an exodus of domestic production to international destinations. Describing the state’s leadership handling of the issue as “criminal”, Lowe pointed to the lack of (competitive) tax breaks as a major reason forcing productions out of the state.

Acknowledging that “nothing shoots in Los Angeles” anymore, Scott went on to ask Lowe if Parks & Recreation would be filmed there if the show were being made today:

 “Do you think if we shot Parks right now, we’d be in Budapest?” Scott asked.

“One-hundred percent we would be. We’d be in Budapest,” Lowe replied.

Budapest has indeed become the second largest filming hub in Europe. Hungary, more specifically central Europe, is now in the top five preferred global filming destinations due to generous tax rebates, state-of-the-art, expansive studios, experienced crew and diverse locations on offer.

And just in case there’s a chance of Parks & Recreation coming back for a final season, we’re sure Budapest would be delighted to oblige.

 Sources & further reading:

Deadline

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's Prettiest Movie Theatres: The Puskin and Urania Cinemas

Not only is Budapest the number two go-to location for international productions looking to film in Europe, it’s also home to a couple of the world’s most beautiful art house cinemas. But don’t just take our word for it–it’s official!

Puskin Cinema in Budapest. Picture via www.puskinmozi.hu

In Time Out’s recently published list of the 50 most beautiful cinemas globally, The Puskin came in at number eight. But there’s another cinema just up the road from there that (in our humble opinion) is just as stunning architecturally: The Urania.

These iconic venues offer more than just a place to watch a film—they provide an immersive experience where history, architecture, and cinematic art converge.

 Puskin Cinema: A Timeless Masterpiece

Originally opened in 1926, it was once the largest cinema in Europe. Before becoming a movie theatre, it served as a casino, a past reflected in its lavish design. The cinema’s main hall, adorned with gilded sculptures by Sándor Kristián, retains its regal charm, offering visitors a glimpse into the golden age of the roaring 20s, Budapest style

Over the years, the Puskin has undergone renovations while preserving its historical integrity. Since 2013, it has housed five distinct screening rooms named after iconic films: Metropolis, Amarcord, Annie Hall, Mephisto (named after a Hungarian Oscar-winning film that you may remember we wrote about in this blog post), and Körhinta. The largest hall, with its marble pillars and golden ceiling, feels like a portal to another era.

Beyond its aesthetics, the Puskin Cinema champions independent and arthouse films, showcasing a curated selection of international and Hungarian movies. Regular family-friendly screenings, film festivals, and cultural events make it a beloved destination for movie lovers who crave more than just the latest blockbuster.

Urania National Film Theatre: A Monument to Cinema 

The Urania Cinema. Photo via Wikipedia.

Step into the Urania National Film Theatre and you’re instantly transported into a world of opulence. Constructed in the 1880s, the building wasn’t originally intended as a cinema at all. It first served as an Orpheum (a cabaret slash dance hall), until it was repurposed at the dawn of the 20th century to host film screenings.

The Urania has a striking neo-Renaissance facade, but just wait till you get inside. Here, you’ll be assailed by colourful Moorish design features, intricate detailing, lavish chandeliers, and a ceiling adorned with frescoes. It’s the complete package in terms of immersion into another, altogether more lavish world. Today, it’s a popular venue for film festivals, premieres, and screenings of both Hungarian and international arthouse films. Whether you’re watching a contemporary masterpiece or a classic film, the experience will only be heightened by the theatre’s grand aesthetics and rich history.

Why These Cinemas Matter

In an era where streaming and multiplex theatres dominate, venues like the Urania and Puskin preserve the charm of traditional cinema-going. They remind audiences that film is not just about content but also about atmosphere, communal experience, and appreciation of the art form in an environment that enhances storytelling.

For international filmmakers looking to shoot in Hungary, these cinemas also highlight Budapest’s deep cinematic culture, making it an ideal destination for film production. Whether you’re here to watch a film or to capture the city’s timeless elegance on camera, the Urania and Puskin cinemas are must-visit landmarks for any film enthusiast.

Time Out: The 50 Most Beautiful Cinemas in the World

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.

New Documentary: Ferenc Puskás in Australia

Ferenc Puskás is a name that needs no introduction in the football world. The legendary Hungarian football star’s achievements on the field have been much celebrated, but little is known about his time coaching a soccer team in suburban Melbourne–until now. A new documentary Ange & the Boss sheds light on Puskás’ time down under and explores themes of immigration, identity and the power of football.

Recognized as one of the world’s most remarkable football players (he is the seventh top goal scorer of all time), Ferenc Puskás was at the core of Hungary’s Golden Team of the 1950s. This was a team that remained unbeaten for 32 consecutive games, became Olympic champions in 1952, and famously beat England 6-3 at Wembley Stadium in 1953.

After the 1956 revolution, Puskás refused to return to Hungary, which led to FIFA banning him from professional football for two years. He eventually went on to become a star player for Real Madrid.

Ferenc Puskás. Picture via Wikipedia.

From European Stardom to Melbourne Suburbia

It sounds like an unlikely story: one of the greatest footballers of all time, the man who inspired FIFA's Puskás Award, goes to Australia and finds himself coaching a semi-professional Greek-backed team in Melbourne in the late 1980s. Yet, that is exactly what happened. Puskás, in his 60s, overweight and speaking little English, found himself at the helm of South Melbourne Hellas, guiding them to a dramatic National Soccer League (NSL) championship in 1991.

Drawn to Australia by Melbourne’s Hungarian community to teach soccer clinics locally, he was soon linked with South Melbourne Hellas through its Greek connections. Puskás had spent time coaching in Greece in the 1970s and for this reason had cultural familiarity and spoke some Greek. But he also had the support of a translator and club captain in a young Ange Postecoglou—now one of the world's top managers, currently head coach of Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League.

The Hungarian ‘Golden Team’, 1953. Puskás is front and centre. Picture via Wikipedia.

A Migrant Story Beyond Football

While Ange & The Boss is a sports documentary at its core, it’s also a film about multicultural Australia in the 1980s and 90s. South Melbourne Hellas was more than just a football club; it was a cultural institution for Greek immigrants, a place where they found community, belonging, and pride. Postecoglou reflects on this in the film, recalling how Greek families had two places of worship on Sundays: the church in the morning and the football club in the afternoon. The documentary captures the rich cultural backdrop of the time, from dimly lit Hungarian clubs to lively Greek restaurants, offering an intimate look at the immigrant experience.

Lost Footage and Hidden Gems

What sets this documentary apart is its wealth of rare archival footage. Puskás, despite his age and physique, is seen playing in local matches, still showcasing his legendary left foot. There are also glimpses of a different era in Australian soccer: a struggling yet passionate NSL, dismissed by mainstream Anglo-Australian sports fans but cherished by its multicultural supporters. The film also delves into the quirks of Puskás’ Australian adventure—his love for food, his aversion to rain, and his non-rigid approach to coaching that emphasized the joy of the game.  

A Labor of Love

Ange & The Boss is a documentary 13 years in the making, driven by the passion of filmmakers Tony Wilson, Cameron Fink, and Rob Heath. Despite funding struggles and the high cost of licensing match footage, they have crafted a film that is both a tribute to Puskás and a celebration of Australian soccer history.

The documentary premiered in Melbourne March 13th with limited theatrical screenings across Australia.  

Sources & further reading:

Ange & The Boss

The Guardian

Documentary Australia

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.

Oscar Winning Movies Filmed in Hungary

They’ve rolled out the red carpet in preparation for the 97th Academy Awards to be held this Sunday, 2nd March. With three films this year among the list of nominations that were filmed in Hungary, we’re delving into Oscar-winning films of the past that were also shot in this central European country.

As Hungary continues to be a hub for international filming, the number of Oscar nominations with a Hungarian connection is also on the rise. It’s not at all uncommon now for Hungarian filmmakers working behind the scenes on domestic and international features to be nominated–and win, illustrating the level of art and professionalism available in the country.

To chart Hungarian success at the Academy Awards, let’s go all the way back to the 1980s…

Mephisto (1981)

Mephisto. Picture via Wikipedia.

This German-language political drama–directed by legendary Hungarian director István Szabó–won Hungary its first ever Oscar in the best foreign language film category.

Now a classic of Hungarian cinema, the film tells the story of an actor ascending the heights of his profession under the Nazi regime of early 1930s Germany and his dilemma of publicly accepting the Reich’s doctrine or face career suicide by remaining neutral.

Shot predominantly in Hungary, several scenes were filmed in various parts of Germany and Paris.

Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)

This French comedy-drama, based on the 1897 play of the same name by Edmond Rostand, was filmed in Hungary and France.

Starring Gérard Depardieu, the film won an Oscar for best costume design.

Evita (1996)

This was a musical depicting the life of Eva Perón, an Argentine politician, activist, actress, and philanthropist who served as First Lady of Argentina from June 1946 until her death in July 1952. Several filming locations in Budapest (this time standing in for Argentina) were utilized for the film.

The film, starring Madonna in the title role, was nominated in several categories and won an Oscar for best original song: You Must Love Me.

Son of Saul (2015)

Hungarian director László Nemes’ first feature film secured Hungary its second Oscar for best foreign language film. It was filmed over the span of 28 days in Budafok, as suburb just outside Budapest.

It tells the harrowing story of Saul, a Jewish prisoner working at an Auschwitz crematorium, who is determined to give a deceased young boy a proper Jewish burial.

Mindenki (2016)

A Hungarian short film directed by Kristóf Deák, this charming story involving a school choir (and based on true events) won an Oscar for best short, live action film.

Bladerunner 2049 (2017)

Bladerunner. Picture via Imdb.

The much-anticipated sequel to science fiction film Bladerunner, the film was shot on numerous sound stages at both Korda and Origo studios.

The film was nominated in five categories and ended winning two Oscars for cinematography and visual effects.

Dune: Part One (2022)

The first part of the Dune universe garnered ten nominations and went on to win six Oscars. This staggering achievement included that of Hungarian set decorator Zsuzsanna Sipos who clinched a golden statue for production design along with Patrice Vermette.

Poor Things (2024)

Poor Things. Picture via Imdb.

Who can forget the Yorgos Lanthimos hit from 2023 that was nominated in several categories for an Academy Award last year and walked away with four in total. The film starred Emma Stone depicting the character of Bella, a woman on a steep learning curve who has been brought back to life via a brain transplanted from a foetus.

Principal photography took place in Hungary where a highly stylized and opulent world of the late-Victorian era was created. The film’s Hungarian set decorator Zsuzsa Mihalek won an Oscar for production design, along with James Price and Shona Heath.

Who will win in 2025?

This year, The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet and shot in Budapest, was nominated for an Oscar in a total of ten categories, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Adrien Brody). But locally, all eyes will be on the best film editing category where Hungarian Dávid Jancsó has been nominated for an Oscar.

Jancsó is descended from film “royalty”; his father is Miklós Jancsó, an internationally celebrated Hungarian film director and screenwriter, and his mother is film editor Zsuzsa Csákány.

Dune: Part Two and Maria, both filmed at least partly in Hungary, have also been nominated for Oscars. Maria–the film based on the life of Maria Callas–is nominated for cinematography while Dune: Part Two is in the running for an award in five categories: Best Picture, visual effects, production design, cinematography and sound.

We’lll be watching bleary-eyed until the wee hours of Monday morning to see if we can add more Oscar wins with a Hungarian connection to the list!

Update: Dune: Part Two (filmed in Hungary) wins two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound.

The 97th Academy Award Winners

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.

Stars Filming in Budapest

Celeb hunters should get their skates on because a bunch of stars of the screen are currently rubbing shoulders with the rest of us while they make a home away from home in Budapest.

Keanu Reeves. Photo via Wikipedia.

With its strong cinematic traditions, and known as a hub or international film production, Budapest has often been referred to as Hollywood on the Danube. And with the filming boom clearly continuing into 2025, a steady rotation of world-famous actors can usually be relied upon to pop up in various locations across the capital.

Emilia Clark, reportedly starring in a new series (Ponies) with Haley Lu Richardson (The White Lotus), is in town and has been spotted getting her nails done at legendary local salon Yom Tov Nail Art. It’s hardly surprising that Hungary was chosen as a filming location considering the premise of the show; it’s a spy story set during the Cold War. Portraying Moscow in that era is hardly a stretch for multifaceted Budapest.

And it was less than a couple of weeks ago when spectators in the city got front row seats to an action scene filmed near the Chain Bridge. A stunt performer could be seen hanging precariously from a helicopter flying low over the Danube. The whole area, including the embankment on the Pest side of the river, was closed for filming over that weekend. It was speculated by The Budapest Reporter that the film in question might have been Matchbox starring John Cena and directed by Sam Hargrave.

Meanwhile, Spanish-German actor Daniel Brühl (Goodbye, Lenin!, Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Inglourious Basterds) has also been spotted at popular Raman food-bar, 101 Neo. He’s in town with Oscar-nominated Swedish director, Ruben Östlund, who is filming his latest English-language feature, The Entertainment System is Down. Filming is reportedly taking place on board an old Boeing 747 specially bought for the purpose. The pair were also recently spotted going to the theatre. They attended a Budapest production of Lavina, a play based on one of Östlund’s earlier films, Force Majeure.

Emilia Clarke. Photo via Imdb.

Keanu Reeves and Kirsten Dunst also star in Östlund’s feature currently filming in Budapest. According to Blikk, Reeves is discretely staying downtown during the 70-day shoot–not in a hotel–but somewhere he can explore the city on foot and be in proximity to museums and galleries.

Culture vultures should therefore be on alert; you never know who might be standing–or sitting–beside you when getting your next art-fix!

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: The Palace Hotel in Lillafüred, Hungary

With its fairy-tale-like romantic architecture and forest location, The Lillafüred Palace Hotel is a strong contender for the title of most Wes Anderson film location in Hungary. Let’s find out why. 

Hotel Palota Lillafüred. Photo via Tripadvisor

Count István Bethlen, Prime Minister of Hungary in the 1920s, was the one who came up with the bright idea of building a luxury hotel and resort in Lillafüred, a small town north-east of Budapest. He was keen to have a spot for government ‘recreation’ outside the capital, where politicians could let their hair down, make deals and cultivate international relationships in a more relaxed setting. However, as construction took place at the end of the 1920s (coinciding with a major global financial crisis) the project met with a lot of criticism and was considered fiscally irresponsible–not surprisingly.

Designed by renowned architect of the time Kálmán Lux, the hotel was inspired by the style of the fifteen-century, evoking the grand hunting lodges of the ultimate Renaissance man of Hungary, King Matthias. From its opening in 1930 until 1945, the hotel was a favoured haunt of high society guests, hosting many conferences and congresses. It was the venue for the 1933 congress of writers and said to be the inspiration for the poem Ode by revered Hungarian poet, Attila József. The Palace Hotel was no stranger to the world of film either; the classic Hungarian romantic comedy Dream Car of 1934 was partially filmed here.

Nestled among the rolling hills and lush forests of the outrageously picturesque Bükk National Park, the hotel offers a unique filming location. From its spires and stone-work to its majestic wooden staircase, carved ceiling tiles and stained-glass windows, this is clearly the place Hogwarts would be located if there was ever a need for a sister school in Hungary. Adding to its attractions is the proximity of the thermal baths in nearby Miskolctapolca, located in a 150-metre-long cave complex that is hundreds of thousands of years old.

The Palace Hotel in Lillafüred is a location in Hungary that could be used by international film productions (not necessarily just Wes Anderson ones) while also taking advantage of the country’s generous tax rebate and professional crew.

Hotel Palota Lillafüred

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 Expands Its Global Film Presence with the Opening of New NFI Studios in Budapest

Hungary has cemented its status as a premier destination for international film productions with the grand opening of the expanded National Film Institute (NFI) Studios in Fót, near Budapest.

NFI Studios via www.nfi.hu

This milestone development, a landmark state investment launched in 2020, significantly boosts the country’s filmmaking infrastructure as it increases studio capacity by 22% nationwide. The expansion aims to meet the growing demand for high-quality production facilities, further positioning Hungary as a top-tier filming hub.

Hungary’s film industry boasts a rich tradition spanning over 124 years, with an annual production value nearing $1 billion—a fivefold increase since 2018. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, speaking at the opening ceremony, emphasized Hungary’s deep-rooted cinematic heritage, noting that the nation has played a pivotal role globally in filmmaking since the silent film era.

Government Commissioner Csaba Kael highlighted the significance of the expansion, likening it to the last major state investment in the industry in 1936, which saw the establishment of one of Central Europe’s largest studios at the time. The latest NFI Studios development ensures Hungary remains competitive internationally by continuing to attract blockbuster productions.

Cutting-Edge Facilities for Large-Scale Productions

The NFI Studios expansion includes four new state-of-the-art soundstages, adding 10,000 square meters of studio space, 20,000 square meters of auxiliary facilities, and 135,000 square meters of green areas. Notably, two of these soundstages can be combined using a mobile soundproof wall, creating an expansive 5,000 square-meter filming space to accommodate large-scale productions.

Productions such as The Witcher, Blade Runner 2049, and Terminator: Dark Fate have already benefited from Hungary’s advanced facilities. But growing demand brings inevitable strain on available infrastructure. The NFI development addresses Hungary’s recent shortage in certified soundstage capacity, which previously led to scheduling conflicts and lost production opportunities. The expanded studio space will enable the country to continue attracting blockbuster films and high-end TV series.

Via www.nfi.hu

A Bright Future for Filmmaking in Hungary

Hungary’s 30% tax incentive for film and television productions has been extended until 2030, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to the global entertainment industry. With the expansion of NFI Studios, filmmakers now have access to world-class facilities, including versatile backlot sets, extensive prop and costume collections, and the renowned outdoor water tank used in Blade Runner 2049 and The Day of the Jackal.

This latest investment is a welcome addition to other world-class studios available in the country at Korda, Origo and Stern. As a result, it seems Hungary will retain its reputation as the most popular film production hub in Europe after London.

Sources & Further Information:

Film New Europe

NFI

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 Brutalist, Brutalism, and the Real Grand Budapest Hotel

Are you wondering about the meaning behind the title of the film by Brady Corbet starring Adrien Brody, The Brutalist? And what’s that got to do with The Grand Budapest Hotel by Wes Anderson?

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Full disclosure upfront: the connection between these two films lives mostly in my own head. Both have links to Budapest, Hungary–although Wes Anderson’s film only has a tenuous one via the name of the hotel. But there is an interesting cross-section of trivia concerning brutalist architecture in Budapest that die-hard cinema fans might be interested to know.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

As one of the most popular Wes Anderson films, there are always a lot of questions posed online as to where filming took place and where the real Grand Budapest Hotel can be found. The fairytale-like exterior of the hotel featured in the film was unfortunately not filmed in Budapest. It was, in fact, only a model, although Anderson was clearly inspired by the aesthetic of Central Europe’s Secessionist and Art Nouveau style. Interior filming took place (and sets were inspired by) an old department store in eastern Germany in the city of Görlitz, near the border of Czechia and Poland.

But there is an actual Hotel Budapest in Budapest which could be seen, architecturally speaking, to be the complete opposite to the style of the hotel in the Wes Anderson film. This is because the real Hotel Budapest was built in the brutalist style of the 20th century.

Brutalism in The Brutalist

We’ve written about Brutalism in previous posts: a mid-century architectural movement particularly popular in Eastern Europe (The Soviet Union and ex-Soviet satellite nations) as well as in the UK where it originated. The style commonly featured unpainted concrete or brick and angular shapes and was characterised by highly minimalist design that eschewed anything ornate or decorative.

Several striking examples of the style exist in Budapest, one of which being the Hotel Budapest, locally referred to as körszálló (the round hotel) because the building is perfectly, well, round.

The Hungarian architect behind Hotel Budapest

Designed by György Szrogh, an Ybl Miklós-prize-winning Hungarian architect, the hotel (comprising of 19 levels and 280 rooms) was finished in 1967. The building was considered very Avante-garde and the building methods utilized in its construction ground-breaking at the time. It quickly became a hot spot for local and international stars to stay and party hard, the bar and terrace at the top of the building especially popular for the bird’s eye views it afforded across the city. 

Hotel Budapest, located on the Buda side of the river, has become an iconic landmark of the city and had still been functioning as a hotel up until the beginning of this year. Due to a change in owners (according to current news reports) the new owners of the building are in negotiations over refurbishments with plans to open again as an exclusive residential building.

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.

Central Europe’s Largest Virtual Production Studio Opens Near Budapest

Hungary has taken a step into the future with the opening of a virtual production studio–the largest of its kind in Central Europe. Located just outside Budapest, this is the latest in state-of-the-art facilities available to local and international productions seeking to film features, TV series, commercials or music videos in Hungary.

A joint undertaking developed between Visual Europe Group and Origo Film Group, the 2,000-square-meter studio allows film makers to replace the traditional green screens with dynamic, 3D environments. Actors will be able to perform against various digital screens, including the main 28-metre-wide curved ROE LED. Essentially, this means that the backdrops will change seamlessly with the narrative in real-time.

Elevating Budapest’s Status in Global Filmmaking 

Hungary is already a favoured destination for international productions, thanks to its skilled crew, diverse filming locations, and attractive tax incentives. In response, studios in the country are expanding fast and utilizing the latest in filming technologies to meet the increasing demand.

Revolutionizing Filmmaking with Virtual Production 

Virtual production has become a game-changer for filmmakers worldwide. By combining augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and LED wall technology, studios like United Illusions offer greater creative control and cost efficiency. Traditional location shoots and costly set construction are minimized, as filmmakers can create visually stunning, photorealistic environments within a controlled studio setting. 

The new Budapest facility’s design aligns with international production standards, earning certification and support from ARRI, a global leader in film technology. And, according to United Illusion’s website, the company is committed to not only cementing Budapest as a filming destination, but to also expanding its reputation as a centre for technological innovation and leader in virtual production.

Sources & Further Information: 

United Illusions

Trademagazin.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 Hungarian film incentives and film tax credits in Hungary and how Flatpack Films can bring your project to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Filmed in Hungary: Exploring Budapest Through the Lens of VIENNA BLOOD

Vienna Blood is a popular BBC period drama that recently aired its fourth season in the U.S. If you’re a long-time reader of this blog, then you’ll not be surprised to learn that many of the key scenes for this season (as well as season three) were filmed not in Vienna, but in Budapest, Hungary.

Budapest is a real chameleon when it comes to doubling as a range of other cities across the world, but perhaps stepping in for Vienna (considering their intertwined history and close resemblance) is not such a big challenge. And while much of Vienna Blood is set in the Austrian capital, seasons three and four ventured across borders, utilizing several locations in Budapest to bring the series’ atmospheric storytelling to life.

Set in early 1900s Vienna, the series revolves around an unlikely duo who are thrown together to solve murder cases in the Austrian capital: Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt from the Vienna police department and Dr Max Liebermann, a young physician studying neurology and psychoanalysis under Sigmund Freud.

Budapest’s Historic Sights as featured in Vienna Blood

Via www.parisiudvarhotel.hu

1. Párisi Udvar Hotel

Featured prominently in the third and fourth seasons, the Párisi Udvar Hotel is one of Budapest’s most opulent landmarks. This Art Nouveau masterpiece boasts intricate mosaic tiles, ornate glass ceilings, and a grandeur that perfectly complements the show’s early 20th-century aesthetic. 

2. Vígszínház Theatre

 Another standout location is the Vígszínház Theatre, a 125-year-old cultural treasure and one the major venues in Budapest for live stage shows with the ability to seat 1,700. In the series, the theatre served as the setting for Ibsen’s The Doll’s House rehearsals.

3. Bédő House

A hidden gem tucked away in the heart of Budapest, Bédő House is another filming location that encapsulates the city’s rich Art Nouveau heritage. Originally an apartment block designed by Emil Vidor in 1903, it’s three levels overflowing with porcelain, paintings, furniture and artwork that are now a shrine to the Hungarian Successionist movement.

Via Wikipedia

4. National Museum of Hungary

One of the oldest (and most imposing) public museums in Hungary, the National Museum and its neoclassical design takes a role in season three, episode two of the series.

5. Hazai Bank Building

While the Loos House in Vienna stands in for the exterior shots of the fashion house run by Kristina Vogl, the interior scenes were filmed in the opulence of the Hazai Bank in Budapest. The distinctive style and historical resonance of the building are emblematic of Budapest’s ability to double as turn-of-the-century Vienna.

Why Budapest is a Filmmaker’s Dream 

Budapest has long been a favourite of international production companies, thanks to its eclectic architecture, generous tax rebate and affordable production costs. The city effortlessly morphs into various locales, from Victorian-era England to Imperial Vienna and beyond. Its cobblestone streets, grand boulevards, meticulously preserved historic buildings, mid-century brutalist marvels (as well as instances of more futuristic, modern architecture) provide filmmakers with diverse and atmospheric backdrops, whatever the epoch. 

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: Behind the Scenes of Dune: Prophecy

HBO’s Dune: Prophecy is the highly anticipated prequel to the Dune saga. And, like the feature film, the TV series’ principal photography took place in Hungary. 

Set 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert’s iconic universe, the show delves into the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. The story tracks the journey of young Valya Harkonnen (played by Jessica Barden), a member of the Harkonnen family who will eventually become a pivotal figure within the secretive order. 

Dune: Prophecy utilized sets at Origo Studios in Budapest as well as venturing further afield, uncovering a unique, other-worldly spot that would be difficult to place in Hungary unless you were really in the know: the cave dwellings in Bükkalja. It’s one of the show’s most visually arresting locations, used to represent the base of the Harkonnen family on the icy, desolate planet Lankiveil.

Via www.bukkvidekgeopark.com. Photo by Megyeri Balázs (BNPI)

The Bükk region is hauntingly beautiful, with countryside dominated by forests, rolling green hills, valleys and creeks. And Bükkalja, where these caves are located, has the largest area of rhyolite tuff in Central Europe, volcanic rock formed some 19–20 million years ago. 

Tuff is a special type of rock that is relatively soft and easy to carve and mine. The man-made caves (known locally as Pocem) that were dug here from around the 19th century were used as homes, wine cellars, and shelters, thus making “stone culture” integral to the evolution of the area and its way of life.

Recognized as something uniquely Hungarian since 2013 and included in the UNESCO Global Geopark network in 2024, these caves have become a cultural and geological treasure. Perhaps the cinematic portrayal of the dwellings in Dune: Prophecy will pique the interest not only of audiences worldwide, but also filmmakers looking for filming locations with a difference in Europe and Hungary.

Sources & further information

Budapest Reporter

Hungary Today

www.bukkvidekgeopark.com

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.

Dive into 2025 with Budapest’s Thermal Baths

Budapest, Hungary, is recognized as a hotspot for international filmmakers seeking authentic European charm, inspiring shooting locations and bang for buck. But it’s also known as the City of Spas, famous for its thermal bath culture. Wellness tourism is big here, for visitors and locals alike, and offers a unique way to unwind while marvelling at some beautiful architecture in the process.

1. Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Széchenyi Baths. Picture via Wikipedia.

One of the largest medicinal baths in Europe, this thermal spa began construction at the end of the twentieth century, opening its doors in 1913. Expanded in 1927, the complex includes three outdoor and fifteen indoor pools, whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms. Temperatures vary between 18 and 38 degrees Celsius.

The idea of lounging in the outdoor pool section with locals playing chess in their speedos doesn’t captivate you? It should. Try gazing at the vibrant yellow façade of the opulent neo-baroque buildings while steam rises from the warm water in the dead of winter and do some mind prep for 2025.

 2. Gellért Thermal Bath

Gellért Baths. Image from www.gellertbath.hu

Utilizing the mineral hot springs under Gellért hill, these baths are attached to the grand Gellért Hotel that overlooks the Danube River. Opened in 1918, the spa complex was expanded to include an outdoor wave pool in 1937 (apparently the first of its kind). References to the healing waters here date back to the 13th century.

Located on the Buda side of the city, this spa is for lovers of Art Nouveau. From the grand, sweeping entrance hall and stained-glass windows to the intricate sculptures of Miklós Ligeti and turquoise blue mosaic tiling of the baths inside (from Zsolnay porcelain), this place is guaranteed to transport you to another era and make you feel nothing short of royal.

3. Rudas Baths

Rudas Baths. Picture from www.termalfurdok.hu

These baths were originally commissioned by pasha Sokullu Mustafa (who was the governor of Buda from 1566 to 1578 during the Ottoman occupation) and finished around 1571. The historical part of this spa complex retains many elements of a traditional Turkish Hammam, characterised by its Ottoman dome and octagonal pool.

Just up the road from the Gellért, the baths have since been expanded with a more modern wing that includes several therapy pools and an indoor swimming pool. But perhaps what sets this complex apart is the outdoor rooftop mega jacuzzi that offers a stunning view across the Danube River and Budapest’s skyline. A definite for date night.

4. Lukács Baths

Lukács Baths. Image from Wikipedia.

Near Margit bridge on the Buda side, the buildings of this spa were completed in the 1880s and the complex named after Saint Luke–who is thought to have been a physician and disciple of Saint Paul.

While Széchenyi and Gellért lure visitors with their picturesque architecture, Lukács is aesthetically perhaps more on the functional side; a place where many locals go just to take advantage of the water’s health benefits. Nevertheless, it still delivers an authentic thermal spa experience with both outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool, indoor baths, saunas and steam rooms. In summer, a sunning deck near the outdoor pools are a winner if you’re looking for alternatives to the run-of-the-mill public pool.

5. Császár Baths (Kaiser or Veli Bej baths)

Császár Baths. Image from www.termalfurdok.hu

If you’re after a hidden gem that is less touristy than the complexes above, try Veli Bej. Also commissioned by the Ottoman pasha Sokullu Mustafa, this one is said to be the oldest surviving Turkish bath in Budapest (but who’s going to quibble about a few years when we’re talking about the 16th century). The healing properties of the water here have been known since Roman times.

Renamed the Császár Baths after Ottoman occupation ended, the original octagon-shaped pool (also under the characteristic dome) has been fully refurbished for the ultimate authentic Turkish bath experience. The spa area has been expanded to include a jacuzzi and saunas that are attached to the swimming pool complex of the Császár Hotel.

Budapest’s thermal baths aren’t just about relaxation—they’re about immersion, both culturally and visually. From the imposing Széchenyi to the intimate Császár, these legendary spas offer inspiration for filmmakers and visitors alike.

Plan your next film shoot in Budapest, have a soak, and discover why this city continues to captivate storytellers from around the globe.

Sources & further information:

Széchenyi

Gellért

Rudas

Lukács

Császár

Veli Bej

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.