Oscar-winning Hungarian Director István Szabó Starts Filming in Budapest.

Budapest Reporter

Celebrating the Birth of Hungarian Cinema 125 Years Ago

April 23, 2026zita kisgergely

Hungarian Film Day, organized by the National Film Institute, Hungary, has been held since 2018 on April 30th to celebrate the very first screening of Hungarian film footage way back in 1901.

But this year is a special birthday as it marks the 125th anniversary of this date. To pay proper homage to Hungarian film history, it was decided that the usual day event should be extended by a week. The expanded festivities and diverse programs also promise to reach a wider audience.

Hungarian Film Day – or days, in this case – will include exhibitions, professional get-togethers and events. Film screenings will also take place, some of which will be supplemented with forums featuring talent or filmmakers. Additionally, historical walking tours will also be available to join at the Uránia National Film Theatre, Pannónia Film Studio building, as well as the NFI studios in Róna Street.

Some of the illustrious guests on hand during the celebrations will include legendary Hungarian director István Szabó and producer Robert Lantos. (Szabó won Hungary’s first Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1981 for Mephisto.) Both filmmakers will attend a screening of Sunshine (1999), while renowned Oscar-nominated cinematographer and director Lajos Koltai will be present at the screening of his film, Semmelweis (2023).

Uránia Cinema: A Special Location for Hungary’s First Film

We’ve written before about the history and architecture of this gorgeous building. But as well as being a venue for cinema events (Hungarian Film Day is no exception), the Uránia also holds its own special place in Hungary’s film history.

Designed by Henrik Schmahl (who worked with famous Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl on the State Opera House), the building is a successful mix of gothic and Italian renaissance with an interior heavily influenced by Moorish decorative elements. Completed in 1896, the Uránia originally served as an Orpheum – a theatre or music hall popular with audiences at the time. But not only was the first Hungarian film A Táncz (The Dance) shot in the building, it was also screened to audiences there. From this point the Uránia became synonymous as a venue for films and film festivals.

The series of events celebrating Hungarian Film Day will run from April 27th until May 3rd, 2026, at various locations in Budapest.

*Uránia Cinema. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.*

Sources & further information

We Love 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.

House of Houdini Commemorates Famous Hungarian in 2026

April 15, 2026zita kisgergely

October 2026 will mark 100 years since the death of the escape artist Harry Houdini, one of Hungary’s famous sons from the beginning of the 20th century.

*Harry Houdini in 1899. Picture via Wikipedia.*

Who was Harry Houdini?

Harry Houdini, born Erik Weiz in 1874 in Budapest, moved to New York with his family at the age of fourteen where he worked several odd jobs. But his true love lay in magic and performance. The stage name he chose, Harry Houdini, was an homage to French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and American magician Harry Kellar.

Finding little success in magic, Houdini instead began experimenting as an escape artist. This was how he first caught public attention. His repertoire included escaping from hand-cuffs, which had never been seen before. The act generated newspaper headlines thanks in large part to Houdini’s PR nous. He would often perform these escapes in police stations, thus generating much publicity.

Soon Houdini found himself performing at the leading vaudeville venues in the US and touring Europe. As his popularity grew, so did his repertoire. Houdini’s act began to include escape scenarios from chains, straightjackets while underwater or hanging from ropes slung from skyscrapers, or from sealed milk-cans filled with water.

*Houdini performing an escape from the water torture cell. Picture via Wikipedia.*

By 1912 he was performing a feat that would go on to be his signature “escape” for the rest of his life. It involved him being suspended upside down in a locked glass cabinet filled with water, which required him to hold his breath for more than three minutes. Houdini would go on to became one of the highest paid acts in vaudeville. One of his most noteworthy non-escape performances was when he managed to “disappear” an elephant live on stage at the New York Hippodrome.

Houdini and Films

Houdini saw the potential in film as a supplement to his live acts and began showing footage of his outdoor escapes as part of his act in 1906. This soon expanded to short films that Houdini starred in which showcased his routines as part of the narratives.

*The Master Mystery 15-part series poster from 1918.*

Houdini went on to star in The Master Mystery, a 15-part series which was released in 1918. This led to him making two films for Paramount Pictures, The Grim Game (1919) and Terror Island (1920). Only The Grim Game film has managed to survive, restored by Turner Classic Movies and shown on TCM in 2015.

Houdini went on to start his own film production company in New York, producing and starring in two films in the early 1920s, The Man from Beyond and Haldane of the Secret Service.

House of Houdini in Budapest

Located in the castle district, the House of Houdini is a celebration of everything Houdini. Featuring the biggest permanent collection of original Houdini personal artefacts in Europe, the museum also includes memorabilia from films depicting his life (starring Adrian Brody as Houdini). It offers an evocative introduction to Houdini’s life and his feats.

The House of Houdini was founded by David Merlini, a celebrated Hungarian-Italian escapologist himself who cites Houdini as being a major source of inspiration. The admission ticket includes a tour as well as a magic show.

*House of Houdini in Budapest’s Castle District.*

Houdini 100 Festivities Kick off for 2026

As reported in Hungary Today, Houdini 100 is a series of happenings the House of Houdini is organizing for 2026 in collaboration with the Hungarian Hollywood Council, Origo Film Studio, the Budapest Hungarian Circus and Eötvös 10. The planned events – including a film festival, a circus act, the unveiling of a statue as well as a quiz show – are being organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Houdini’s death in October 1926.

The festivities will kick off on October 30th at Eötvös 10 on October 30 with screenings and a performance at Budapest Grand Circus. A film competition aimed at young people under 25 has also been launched together with a film festival to be held October 30-31 entitled “Houdini 100 – Magic” organized with the Hungarian Hollywood Council. Young film lovers are encouraged to submit a short of up to 15 minutes in length – filmed on a smart phone or device – on the subject of magic.

This seems a fitting celebration to Harry Houdini, surely one of Hungary’s favourite sons, and his love of delivering thrilling performances to his audience.

Sources & further information

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: The Eclectic Wonder of Vajdahunyad Castle

March 31, 2026zita kisgergely

This fairytale castle complex, surrounded by 300 acres of parkland near Budapest’s city centre, has a surprising history.

*Stock image of Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest.*

Tucked among the leafy expanse of Budapest’s City Park (Városliget), Vajdahunyad Castle is one of Budapest’s most popular sites for locals and tourists alike. But although the building, with its moat, turrets and spires, makes visitors feel like they have stepped backed in time to the middle-ages, the castle isn’t all that it seems.

It’s in fact all a cleverly-constructed illusion which was first unveiled in 1896 as part of Hungary’s Millennial Exhibition to celebrate 1,000 years since the Magyar’s conquest of the Carpathian Basin. Designed by architect Ignác Alpár, the installation was built as a temporary structure from plaster and wood as a kind of homage to some of the architectural gems dotted around the Austro-Hungarian empire. This is why some of the buildings it reflects are now outside the borders of Hungary.

Vajdahunyad castle represents details, to a lesser or greater extent, of 21 buildings. Perhaps it’s this mishmash of architectural styles and epochs that made the site so popular with visitors at the time of the Millennial Exhibition–and remains so today. As a result, the building was rebuilt into a permanent structure using stone, marble and brick between 1904 and 1908.

A Cinematic Blend of Three Major Architectural Styles

The castle’s eclectic style reflects a broad cross-section of Hungarian architectural history. The Romanesque part of the complex is represented by a replica of the portal from the Abbey Church located in Ják near the Austrian border. The original basilica was most probably finished in 1256.

*The chapel in Vajdahunyad Castle. Picture via Wikipedia.*

The intricately carved entrance to what is a functioning Catholic chapel (also popular for weddings) is decorated with exquisite, geometric Norman-style motifs as well as statues of biblical figures.

The Gothic wing of the castle was inspired by the original 15th century Castle of Vajdahunyad located in Transylvania, which became part of Romania after the Trianon Treaty of 1920. With its elaborate archways, towers and wooden galleries, this section reflects the style of the original castle, and is a visual reminder of its purported associations with Count Dracula.

While the author of the novel, Bram Stoker–by most accounts–never visited this castle in Transylvania, there’s speculation that the character he invented was inspired by Transylvanian Prince, Vlad the Impaler. Also known as Vlad III Dracul of Wallachia, it seems he did in fact spend time imprisoned in the castle. Some say it’s possible that Stoker heard dark tales about this part of the world which shaped his novel, Dracula, published in 1897.

The section of the castle housing the Hungarian Agricultural Museum represents the third main architectural style. The Renaissance and Baroque wings, with their domed towers and ornate façades, reflect a palace-like grandeur typically found in the Austro-Hungarian empire of yore.

The complex can be approached via a mock-drawbridge and is surrounded by a shallow moat which extends into the adjacent lake, large enough to accommodate rowing boats. When it turns cold, this area transforms into a huge outdoor ice-skating rink–the biggest open-air one in Europe. With the castle in the background, it becomes a picture postcard of a magical winter wonderland.

Filming in Budapest

Budapest has become one of the major hubs for international productions in Europe thanks to its generous tax rebate, skilled crew and talent, as well as the city’s chameleon-like ability to stand-in for a wide-range of locations. This makes Vajdahunyad Castle, with its atmospheric and eclectic exteriors, adaptable interiors and proximity to central Budapest, a great location choice for period dramas, fantasy sequences or commercial shoots.

Sources & further information

Vajdahunyad Castle

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: The Testament of Ann Lee

March 22, 2026zita kisgergely

Starring Amanda Seyfried–who plays the 18th century founder of the Shakers religious movement, Ann Lee–this historical musical drama was filmed principally in Hungary.

The Story

The feature follows the story of Ann Lee’s life, a woman with humble beginnings born in Manchester in 1736. Working as a child in a cotton mill alongside her brother William, Ann Lee’s religious devotion deepens as she grows older, until she eventually becomes involved with a group led by Jane and James Wardley.

What sets this religious movement apart is that they worship through the expressive use of movement and song. They are also of the opinion that Christ’s second coming will take female form. Ann becomes an integral part of this community as other members come to view her as the female Messiah, dubbing her “Mother Ann”. Facing hostility and increasingly high tensions in England at the time, the group emigrate to New England.

The Shakers continue to grow in the USA, but hardship is never far away. Ann is arrested during the Civil War for taking a neutral stance and survives an –barely–that will eventually lead to her death at the age of 48. The film ends by noting that only two surviving members of the Shaker community remain as of 2025.

Filming in Budapest

Principal photography for The Testament of Ann Lee started in August 2024 in Hungary (mostly in and around Budapest) as well as in Sweden and Massachusetts. The film is yet another testament to Budapest’s versatility in being able to double for a range of locations. Many of the city’s streets and buildings stood in for England or New York State of the 18th century.

As reported originally in Condé Nast Traveler, production designer of the film Sam Bader said:

“When it came to the meat of it, anything Shaker you saw was built by our amazing set dec fabrication team there. Lauren Doss, our lead decorator, was able to find a fantastic recreation of the chair we were looking to make: the Niskayuna Albany chair. That was serendipity.”

This also meant that it was easier to build on set rather than transport furniture evocative of the Shakers. For example, instead of having to build a structure to represent the home where the Shaker group stayed in New York after having arrived from Manchester, Bader and his team located a property that could be filmed as the congregation hall. Rebuilding the floors, walls and other parts of the building, he explained to The Hollywood Reporter:

“That’s where we did a third of the movie’s sets, and we saw that the best thing for the hall was old stone, a concrete barn full of junk, with a wooden vaulted roof and joints and beams.”

Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Mona Fastvold, the film debuted in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in 2025, earning a nomination for the Golden Lion. Fastvold also co-wrote the feature with partner, Brady Corbet.

Incidentally, they were the writing team behind The Brutalist (2024)–the film we’ve written about here–which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2025 and also filmed extensively in Hungary.

The film is currently in cinemas on a limited theatrical release until it moves to streamers.

Sources & further information

The Cinemaholic

Condé Nast Traveler

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.

International Film Festival in India with a Focus on Hungary

March 08, 2026zita kisgergely

The seventh edition of the Habitat International Film Festival opens in New Delhi March 13th with Hungary as its country of focus.

From across 18 countries, the festival will screen 67 films–recent, award-winning features from the international circuit as well as classics of world cinema.

Hungary is being given prominence at this year’s festival, honouring the country’s 130-year history of filmmaking. Aptly, a documentary that symbolically links Hungarian-Indian culture will open the festival: Shankar Khan’s MANCH. The film recounts a theatre workshop where children from Delhi’s MIMA NGO adapted Hungarian folk tales into performances for the stage in Hindi.

In total, an impressive 21 films from Hungary will be screened–11 contemporary features as well as 10 cinema classics. Not surprisingly, two of the country’s legendary directors will be featured in the process, István Szabó and Zoltán Fábri.

Szabó’s MEPHISTO, the film which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1982, will be screened as well as Fábri’s THE FIFTH SEAL and THE BOYS OF PAUL STREET (nominated for an Academy Award in 1969). Thematically, the films explore the trauma of war or revolution, authoritarianism, national identity and ethical dilemmas.

Other contemporary Hungarian films on show include SEMMELWEIS, I ACCIDENTALLY WROTE A BOOK, ORPHAN and PELIKAN BLUE.

Beyond Hungary, the festival will also mark 100 years since the birth of legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda, born March 6th, 1926. Wajda was a renowned film and theatre director whose works detailing Poland’s political and social landscape allowed him to explore myths of Polish national identity. HIFF will screen a six-film retrospective honouring the director and his contribution to cinema.

Additionally, the festival will also feature some of the most celebrated international films of the season including the Cannes 2025 Palme d’Or winner IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT and Cannes Jury Prize 2025 winners SIRAT and THE SOUND OF FALLING.

As reported in the Newsdrum, the Creative Head - Programmes, Vidyun Singh, said of the festival’s offerings:

“This curated selection brings together a vibrant constellation of contemporary voices alongside timeless international classics… Together, this selection invites the audience into a rich cinematic dialogue across cultures, reminding us that while stories emerge from specific soils, their emotional truths travel far beyond borders.”

The HIFF will take place from March 13th – 22nd.

Further information & sources:

HIFF 2026

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: The Museum of Fine Arts

February 28, 2026zita kisgergely

The Museum of Fine Arts Budapest doesn’t only house over 100,000 treasures from antiquity to the nineteenth century; the building is a treasure itself. It’s one of the grand dames of architecture in a city filled with jaw-droppingly beautiful buildings.

*The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. Picture via Wikipedia.*

Located at Heroes’ Square at the end of Andrássy Boulevard–a stone’s throw from Vajdahunyad Castle and the expansive City Park–the museum was built between 1900 and 1906 in an eclectic-neoclassical style by architects Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog.

Hundreds of thousands of people pass through its elegant columns every year to view its ancient civilization collection and the works of old masters such as da Vinci, Raphael and Velázquez. But located between the exhibitions, the halls of the museum unfold as a rich and dramatic backdrop to the art works themselves.

Extensive renovations to the building which were completed in stages, first in 2018 and then in 2022, mean that visitors can marvel at the Romanesque Hall and all the representative halls (including the Renaissance and Baroque Halls) for the first time since the 1920s.

*Renaissance Hall. Photo via The Museum of Fine Arts.*

The opulent Renaissance Hall–as its name suggests–is reminiscent of palaces of the era, while the Romanesque hall–with its decorative fresco paintings–represents typical medieval architecture. It’s little wonder that these great halls have already made their debut on the screen in the film Now You See Me: Now You Don’t 3 (2025) and the TV series, Moon Knight (2022).

*The Romanesque Hall. Photo via Wikipedia.*

The Museum of Fine Arts is just one highlight of Budapest’s rich and eclectic cityscape which includes the historic opera house, grand cafés and boulevards as well as city streets that have stood in for a range of cities around the world. It’s one of critical reasons why Budapest and Hungary continue to attract international productions looking for diversity in locations along side top-tier soundstages, infrastructure and professional local crews.

Sources & further information:

Museum of Fine Arts

Hungarian Films at Berlinale 2026

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 Filmmakers at Berlinale 2026

February 18, 2026zita kisgergely

Each February, the Berlin International Film Festival showcases some of the most exciting voices in world cinema. This year is no different, with Hungarian filmmakers contributing to the program via new premieres and restored classics from yesteryear.

The Generation Kplus section of the festival (screening state-of-the-art international cinema for young audiences–and everyone else) will debut a 10-minute short diploma film by Janka Feiner: Fire in My Pocket (Lángbogár a zsebemben). This continues a remarkable tradition. Since 2017, graduation films from the Animation programme at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design have been regularly selected for the Berlinale. Feiner’s short, produced with the support of the National Film Institute, was made with a combination of stop-motion and digital animation. It serves as a reminder that Hungary’s creative pipeline remains innovative and internationally competitive.

Hungarian film heritage is also in focus at this year’s festival. As part of the Berlinale Forum Special spotlight on women directors, two works by pioneering filmmaker Judit Elek (1937-2025) return to the festival. The restored versions of her documentary A Hungarian Village (Istenmezején 1972–73-ban), which originally premiered at the Berlinale in 1975, and her early cinéma vérité short Encounter (Találkozás, 1963) are being screened.

Winner of numerous prizes from European and international festivals, Elek is known for blurring the lines between film and documentary. Preservation and international distribution of Elek’s films are overseen by the NFI Film Archive, with digital restoration handled by the NFI Filmlab. It’s an important reminder that Hungary not only produces new talent but also invests in safeguarding its cinematic legacy.

In the main competition, Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó returns with his latest feature, At the Sea, an English-language film starring Amy Adams which will premiere at the Berlinale Palast. Set in Cape Cod, the story follows a woman returning home after rehab, navigating family tensions, guilt and the fragile possibility of reconciliation.

The film’s cast includes Murray Bartlett, Jenny Slate, Dan Levy and Brett Goldstein, bringsing emotional depth and subtle humour to what Mundruczó describes as a story about finding a way back from personal collapse. Speaking to Marta Balaga in Variety, the director revealed that the film was very loosely inspired by Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, balancing darkness with moments of warmth and irony.

From cutting-edge animation to restored classics and high-profile international co-productions, Hungary’s presence at Berlinale 2026 highlights the country’s creative range. For producers considering filming in Budapest, it’s further proof that this city offers not only world-class crews and infrastructure but also thriving artistic visionaries who hold their own on the global stage.

Sources & further information

Variety

Judit Elek

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 Chess Icon Celebrated in Netflix Documentary: Queen of Chess

February 09, 2026zita kisgergely

Netflix has just unveiled their documentary on the extraordinary life of Judit Polgár, the chess champion from Hungary with an unconventional upbringing who smashed through barriers to become the only woman to rank in the world’s top ten.

Queen of Chess is a fascinating account of not only Judit Polgar’s career, but also the environment that engendered it–an educational experiment that enabled her and her two siblings to become chess grandmasters. A player who quickly became known for her fiery red-hair and relentlessly aggressive approach on the chess board, Polgár rapidly rose through chess rankings in the 1980s to become the best female rated player at the age of 12 and subsequently the youngest person ever to achieve Grandmaster status at 15.

Background of the Polgár Sisters

We learn the astonishing story behind Polgár’s early life growing up with two sisters under the tutelage of parents who decided to home-school their children–a frowned-upon-concept in communist Hungary of the time. But Polgár’s father, an educational psychologist with a PhD focussed on developing human capabilities, was determined to prove his theory that genius status could be attained through nurture and not just nature. The best way he thought that could be achieved was through chess–and lots of it. The three sisters studied chess at least 5-6 hours a day from a very young age.

The experiment paid off. Judit’s two older sisters also achieved significant success in the world of chess and became Grandmasters (for context, today there are currently 44 female chess players who hold the Grandmaster title out of over 1,800 worldwide). Also contributing to their success was the fact that Laszlo Polgár encouraged his daughters to participate in men’s tournaments so the girls could play against tougher competitors.

*The Polgár sister with their father in 1989.*

The Documentary

Combining archival material with personal footage as well as interviews from the present day, the documentary also explores the difficulties Judit experienced due to the sexist attitudes that existed in the chess world at the time. Women were widely assumed to be inferior players based on their lack of “temperament” for the game. Garry Kasparov, chess world champion from 1985 – 2000, for example, expressed his view that, “It all comes down to the imperfections of the feminine psyche. No woman can sustain a prolonged battle." Kasparov would eventually mellow and temper this outlook after he and Judit Polgar went head-to-head on the chess board several times over a period of many years.

The documentary is directed by producer and director Rory Kennedy, who remarked that,

“Even if you don’t play chess, this is a story about resilience, determination, and breaking barriers, and I hope it will appeal to a broad audience.”

Ultimately this is an uplifting and compelling account of one of the greatest chess champions in history, a woman who held her own on the chess board amongst the best players of the world and who dominated the top spot in female chess for 26 years. It’s certainly a story of ambition, composure, and dedication that deserves a wide audience.

Sources & further information

www.chess.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.

Location Scout in Hungary: Szentendre

January 31, 2026zita kisgergely

Take a short trip north of the Danube river to discover Szentendre (Saint Andrew), a picturesque town with cobblestone streets, colourful Baroque houses and distinct bohemian charm.

*The main square in Szentendre, Hungary.*

Just 20 kilometres north of Budapest, a little town nestling the banks of the Danube river offers quiet respite from the bustle of the capital. Walking down its narrow streets lined with art galleries and shops selling antique trinkets or Hungarian handicrafts is like stepping back in time to when life moved at a slower pace.

A Place of Art

Part of the town’s appeal is due to its focus on the arts. Many art museums as well as artists, writers, poets and musician have made their home here over the decades. In the process, they have left their indelible mark on the place. In fact, by the early 1900s, Szentendre was already becoming known as a popular artists’ retreat, leading to the establishment of the “Szentendre School” artists’ colony in the late 1920s. Even today, the town is known as being a vibrant hub of artistic activity.

Serbian Influences

After the town’s population was largely decimated during Ottoman occupation, many Serbs settled in the town in the late 1600s. As a result, several Serbian Orthodox churches can be found here, including the Blagovestenska (or Annunciation) Serbian Orthodox Church right on the main square. It’s a towering, pale yellow church with a green spire, built in 1752 in a baroque and rococo style. The church has been fully restored to it former glory.

*Blagovestenska (or Annunciation) Serbian Orthodox Church, Szentendre.*

Filming Location

Szentendre is not just a popular tourist destination. Thanks to its proximity to Budapest and the excellent condition of its buildings, it has also become a sought after filming location in Hungary for those seeking historical authenticity and atmosphere. Recent international productions that have filmed partly in Szentendre include Ballerina (2025), Moon Knight (2022), Shadow and Bone (2021-2023), Chief of Station (2024), The Rookies (2019) and Day of the Jackal (2024-).

*A picturesque alleyway in Szentendre, 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.

Filming in Hungary: Ron Howard’s Newest Feature Film

January 26, 2026zita kisgergely

The acclaimed director, who has won multiple awards during a career spanning six decades, has been filming his latest movie ALONE AT DAWN in Hungary since autumn 2025.

*Anne Hathaway & Adam Driver to star in ALONE AT DAWN. Picture via Imdb.*

The veteran director who has two academy awards, seven Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes under his belt is back in Hungary. The last time he was in the country filming was ten years ago when Budapest doubled as Italy in his movie Inferno, the sequel to The Da Vinci Code. This time Howard has brought production for his latest film–a military drama adapted from the 2019 book of the same name by Dan Schilling and Lori Chapman Longfritz–to Budapest.

Starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway, Alone at Dawn recounts the true events of the Battle of Takur Gheri on March 4th, 2002, during the Afghanistan war, and the heroic actions of American Airforce Combat Controller John Chapman (played by Adam Driver). Sergeant Chapman, despite being wounded when his helicopter was shot down by rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire, managed to save 23 of his comrades on that day by attacking the bunkers of al-Qaeda fighters. Tragically, while ensuring his Navy SEAL unit was able to retreat to safety, he was killed in the process. 16 years later, Chapman’s widow finally received the military’s highest honour for her husband’s heroic acts.

According to reports, Budapest has provided primarily interior locations such as those set in prisons and police stations. For exterior shots focussing on the action scenes of the battle itself, a quarry in Fejér County is being used. Residents in the area had been prior warned to expect temporary road closures as well as the sounds of gunfire and explosions while the quarry was transformed to replicate a large-scale war zone located in a rocky mountainous region of Afghanistan.

The stars of the film have already been spotted around Budapest by eagle-eyed observers. Anne Hathaway, who also plays a key supporting role in the movie, was seen filming in downtown Budapest outside a billiards establishment with other crew members. Driver was also photographed when he attended a classical music marathon late last year at the Liszt Music Academy (more on that here). An Oscar nominee and former marine, Driver had expressed interest in working on a military-based film. This made him a natural choice to portray the main character’s story.

Supported by Amazon MGM Studios, the feature is reportedly scheduled to continue production in Hungary until 11 February 2026 with an expected release date of late 2026 or early 2027.

Sources & further information

Daily News

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 Budapest: Sky Atlantic’s miniseries, AMADEUS

January 18, 2026zita kisgergely

Budapest stands in for Vienna in a new adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s 1979 stage play that re-imagines the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri.

*Will Sharpe as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Image via SkyGroup.*

Although set in late 18th century Vienna, the mini-series was filmed almost entirely in Budapest and across Hungary between May and September 2024. Apart from sharing significant architectural similarities with Vienna–such as sweeping 19th-century boulevards as well as grand neoclassical and Baroque buildings–Budapest as a filming location further offered a competitive 30% tax rebate and efficient production infrastructure.

While the celebrated 1984 film version of AMADEUS won eight Academy Awards, this new TV adaptation expands the narrative across multiple episodes, alternating the perspective from both Salineri and Amadeus’ viewpoints while exploring both the burden of genius and the pain of mediocrity. Will Sharpe portrays Mozart as restless, brilliant, and overflowing with ideas, while Paul Bettany delivers a controlled, deeply conflicted Salieri whose jealousy slowly consumes him.

*Will Sharpe with Paul Bettany, who plays Antonio Salieri.*

Budapest itself plays an essential role. The city’s historic streets, palaces, and cultural landmarks convincingly recreate Habsburg-era Vienna. Filming took place at iconic locations including the Castle Quarter, St Stephen’s Basilica, the Hungarian State Opera, and the Operetta Theatre. Beyond the capital, the production also shot in the west of Hungary: Sopron, Szentendre, and Esterházy Castle in Fertőd.

Sharpe has spoken in glowing terms about filming in Budapest, praising both the beauty of the city and the professionalism of local crews. While summer heat posed challenges, particularly in heavy period costumes, the experience underscored why so many international productions return to Hungary. In the past, the city’s diverse architecture has doubled for locations ranging from New York to cities across Europe, often with minimal visual alteration.

Produced by Two Cities Television in association with Sky Studios, AMADEUS stands as yet another strong example of how Budapest continues to attract high-profile film and television projects. For international producers looking to combine visual richness, period authenticity, logistical efficiency, and financial incentives, Hungary remains a leading choice for productions set in a range of time periods.

The five-part series, penned by British screenwriter Joe Barten (Black Doves, The Lazarus Project), premiered on 21 December 2025 on Sky Atlantic. Available in European territories from 2 January 2026 on SkyShowtime.

Sources & further information

CNN Traveller

www.movielocations.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.

Iconic Hungarian Director and Master of Introspective Cinema Béla Tarr Dies at 70

January 11, 2026zita kisgergely

Béla Tarr passed away last Tuesday at the age of 70 after a long and serious illness, leaving behind an idiosyncratic body of work that made him one of the most deeply respected art-house directors in the world.

Known for their stark, visual style, Tarr’s black and white films are famous for their unhurried pacing. Focussing on details and atmospheric moments rather than the usual conventions of plot, Tarr explored existential themes, often using single-take shots which lasted several minutes. This enabled the audience to experience the worlds on the screen more authentically, rather than by having their emotions manipulated via traditional story devices. The Hollywood Reporter noted that, although Tarr’s films were never successful commercially, they contributed significantly to art house cinema.

Tarr’s subject matter usually involved ordinary people doing ordinary things. His films are a moving canvas that deal with people living marginalized or bleak lives. Often working with non-professional actors, Tarr’s most famous film–and one that founded the contemporary slow cinema movement–SÁTÁNTANGO (1994) runs at over seven hours. Depicting the human condition after the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the film is based on László Krasznahorkai’s novel of the same name. Krasznahorkai, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2025, was a Hungarian author Tarr often collaborated with.

Born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1955, Tarr grew up in Budapest where both his parents worked in the film and theatre industries. Tarr’s interest in film was sparked at the age of 14 when his father gave him an 8 mm camera. He started working at Balázs Béla Stúdió at the age of 16 and debuted as a director in 1979 with his first film FAMILY NEST, which won the Grand Prix at the Mannheim Film Festival.

After his own film studio was shut down for political reasons in 1985, Tarr continued to make films independently. The last film he directed was THE TURIN HORSE which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2011 and won the Grand Jury Prize. Tarr told The Hollywood Reporter:

“I don’t want to be a stupid filmmaker who is just repeating himself and doing the same shit just to bore the people”

The rest of Tarr’s career was devoted to training film makers and developing new methods of filmmaking. To this end, he established an international film school (film.factory) in Sarajevo in 2012.

Sources & further information

Hollywood Reporter

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.

Adam Driver at Liszt Ferenc Academy in Budapest

December 31, 2025zita kisgergely

Adam Driver, star of films such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Marriage Story (2019) and Ferrari (2023), was spotted enjoying some downtime while filming his latest movie in Budapest.

In town filming scenes for his new film Alone at Dawn, Driver (a classical music fan) attended a concert at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in downtown Budapest. The institute, located in a beautifully ornate Art Nouveau building that’s over 150 years old, offers both BA and MA programs.

*Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Photo via Wikipedia.*

As reported on the academy’s social media page, The Pilgrimage Years’ Music Marathon event featured Gábor Farkas, a Liszt prize-winning pianist and Fülöp Ránki, the university’s rector who is also a teacher at the institution. Three outstanding young students: Máté Paládi, Ildikó Rozsonits and Attila Szaniszló also performed Franz Liszt’s complete piano cycle.

The upcoming film Alone at Dawn–directed by Ron Howard–also stars Anne Hathaway and Betty Gilpin. The feature centres on the true story of an Air Force Combat Controller, John A. Chapman and was adapted from a 2019 book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz.

Set during a rescue mission in the Takur Ghar mountain region of Afghanistan, the movie recounts the events of Operation Anaconda when Sargeant Chapman was wounded, his helicopter shot down by rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire. Although injured, Chapman managed to save 23 of his comrades by attacking the bunkers of al-Qaeda fighters. Tragically, while ensuring his Navy SEAL unit was able to retreat to safety, he was killed in the process. 16 years later, Chapman’s widow finally received the military’s highest honour for her husband’s heroic acts.

Filming in both Budapest and Maryland in the U.S, production is expected to wrap in early 2026. More details on the film can be found here.

Sources & further information

Hungary Today

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.

Locations in Hungary: Mid-century Architecture of Lake Balaton

December 18, 2025zita kisgergely

Lake Balaton is a significant geographical and cultural feature of Hungarian life. As a popular holiday destination, the architecture of the region reflects several different epochs. But as the infrastructure began to develop rapidly from the 1950s, so too did the construction of restaurants and hotels representing a modern, socialist-era building style that was predominant until the late 1980s.

*Ezüstpart Hotel, Siófok, Lake Balaton. Photo via startutazas.hu*

The story of how infrastructural development was fast-tracked after 1956.

The area began to be more seriously developed after the 1956 revolution. Eager to “depoliticize” the masses, the central authority pushed for holidays to be attainable for everyone. Getaways to Balaton seemed just the ticket, but infrastructure in the form of roads, motorways, accommodation, beach areas and restaurants needed to be established fast.

A unified, regional plan was required and commissioned, with a team of three people formed to oversee projects. By the late 1950s, construction was begun. Primarily focussing on public utilities, footpaths and holiday accommodation, infrastructure surrounding beach areas were also developed, including parks, shops, food stands and restaurants.

Why did Balaton develop differently from other Eastern European holiday resorts?

The small Balaton team assessed an average of 100 building permits per week. Most plans (not including public institutions) were then executed by local tradespeople, which resulted in wildly different quality standards. But with this number of projects happening simultaneously, there was no possibility to properly devote time to each. Understanding the circumstances of the time helps to explains how some of the architecture and infrastructure of the area came to be–the good and the bad.

Károly Polónyi, who would go on to write a memoir about his experiences of the time, was one of the three people on this team. He became Chief Engineer responsible for the development of the southern shore. In his memoir, Polónyi explains that during his three-year tenure he was able to access a company motorbike as well as the network of MÁV trains to travel, sleeping under a tent pitched on a boat moored at the Balatonföldvár yacht club from Spring until November. In his memoir, Polonyi comments:

“By submitting the Balaton Regional Draft Plan, we managed to dissuade the government from creating a holiday resort similar to the Romanian resorts by the Black Sea and the Bulgarian Gold Coast, where tourists from the west can spend their foreign currency in an area separated from the local community. Instead, we set out to reform the region as a whole, as a living organism with carefully selected investments. Our main aim was to create infrastructural investments that everyone could benefit from, including locals, holidaymakers, tourists, Hungarians and foreigners.”

Some architectural highlights of the 1960s-1980s around Lake Balaton.

A recent article in Telex written by Péter Sz. Németh and János Fehér reflected on just over 40 years of architecture around Lake Balaton. Not everything built during this era can be written off as sprawling socialist monstrosities. Using the book Balaton Modern 1956 – 1989 published by Kedves László Könyvműhely and Domonkos Wettstein (with photographs by János Bődey) as a kind of guidebook to the area, the writers of the article found that there are many structures that incorporated traditional building materials to create something practical that still blended into the surrounding area.

As one of the more prominent resort towns on the southern shore of the lake, Siófok had its fill of company and trade union holiday resorts springing up from the 1970s. Usually bulky hotels built to accommodate hundreds of staff and their families via subsidized holidays, they were designed with convenience and efficiency top of mind.

Hotel Ezüstpart: (photo above) Created by the Ybl prize winning architect Erno Tillai, the hotel was finished at the beginning of the 1980s. This memorable-looking structure in Balatonszéplak with a lattice-like façade curving around room balconies includes 354 rooms and a large inside pool complex. It was the last hotel to be built under the scope of the regional development plan that began in the 1950s.

*BMW Holiday Apartments (via their facebook page)*

BMW Club Holiday Apartments: Not all these structures involved large complexes such as the Ezüstpart Hotel. Co-op holiday resorts were also designed to create a more secluded experience, such as this development of row-houses designed by Zsolt Bajnay, another Chief Engineer with the Balaton Executive Committee.

Built in 1968, each of the 42 units (although only 35 square metres in size) nevertheless contain sleeping alcoves for up to four people and a private bathroom. In total 160-170 people could be accommodated at a time.

*Badacsonytomaj railway. Photo via Wikimedia*

Badacsonytomaj Railway Station: Built in 1971, this small station, a brutalist-inspired rectangular building with a flat roof comprised of wooden planks, is big in scope. Thanks to the quarry that once operated in Badacsonytomaj, basalt stone was used to tile the station’s walls.

*Tátika Restaurant. Photo via EBH Invest.*

Tátika Restaurant, Badacsony: The Tátika restaurant, designed by Ference Callmeyer and built in 1962, was originally planned to hover five metres over the surface of the lake. However, the area was later paved as the often-icy waters in winter deteriorated the structure. Declared a heritage building over fifteen years ago, the restaurant has recently been extensively renovated and the interior completely modernized. It currently functions as both a restaurant and tourist information centre.

Sources & further information

Telex

We Love Balaton

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 with Flatpack Films: EL SET

December 10, 2025zita kisgergely

Coming to Netflix this week is a biopic about legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, whose voice was described by Maria Callas as “incomparable”. The feature was partly filmed with the help of Flatpack Films, recreating the cities of Alexandria and Paris in Hungary for scenes shot here.

Alternatively referred to affectionately in Egypt as “El Set” (the lady) or the “fourth pyramid”, Umm Kulthum (1904-1975) was a singer revered throughout the Arab world. She also had many fans in the West; her unique singing talent was admired by musicians such as Bob Dylan, Bono and Robert Plant.

Kulthum had a humble upbringing in an Egyptian village. Born to a rural imam father, she started singing with her family’s ensemble, wearing a boy’s cloak and Bedouin head covering on stage. Kulthum would eventually forge a reputation as one of the greatest singers of Egypt.

Her rare contralto (the lowest female register) voice was one of the things that set her apart. Her vocal range extended from as low as the 2nd octave up to the 7th or 8th at her peak. Additionally, she had incredible vocal strength, able to produce 14,000 vibrations per second with her vocal cords. This meant she had to be positioned three feet away from the microphone. A skilled improviser, it was also widely believed that she never sang a lyric the same way twice.

Kulthum’s lengthy, heartfelt performances combined emotional truth with hot-button issues of the time–she was not one to shy away from exploring politics through her music. This became especially pertinent while Egypt rebuilt itself after British colonial rule ended. El Set’s career grew in parallel with the country’s new-found independence, her songs symbolising Egyptian identity. Illustrating her significant influence is the fact that over 4 million people attended her funeral service in 1975.

*Photo via Wikipedia. Most probably taken in 1968 at one of her last performances.*

Her music still carries weight today, not only in Egypt but in other Middle Eastern countries and beyond. On a list of the 200 greatest singers of all time, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Umm Kulthum at number 61.

It’s no surprise that Marwan Hammed is the director behind the El Set film. He is one of the leading directors in Egypt and one who has continuously set box office records there. His last film, a historical epic Kira & El Gin (2023)–on which Flatpack Films also had the pleasure of working–was a huge financial success that brought audiences back to the cinema post-pandemic.

El Set will be released on Netflix 11th December 2025.

Sources and Further Information:

Now You See Me, Now You Don't

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.

Filmed in Hungary: Six Recent Movie & Series Releases

November 26, 2025zita kisgergely

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

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

November 18, 2025zita kisgergely

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.

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

The Booker Prize

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?

November 06, 2025zita kisgergely

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.

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