Weekly newsletter

Record Revenue in the Hungarian Film Industry

Mariann Őry 2023.01.02.
hungarian films

Revenue in the Hungarian film industry hit a record high, with total registered spending exceeding 250 billion forints, a 20 percent increase compared to last year.

Csaba Káel, Government Commissioner for the Development of the Hungarian Film Industry and Chairman of the National Film Institute, told Origo that the total mainly comes from foreign currency earnings.

Budapest has recently become Europe’s biggest film production base after London, with top producers shooting with the world’s biggest stars,

he said.

The most successful Hungarian film of 2022 was the comedy Riviera East (Nyugati nyaralás).

The commissioner also highlighted the success of the political drama Blockade (Blokád), which was the most-watched film last year after comedies.

Blockade teaser from the National Film Institute on Vimeo.

Káel called FILMIO, the first Hungarian public streaming service, a great success. He added: “Hungary is unique in Europe in providing state-funded streaming service.” “It is very popular, we are constantly developing it, and the range of films is growing every week,” he added.

The commissioner said the number of cinemas had fallen brutally in the last ten years, with almost only the mall cinemas surviving. “The majority of Hungarians cannot go to the cinema, or can only do so at a huge cost,” he added.

According to Káel, European cinema, streaming, and television distribution must be strengthened.

There are hardly any continental productions in cinemas, there is no common streaming platform, and there should be a higher percentage of European films on television.

“Distribution generates revenue, and last but not least, European films help us to get to know each other better and strengthen the experience of national and European identity,” he stressed.

Hungarian-Produced Movie Success at the 80th Golden Globes
Hungarian-Produced Movie Success at the 80th Golden Globes

Lesley Manville was nominated for best performance by an actress in a musical or comedy.Continue reading

Featured photo via Hungary Today


Array
(
    [1536x1536] => Array
        (
            [width] => 1536
            [height] => 1536
            [crop] => 
        )

    [2048x2048] => Array
        (
            [width] => 2048
            [height] => 2048
            [crop] => 
        )

)