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Hungary’s upcoming war action-drama Dragons Over Kabul (Sárkányok Kabul felett) will premiere in Hungarian cinemas on November 20, 2025. Directed by Zsombor Dyga, the film dramatizes Hungary’s 2021 Kabul evacuation mission, combining large-scale action with a story rooted in national pride.
From Mission to Movie
The story is inspired by Operation Shaman Shield, when Hungarian Defence Forces successfully evacuated 540 people — including 180 children — from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan during NATO’s withdrawal. Screenwriter Áron Horváth shaped the tense events into a drama that balances combat action with the emotional and psychological challenges faced by soldiers on the ground.
A Large-Scale Hungarian Production
Produced by Szupermodern Stúdió and Sárkányok Produkció Kft., with strong backing from the National Film Institute Hungary, the Ministry of Defence, and MTVA, Dragons Over Kabul carries a €14.5 million budget — one of the most ambitious in recent Hungarian cinema.
Authenticity was emphasized from the beginning. Military advisor Szilveszter Pálinkás worked with the cast to ensure accuracy in procedure and movement, while the actors underwent intensive training to adapt to soldierly discipline and team dynamics.
The ensemble cast features Gábor Jászberényi, Blanka Mészáros, Tamás Borovics, Dávid Hajmási, Nóra Trokán, Zsombor Ertl, Gusztáv Dietz, and András Stohl. Together, they bring both the physicality and humanity of the mission to screen.
Hungary as Kabul
Originally planned to shoot partly in North Africa, the production ultimately stayed entirely in Hungary. Over 47 shooting days, more than 15 domestic locations stood in for Kabul’s streets, mountains, and military zones.
Production designer Balázs Hujber constructed extensive sets outside Budapest, including a military camp, hospital, command center, airport, and street scenes. These practical builds were integrated with digital effects in postproduction to recreate Kabul’s scale and intensity.
Cinematographer Tamás Dobos shaped the visual tone, weaving together sweeping, tension-filled combat scenes with quieter, character-focused moments. The result is a film that never left Hungary yet convincingly transports viewers into one of the world’s most volatile conflict zones.
Looking Ahead
With its November 20 release approaching, Dragons Over Kabul is shaping up as one of the fall’s most significant Hungarian premieres. It takes on a recent event still fresh in memory, delivering both the spectacle of a war drama and the intimacy of a story about duty and survival. Whether it ultimately becomes a festival contender or simply finds its audience at home, the film offers something unusual in today’s Hungarian cinema: a large-scale action story told with the urgency of lived history.
