After London, Hungary has the highest number of international film productions in the pipeline, Csaba Káel, the government commissioner responsible for the development of the Hungarian film industry, and Ildikó Kemény, a producer, said at a panel discussion at the 76th Cannes International Film Festival, according to a report published on the website of the American film magazine Variety.
Both Káel and Kemény said that the key to Hungary‘s appeal for film productions is the number of locations it offers, the paper reports.
Káel recalled that Hungary has put a lot of emphasis on developing the infrastructure around Budapest, which has become one of the most important locations for film projects.
“There are five studios around Budapest, and you can reach them in 20 minutes from the city center,” the government commissioner pointed out, noting that developments are not only happening in the studios, but also in the hotel industry.
Ildikó Kemény pointed out that Hungary is already a major tourist center, and the country is taking advantage of this to increase its presence in the film industry.
“We are second only to London in international productions,” she noted.
They both agreed that Hungary‘s architectural diversity provides a wealth of filming locations, and a meticulous inventory of these potential filming locations has enhanced the quality of Hungarian productions.
“In terms of locations, we have a wonderful range (…) You can find everything from Gothic churches to American streets,” Variety quoted Káel as saying.
Cover photo caption: Shooting in downtown Budapest. Credit: Raketir/Shutterstock.com
