I hope to be the year of the Hungarian film industry banner at this year’s Venice Film Festival. There will be a Venice film festival for two members: Oscar-winning film director Las Ronemez and Berlin Golden Bear winner Ildico Eniedi (On the Body and the Soul).
Both films are multinational co-productions to secure budgets using a combination of tax incentives, soft money from national funding agencies and private equity. This is a fundraising structure that is becoming more and more challenging in the current economic climate for independent filmmaking in Europe.
However, the film also highlights the coordinated efforts of the National Film Institute (NFI) in Hungary, allowing the local industry to be more adapted to the needs of today’s filmmakers. Hungarian film committee member Csaba Káel describes the Lido premier as “a testimony to the strategy launched five years ago,” with the NFI being dramatically restructured and introducing a system that offers both greater funding and flexibility than its predecessor.
“Co-production is essential to the vitality of the Hungarian film industry and we are proud to say that NFI Hungary has supported nearly 40 co-productions so far.
According to Ildikokemeny, a veteran producer of Budapest-based Pioneer Stillking films, how these collaborations take shape and how each partner brings to the table is a key part of the conversation from day one.
Kemeny says that the “orphan” girlfriend and her partner have decided not to create a confused “Europudding” where “different co-producers demand different funds.”
“We were always destined to film in Hungarian, Hungarian,” she says. The film says it is primarily filmed in the location around Budapest and at NFI Studios Backlot, a newly constructed outdoor set built as part of the facility’s recent expansion. “It was very important that the people we chose as co-producers actually signed up for the same film.”
Her European partner has proven important during the fundraising stage. Hungary accounts for 70% of the film’s budget, with the UK, France and Germany each taking away 10% of the lack, providing important creative support as well.
British co-producer Good Chaos contributed to post-production work through VFX shop Automatik and promoting London-based PR company Premier. Germany offered Ali cameras and light rentals. Meanwhile, France provided important talents both up and down, including lead actor Gregory Gadebois, composer Evgeni Galperin and makeup designer Odile Fokin.
“Orphan” competes for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Courtesy of New Europe Film Sales
Mike Goodridge of Good Chaos says the multi-country collaboration that underpins “Orphan” production was “essential” to get the latest Nemes updates from the ground.
“We’re banking about it to make a movie,” he says. “At this point, equity is very cautious. I think sales are really difficult. I don’t think this year’s Venice Competition film would be there without European co-production.”
Among other recent co-productions filmed in Hungary are “My Notes on Ane Mars,” the upcoming English debut of Hungarian director Lili Horvát, the Hungarian-Austrian-US co-production starring Andrew Scott and Greta Lee, and the epic television drama “Rase of the Raven” from veteran producer Robert Lantos (Futures of the Futursis-austria-austria-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian-austrian North American premiere at Toronto INTL. Film festival.
Internationally represented by beta films, the series tells the story of Janos Hungyadi, a real-life Hungarian commander who retreated the seemingly unstoppable trend towards Europe in the Battle of Belgrade in 1456.
To “protect the authenticity of the story and refuse to dilute the character of a real Hungarian,” Rantus tells Variety.
Ultimately, the German beta was joined by Austrian broadcaster ORF and Italian Rai, but the decision to cast actors on the Indigenous peoples in the country of historic characters they portrayed allowed the show’s creators to “reflect the cultural mosaics of time and place, and faithfully summon their flavours and character.
Following the TIFF premiere, “Rise of the Raven” will be streamed for Canadian audiences on the CBC GEM streaming platform, but Lantos says the series already aired on several European territories “has been a general and significant success beyond my own expectations.” “It’s a much more highly rated TV drama in Hungary in decades and is rooted in cultural conversation,” he adds.
“Rise of the Raven” has a North American premiere in Toronto.
Courtesy of Kristof Galgoczi Nemeth
Meanwhile, the Magyar industry continues to thrive as one of the best service destinations in the world thanks to its competitive and efficient 30% tax incentives, highly skilled and cost-effective crew, and abundant soundstage.
Among the lively features for filming in Hungary is Mona Fastbold’s “Anne Lee’s Will.” James Vanderbilt’s Toronto premiere “Nuremberg” starring Academy Award winners Ramimalek and Russell Crowe. And “Entertainment System Down,” a predicted new film from two Palme d’Or, Reuben Ostrand.
Erik Hemmendorff, who co-founded with Swedish costumes Plattform Produktion and Östlund in 2002, says the duo has scrutinized the director’s latest production hub in Europe, saying the entertainment system is set to a long-distance flight where the entertainment system has been incorrectly broken down. This meant reassembly of the used 747 used by British producers and constructing a full-size interior for the plane, requiring large enough and versatile space for an elaborate set build.
“In Hungary, there is a solution for everything,” says Hemmendorff, praises the local crew for “creative thinking.” “We were blown away by the quality of the people, and whatever we said, they didn’t flinch,” he adds. “You could feel they have craftsmanship. They’re making their work and their culture really serious. They’re still interested in great filmmaking.”
