Written by Shona Smith on Jul 2, 2020. Posted in Production News

International film and TV production returns to Hungary

Productions are returning to Hungary as special exemptions will be granted for non-EU residents to enter without mandatory quarantine. Netflix will resume filming Terra Vision in Hungary in mid-July followed by Legendary’s Dune in August.

“No ban was imposed on film production in Hungary, the most popular filming destination in Continental Europe, during the emergency” says Film Commissioner Casaba Káel. Principal photography of a portrait about the world-famous Hungarian swimmer, Katinka Hosszú, was allowed to continue under strict coronavirus safety measures in place. "The full-length documentary will be an exceptional imprint of the last months, during which, undeterred by the emergency situation and postponement of the Olympics, the three-time Olympic, twenty-six-time world and thirty-four-time European champion relentlessly continued her training, while the film crew relentlessly recorded all of this". Hungarian feature productions Half Way Home (pictured below) and Daddy and Other Wolves began principal production again in June.

Now that the state of emergency has ended, restrictive measures have been eased and the travel restrictions are continually being lifted. "Special exemption can be granted for non-EU residents to enter Hungary without mandatory quarantine, international projects are being prepared, making it possible to restart production at full capacity” says Káel.

In preparation, Netflix has been building sets in two studios at the NFI Mafilm studio complex in Fót for the series Terra Vision. Hungary’s other soundstages were booked up for the entire year and in accordance with agreements signed before the COVID-19 emergency, three big international productions will be returning to shoot this year to Origo Film Studio: Dune from Legendary, The Banker’s Wife for Amazon and The Nightingale from Sony. The filming of Showtime's live-action scripted series Halo based on the video game series, will resume in Korda Studio near Budapest.

The National Film Institute drew up recommendations to protect cast and crew during coronavirus. The aim of the Health Protection Plan published on NFI.hu and shared with Hungarian film industry workers is to provide a professional summary of the general risk assessment and health precautions developed for the special requirements of the film industry.

Hungary provides a 30% tax rebate for film and TV productions based on expenditure.