02-12-2009

Hungary launches new regional film fund

By Dávid Dercsényi
    Hungary is reaching out to neighboring Slovakia with the launch of the North Hungarian Film Fund, which follows the establishment of similar funds in the south and the west of Hungary.

    The fund is located in Miskolc and connected to the city's film festival CineFest (http://www.cinefest.hu/hu/hirek.html). The director of the Fund is Péter Madaras (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), the programme director of CineFest as well.

    The municipal government founded the fund and is supporting it with HUF 5 million to attract film productions to the region. In keeping with the EU's emphasis on regional over national initiatives, the fund is focusing on cooperation with the Slovak border region which is home to a sizeable Hungarian speaking minority.

    Although the region lacks the large studios and infrastructure of the Budapest area, there are advantages for mid-sized productions, such as easier rentals of locations and lower cost. There are plans to establish a large database of local facilities and crew, as well as a media library of CineFest films and film-related educational programmes.

    At least one film is already in production in the region: director Zsombor Dyga is shooting his new feature Down to Ground (Utolér) in Miskolc.