A new international film studio to be built in Hungary

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One of the wealthiest Hungarians plans to build an international film studio near the capital. Major players in the movie industry, like Netflix and Disney, are said to be interested in the project.

Hungary is the second most popular filming location in Europe for Hollywood productions right after the UK, writes Napi.hu. The country’s environmental features, geographical location, and diverse landscapes can provide a venue for many films and scenes set in different ages and locations. The streets of the capital, for example, have played cities like Rome, Paris, London, Amsterdam, or Tel Aviv.

There is a 26-hectare vacant land between Budapest and Szentendre, next to Budakalász, according to Napi.hu that is where Market Asset Management Zrt. would like to build a world-class international film studio. The owner of the company is Market Építő Zrt., which belongs to István Garancsi, one of the wealthiest Hungarians (the 23rd richest person in the country on the Forbes list).

Can you guess who the wealthiest Hungarian is?

The plans contain two 2,500-square-meter building complexes in the area, with 4 studios each, plus offices, warehouses, workshops, a restaurant, and four digital studios.

According to Napi.hu, the studio plans to work with mainly American partners so that American films would be produced here. Netflix, which has been shooting several productions in Hungary (like the recent Shadow and Bone, as we reported), has been interested in a film studio serving its own productions for some time. The location would be favourable for foreign filmmakers, as Budakalász is less than half an hour’s drive from the luxury hotels of Budapest.

The promise is that the productions of the biggest players in the international film industry would come to Budakalász and Napi.hu writes the producers of Netflix and Disney – especially Marvel – are interested in the project.

Moreover, according to Telex, the project not only plans film production, but research and development activities related to the film industry would also take place in the Budakalász studios.

The question is whether the city of Budakalász accepts the plans.

Locals are divided on whether they need the film studio or not. The question now is whether the promised money will offset the negativities like the environmental impact of the activity (such as noise and increased traffic) and the sight of tall buildings along the Danube bank.

According to preliminary estimates, the film studio would pay about HUF 200 million a year to the municipality as business, land, and building tax, Forbes writes. This would roughly double the money spent on the development of the city.

After informing the locals and surveying their opinions, a board decision will be expected in July.