Hungarian moviemakers bank on historical dramas

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Two productions based on Hungarian historical figures are just the latest creations to cement the reputation of Hungary as an important European hub for the domestic and international filmmaking industry.

The influence of Game of Thrones

The movie Hadik, which stars Zsolt Trill as the Hungarian hussar Andras Hadik, and the TV series Fairyland – Age of Temptations, which examines the life of the Transylvanian prince Gábor Báthory, seek to tap into the popularity of historical dramas such as Game of Thrones which has undergone a renaissance of late.

While the fantasy drama Game of Thrones and the spinoff series House of the Dragon are based on the novels of George R. R. Martin, Hilary Mantel’s historical novel Wolf Hall, which also became a popular TV show, gave readers a fictional depiction of the court of Henry VIII. The historical genre is also popular in other areas of the entertainment industry. In the iGaming sector, for example, some casinos offer incentives, like Betfair’s 50 free spins, drawing in new consumers. Betfair capitalizes on enduring interest in past civilizations with a wide range of slots such as Warlords Crystals of Power, Emperor of Rome Mega Fire Blaze, and Alexander the Great: World Conqueror. As is the case for works of fiction and their TV adaptations, the enthusiasm for historical figures and the battles they fought is an attractive commercial consideration when devising slot titles.

An attractive movie location

The movie director Csaba Káel, who is also the Head of the National Film Institute of Hungary, sees an opportunity for the country in the altered landscape of the industry over the past few years, which has seen the rapid growth of streaming services and the emergence of lavish and highly successful TV productions.

The movie producer Adam Goodman, who co-owns Mid Atlantic Films, which is based in Budapest, views Hungary as a particularly attractive location for moviemakers beyond the effective 37.5% tax rebate on expenditure for films produced in the country. Goodman states that Hungary boasts “a sophisticated range of skill sets, infrastructure, and studios. We have terrific facilities and locations.”

A rich tapestry of Hungarian history

The two latest Hungarian productions showcase the varied and fascinating history of the nation. During the Seven Years’ War, András Hadik captured the Prussian capital of Berlin in a surprise raid and in an audacious move surrendered the city in exchange for a ransom of 300,000 silver thalers. Fairyland – Age of Temptations focuses on the story of Gábor Báthory as he fought to defend Transylvania against the Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire while facing court intrigue. The history of Hungary could provide a rich tapestry for filmmakers to create new stories, in much the same way as the German film industry has tapped into its history to create movies such as All Quiet on the Western Front, which was distributed by Netflix, and won four Oscars in 2023.

With so much to offer movie and TV producers all over the world, it is only a matter of time before the next big production comes to Hungary to benefit from the architecture, movie facilities, and historical resources of the nation.