10/04/2006

According to the information received by Cineuropa from Hungary’s National Film Office, Hungary produced 26 accredited features in 2005, in comparison to 21 in 2004 (co-productions included).

The new film law established in 2004 to attract foreign investment through tax breaks seems to have proven effective (see article), as Hungarian co-productions increased from four features in 2004 to nine in 2005.

There has also been an increase in public funding, with €8.5m invested last year by the important Motion Picture Public Foundation of Hungary, in comparison to €7.9m in 2004. On the other hand, television financing in films has fallen from €3.68m to €3.2m. Film budgets have increased slightly, from an average €1m to €1.1m.

The situation is more worrying in the distribution sector, with a drop in admissions in 2005 that led to the closure of several theatres (531 screens in 313 cinemas in 2004, in comparison to 466 and 244, respectively, in 2005). This trend forced the Hungarian Minister for Culture to launch a programme at the end of March encouraging the development and renovation of arthouse cinemas. The number of multiplexes, however, has remained constant (32 in 2005, one more than in 2004). On the other hand, the average ticket price increased significantly, from €3.22 in 2004 to €4 in 2005.

Of the 220 films distributed in theatres in 2005, 17 domestic films were screened as premieres.

(Translated from French)