Budapest

Budapest is a city bridging Eastern and Western European cultures: Elegant, yet not as overexposed as hot tourist spots like Paris or Prague. In addition to being Hungary’s capital city, Budapest also happens to be the epicenter of the Hungarian film community, whether you are a moviemaker looking to shoot your next project, or a movie lover seeking out the best of Hungarian indie cinema.

Budapest itself is the result of the merging of two separate cities, Buda and Pest, resting on opposite banks of the Danube River. Though it was partially destroyed by British and American air raids during World War II, the city still retains much of its beauty and history with landmarks such as the Matthias Church and the Royal Castle. On screen, the city has been captured in a wide range of films, from blockbuster flicks like Mortal Kombat to critically-acclaimed dramas like Steven Spielberg’s Munich and Hungarian director István Szabó’s Sunshine. Most recently, the city made an appearance in Agnieszka Holland’s Copying Beethoven, which opened in limited release on November 10.With a slew of indie and mainstream theaters gracing its streets as well as a thriving community of native moviemakers taking up residence, Budapest may be one of the underappreciated gems of the European film scene.You can catch Budapest gracing the frames of:
Evita
Cyrano de Bergerac
Spy Game
Underworld
Being Julia
Phantom of the Opera

For more information on shooting in or around Budapest, visit www.hungarianfilm.com

Sound Off: Several of Budapest’s most notable film productions center on the story of World War II and the Holocaust. How much does a city’s history impact the type of films made there? Should a city try to avoid being “typecast,” or welcome a reputation for playing backdrop to a certain genre or subject matter? Talk back in the comments section!