Funding

The Decision Board(s) will pass a decision within 60 days following the date when the complete application documentation was submitted. In justified cases, the Supporting Body may extend the deadline for evaluation by another 60 days.  

Within 10 days following the date of the decision, the National Film Institute informs the applicant in an e-mail.  

If an applicant would like to submit an application for the production of a documentary film and the submission of a detailed script is not possible, they have to provide a project description that should contain the following:

• a detailed synopsis, min. 3-5 pages
• a director’s concept
• references of the experts taking part in the project
• a bibliography
• a detailed shooting plan
• filmographies, references, festival prizes etc. for the director, the scriptwriter and the cinematographer.

If the applicant submits a script but it does not contain all the above information, the script should be accompanied by the project description. It is also possible to apply for project development support with a script, a treatment or a synopsis. The synopsis should always be attached to the script and treatment.

1) Production companies or other eligible individuals (writers, producers, director-writers) submit their applications to the National Film Institute, online. Decisions are made in 60 days after submission.

2) If the application or its annexes fail to comply with the relevant legislation or the provisions of the Support Policy, the NFI shall allot, in writing, a timeframe of no more than 30 days for remedy for discrepancies, concurrently specifying the discrepancies. If the applicant adequately corrects the deficiencies within the deadline set forth in the notification, the application shall be deemed correct and complete.

3) At the meeting of the Decision Board all members make their comments and vote. Decisions on support are made according to majority vote.

4) Decisions are published on the website of the National Film Institute, applicants are notified via e-mail accompanied by the readers’ reports within 10 working days.

A five-member board of film professionals decides by voting on the applications submitted to the National Film Institute.

There are two separate Decision Boards one for films primarily intended for theatrical screening and one for films primarily intended for screening via media services (television).

The National Film Institute processes the applications in the order of their receipt. Depending on the details of the process (e.g. necessity of supplements), the order of the final decision may differ from the order of the receipt of the applications.

A filmmaker with their first film is not entitled to apply without a producer who has got proper references.
Producer students attending state institutions of higher education in filmmaking acquire the required references with their diploma films or examination films.
Every year there are a separate call for first films (Incubator Programme)  

TV:
First films can apply for funding without proper references.

There is no limitation.

At least one film released in a Hungarian film theatre that can be a feature fiction film, a documentary or an animation film, OR
At least one film invited to an “A” category international film festival either in competition or in any other sections, or a film at important film events qualified as a nominee (see the annexes of the call for applications) OR
A diploma film in state-recognized film professional higher education

The applicant has to register on the website of the National Film Institute and fill in an application form, and submit all the documents electronically

The applicant who applies for support from the National Film Institute should accept and respect the conditions put forward in the Regulations of Funding of the National Film Institute and in the relevant call for applications.

• Script and film project development
• Pre-production
• Film production
• Marketing
• Special, individual support (motion picture research and education, participation at motion picture events and film festivals, and organisation of events and film festivals)

Applications are continuously open for the support of script and film project development, for pre-production and film production as well as marketing and distribution and for the special category (events, education, festivals)

CINEMA: In case of applications for the support of script or film project development, film production, pre-production or marketing (distribution) the applicant can be

1, a company

• which is registered in Hungary or in one of the EEA states,
• which  is registered in compliance with the Motion Picture Act by the National Film Office,
• which (or the producer) has the required references (see point 6.)

2, a private individual (only for script or film project development)

• who is a Hungarian citizen, or who has residence in one of the EEA states
• who is registered in compliance with the Motion Picture Act by the National Film Office,
• who has the required references (see point 6.)

An applicant who does not have proper references may only submit an application together with an applicant who has the required references.

A support agreement for pre-production and film production can be only concluded if a project company is established in Hungary solely for the purpose of the production of the supported film. Even if the application was submitted by a private individual for script or film project development, the support agreement can be concluded only with a company.

TV:

A synopsis or application may exclusively be submitted by a legal person registered by the Motion Picture Authority

If the applicant is applying for support for the production of an international cinematographic work created in coproduction, they must certify and guarantee until the conclusion of the support agreement, at the latest, that they will hold at least the following rights arising from the co-production contract in respect of the implementation of the production, and that they will meet the following conditions:

a)     the ownership right of the original image and soundtrack negative recordings or of the original copy suitable for reproduction or the right of access to it for the purposes of producing a work suitable for screening;

b)     a share of the rights – in respect of copyrights constituting economic rights and neighbouring rights – and revenues generated from the cinematographic work in proportion to their capital contribution to the total budget of the production;

c)     indicating the name of Hungary and the film production company in the list of participants involved in the production;

d)     ongoing inquiry about the production, the production status and the foreign film production companies, and submitting this information to the Supporting Body;

e)     exclusive territorial distribution rights for the territory of Hungary and the right to receive a share of the revenues generated in Hungary, except if, in exceptional and justifiable cases, the Hungarian and the foreign film production companies agree otherwise;

f)       producing the Hungarian language version of the cinematographic work (subtitles, voiceover, dubbing);

g)     (theatrical) screening right for the cinematographic work in Hungary;

h)     the contract complies with the provisions specified in the Support Policy.