Funding
The NFI provides financial and professional support for script development, pre-production and production of full-length feature films, documentaries and animated movies for theatrical release, as well as for television productions (TV films, serial formats, shorts, documentaries, animations).
Graduation and diploma films are also supported, by providing financial and in kind support to universities specialized in film studies.
– Script development (synopsis, treatment or script required – selected projects are mentored by an appointed member of the script development division)
– Project development (financial support given for occurring preproduction costs)
– Production (support is given for Hungarian live-action- , animation- and documentary features primarily intended for cinema release and television productions /TV films, serial formats, shorts, documentaries, animations/; a detailed budget and complete script is required for application)
– Support for special projects (applications not related to either script- or project development or production)
– Marketing and distribution (producers may apply for distribution support in Hungary for completed Hungarian films and co-productions with
Hungarian participation – this support is refundable from the distribution revenue; distributors may apply for distribution support in Hungary for films that received production support from the NFI – this support is non-refundable)
There is no separate call for minority co-productions, but all projects are encouraged to apply with a Hungarian co-producer onboard. Foreign projects are only eligible to apply for support through Hungarian production companies registered with the National Film Office (NFO); foreign companies should conclude coproduction or service agreements with a Hungarian registered company.
About Us
The mission of the National Film Institute (NFI) (as the successor of the Hungarian National Film Fund), in operation from January 2020, is to contribute to the production of Hungarian films or co-productions that provide art and entertainment for the audience on all platforms and bring significant success both domestically and on an international level.
The NFI is a public institution governed by Hungarian law and its activities are regulated accord-ing to the Motion Picture Act (II) of 2004.
The NFI operates through its departments, covering the diverse fields of the industry, including the funding schemes, Mafilm Studios, Filmlab, Film Archive, Training departments.
The NFI provides financial and professional support for script development, pre-production and production of full-length feature films, documentaries and animated movies for theatrical release, as well as for television productions (TV films, serial formats, shorts, documentaries, animations). Distributors can apply for non-refundable marketing support for Hungarian releases of films supported by the Institute. Graduation and diploma films are also supported, by providing financial and in kind support to universities specialized in film studies.
The Incubator Program was launched in 2015 and offers low-budget production funding as well as continuous professional help for directors who wish to make their debut feature films. The NFI functions through a continuous application system. The Feature Film Board and the Television Production Board, consisting of Hungarian film professionals, make decisions for support. Besides providing financial support, the NFI also offers creative cooperation, professional exper-tise and international industry contacts for new Hungarian productions.
In 2017 Training Department introduced the Fast Forward Program, an innovative series of free, practice-oriented workshops and open lectures to help junior industry professionals and film students keep up with demand. The trainings are led by high-profile professionals who provide up-to-date and realistic insight into the industry as well as an informal networking opportunity.
The International Department, including NFI World Sales, handles festival and sales activity for Hungarian films. The representation of Eurimages operates under the umbrella of the NFI. In order to strengthen the ties of the Hungarian film industry with neighbouring countries, and with the aim of contributing to the European film culture, NFI strongly encourages co-productions. The National Film Institute’s budget for grants for 2020 is EUR 50 million.