The Hungarian government has officially raised the annual rebate funding for film productions from HUF 69 billion to HUF 81 billion for 2025, according to a decree issued on 5 June. While the 30% rebate rate remains unchanged, a new annual cap of HUF 407 billion has been introduced for the registration of eligible production costs.
This move comes amid continued post-pandemic growth in the Hungarian film sector, which has driven strong demand for the popular rebate program. Previous increases in the fund—from HUF 33 billion to HUF 44 billion, and then to HUF 69 billion—have not kept pace with the rising number of productions seeking reimbursement. The newly increased budget is expected to reduce wait times for producers accessing their rebates.
However, the introduction of the HUF 407 billion cap has resulted in an immediate freeze on new registrations. According to the National Film Office (NFO), the cap has already been fully exhausted for the year, largely due to a rush of submissions in late 2024 following a legislative change. By the end of Q1 2025, the NFO had already registered nearly as many projects as it had in all of 2024.
In response, new registrations are currently not being accepted by the NFO. Projects submitted before 5 June are expected to proceed without disruption.
A Film Law amendment currently under debate in the Hungarian Parliament could allow the government to revise the NFO’s procedures, enabling the verification of which expenditures apply to 2025 and which can be deferred to future years. If passed, this amendment could pave the way for reopening registrations within the existing cap.
The outcome of the parliamentary vote—expected later this week—will be critical in determining how the rebate system proceeds in the second half of 2025.