Hungarian Filmmaking Community Celebrates Péter Magyar’s Election Victory: ‘We’re Thrilled to Wake Up From This Nightmare’

Senior figures within the film community in Hungary gave two thumbs up to Péter Magyar’s landslide victory Monday, although the scale of reforms needed within the media and entertainment sector are daunting.

Contacted by Variety, Hungarian filmmaker László Nemes, who won an Oscar with “Son of Saul,” wrote: “Free at last! Hungary has chosen hope over fear, freedom over submission, humanism over anti-humanism. This election is a profound game-changer, not only for the people, but also the arts, liberating all those who were despised, sidelined or silenced by the corrupt regime. Hungary has rich artistic traditions and we’re thrilled to wake up from this nightmare.”

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Another Hungarian filmmaker, Ildikó Enyedi, whose “On Body and Soul” was Oscar nominated, told Variety, “I am in Hong Kong with my last film ‘Silent Friend,’ so, because of the time difference I was one of the first to vote. It was still the middle of the night in Hungary… It is such a euphoria to see that despite all the wounds and distortions, the democratic system works and is able to fulfill its main function – to represent the true intentions of the citizens. The healing can start – and, I am sure, we all will be much more attentive while observing how the politicians, our public servants work.”

Hungary is a major destination for Hollywood and other big budget international shoots, ranking number two in Europe as a production hub. This position relies on its 30% tax rebate, whose future had been in doubt under the government of Viktor Orbán.

That doubt has been swept away with Magyar’s victory, according to Adam Goodman, managing partner of Hungarian production company Mid Atlantic Films, which has worked on numerous Hollywood films and series including the “Dune” franchise, “F1” and “Ballerina.”

He told Variety: “Since June 2025 the outgoing administration cast doubt on the reliability of the Hungarian incentive program. There have been discussions with the incoming administration during the election cycle, in which they pledged to fix the uncertainty and added the film industry to their policies platform.

“It will take some time for the incoming government to appoint new ministers of culture and finance and work through all the issues that need their attention, but we expect the current issues regarding the security of the incentive and the registration procedures will be rectified.”

When it comes to the media sector in Hungary more broadly, the new government faces a mammoth task. According to the media freedom lobbying group Reporters Without Borders, Orbán supporters control 80% of the country’s media through organization like KESMA, which has a stranglehold on private television, and MTVA, which controls the public broadcasting network.

This control is enshrined in law so Magyar’s first objective will be a legislative overhaul. The size of his majority allows him to make amendments to the constitution, should those be required. Magyar’s Tisza party took 138 seats, with Orbán’s Fidesz on 55 and the far-right Our Homeland on six.