There had been so many problems “surrounding films” that the previous system had to be scrapped, he insisted. Vajna said the new subsidy system, however, “turned out to be very transparent”, adding that under the new system, film industry players were fully aware of where subsidies were going.

On the topic of popular genres, Vajna expressed his desire to see new Hungarian historical films. He added at the same time that he considered the Oscar-winning Holocaust drama Son of Saul, and Freedom, Love, a film set during the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, which Vajna produced, as well as Kincsem, an upcoming film about the iconic Hungarian race horse, to be historical films.

Vajna said he expected Kincsem Budapest Noir and Pappa Pia to attract wide audiences this summer.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Balogh Zoltán