A proposal for a tax on porn sites that would benefit the local film biz is gaining support in Hungary.
Laszlo Simon, member of parliament for the ruling center-right Fidesz party, has backed an initiative sponsored by the rival liberal LMP party to tax the local porn industry to generate revenue for the cultural fund that backs local arthouse pics.
Details of a Fidesz-LMP co-sponsored bill still need to be ironed out, Simon said.
LMP member of parliament Gergely Karacsony said his party is also in favor of implementing a 3% tax on multiplex revenues to subsidize the ailing arthouse circuit.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s film authorities have reported that the 20% tax break for foreign pics shot in the country has boosted business.
The Filmiroda film office said that foreign productions, including miniseries “World Without End” and “The Borgias” and features including Keanu Reeves starrer “47 Ronin,” have brought HUF 21 billion ($98 million) to Hungary.
That figure does not include Brad Pitt-produced zombie film “World War Z,” currently lensing in the country.
