Casting Directors
Expert casting services in one of Europe's premier production hubs, with access to Hungary's classically trained and internationally experienced acting talent.
A casting director identifies and selects the actors who will bring a script's characters to life. Hungary has become one of Europe's top filming destinations, and Budapest's actors have decades of experience supporting major international productions. Hungarian performers train at the University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) and bring a rigorous theatrical discipline shaped by the country's distinguished stage tradition, including the Katona József Theatre and the National Theatre.
We connect you with casting directors who have deep relationships within Hungary's acting community. Our network covers talent agencies in Budapest and beyond, with access to HNFF-supported casting resources and performers experienced in working alongside international stars at Korda Studios and Origo Studios.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete Casting Services
From principal roles to background artists, our casting directors have the relationships and expertise to build your perfect cast in Hungary.
01
Principal Casting
- Lead role sourcing
- Talent submissions
- Chemistry reads
- Callback coordination
- Deal negotiations
Star Talent
02
Supporting Roles
- Day player casting
- Featured roles
- Recurring characters
- Guest stars
- Co-star roles
Complete Cast
03
Background Casting
- Extras coordination
- Specialty extras
- Stand-ins & doubles
- Crowd scenes
- Period-specific looks
Background Artists
04
Casting Services
- Self-tape management
- Audition facilities
- Session recording
- Talent databases
- Agency liaison
Full Support
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Casting Directors
01.
Local Talent Expertise
Our casting directors have established relationships with SZFE graduates, the Katona József Theatre ensemble, and Hungary's leading talent agencies. We access performers with rigorous classical training who are also experienced in supporting international blockbusters and streaming series.
02.
International Production Experience
With extensive experience on Hollywood features, major streaming series, and European co-productions filmed at Korda Studios and Origo Studios, our casting directors are experts at providing Hungarian talent to complement international casts.
03.
Local Knowledge
Deep knowledge of Budapest's casting scene and talent networks across Debrecen, Szeged, and Pécs. We coordinate auditions at studio facilities and professional casting rooms across Hungary's film incentive-supported production regions.
04.
Bilingual Casting Capability
We specialize in Hungarian-English bilingual casting, sourcing actors who perform fluently in both languages. Budapest's long history as an international production hub means a substantial pool of Hungarian actors with excellent English skills, plus performers fluent in German, Romanian, and Serbian.
On Location
Casting directors carrying Hungary's casting lineage from Veronika Lakatos through Anna Felszeghy, Adam Stein Casting Budapest, and the SZFE-to-Vígszínház theatre pipeline
Here is how this works in practice. Hungarian casting sits inside a deeply theatrical talent culture. Veronika Lakatos has won multiple Hungarian Film Week awards for casting work that bridges arthouse auteurs (László Nemes, Kornél Mundruczó, Ildikó Enyedi) and global shoots. Anna Felszeghy handled Hungarian casting on The Witcher Season 3 (Netflix) and Marvel's Black Widow, building a roster trained for streaming-scale workflows.
Here is the short of it. Adam Stein Casting Budapest and KEK Studios casting form the global-hub layer, working directly with Origo Studios and Korda Studios production offices on Blade Runner 2049, Dune, The Brutalist, and The Witcher generations of Budapest-based shoots. Our network draws from the Magyar Színészek Szakszervezete (Hungarian Actors' Union) talent pool. The SZFE Budapest (Színház- és Filmművészeti Egyetem, since 1865) and MOME graduate pipeline. Plus classically trained actors who carry Mephisto (1981 Best Foreign Language Oscar — Klaus Maria Brandauer ensemble), Son of Saul (Géza Röhrig), and Sunset (Juli Jakab) acting heritage.
Here is the breakdown. Theatre crossover runs through Budapest's stage giants. Vígszínház (Comedy Theatre, Pest's top repertory since 1896), Pesti Színház, Nemzeti Színház (National Theatre, founded 1837), Katona József Színház, and the Madách Theatre. These cover actors with careful classic training, Hungarian-Russian-Slavic dialect range, and bilingual EN/HU plus frequent EN/DE working skill inherited from Habsburg-era Mitteleuropa positioning. Period-piece casting is a Hungarian specialty.
Here is what that looks like on the ground. The Mephisto Belle Époque Berlin custom, the Son of Saul Holocaust-era ensemble work (Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn), the Sunset 1913 Belle Époque Budapest acting community, the Pieces of a Woman intimate-realism ensemble (Vanessa Kirby cast opposite Hungarian leads). Plus The Brutalist (2024 Venice Silver Lion, Adrien Brody) post-war ensemble all came through Budapest casting offices. Our coordinators run audition sessions at Korda, Origo, and Mafilm Fót facilities, manage self-tapes for Los Angeles and London casting offices on CET timezone alignment. We handle SAG-AFTRA + Equity + Magyar Színészek Szakszervezete contract structures for Hungary's 30%-tax-rebate-qualifying productions.
ACT 03
FAQ
Casting Expertise
What types of casting do you handle?
We provide complete casting services including principal roles (leads, supporting), day players, background artists, and specialty casting (stunts, dancers, musicians). Our casting directors have experience across features, television, commercials, and branded content.
Can you find English-speaking Hungarian actors?
Yes, decades of international production in Budapest have developed a large pool of Hungarian actors fluent in English. Our database also includes performers fluent in German, Romanian, Serbian, and Slovak, ideal for Central European co-productions.
How do you handle auditions?
We offer flexible audition options including in-person sessions at professional casting facilities in Budapest, Debrecen, and other Hungarian cities, self-tape coordination with quality control, and live video auditions for remote directors. All sessions can be recorded for review.
What about background and extras casting?
We maintain databases of background artists across Hungary and can source specific types, looks, and skills as needed. For large crowd scenes, we coordinate casting calls and manage extras on shoot days through our AD network.
How far in advance should we start casting?
For principal roles on features, start 8-12 weeks before shooting to allow time for submissions, auditions, callbacks, and deal-making. Supporting roles need 4-6 weeks. Background casting can be arranged more quickly, typically 2-3 weeks.
Do you handle talent contracts and negotiations?
Yes, our casting directors work with agents and managers on deal negotiations, ensuring terms work for your budget while meeting Hungarian industry standards. We coordinate with your production legal team on contract finalization.
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ACT 04 — On Set
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