Country Focus: Czech Republic
by Cineuropa
Articles, interviews, news, analysis on the Czech audiovisual sector.
Country profile: Czech Republic
Czech and Slovakian titles faring well in domestic box-office
KineDok creates a link between documentarists and their audience
The East Doc Platform will inaugurate the Institute of Documentary Film’s new international project focused on an alternative means of distribution of creative documentaries
Domestic releases boost admissions in Czech and Slovakian cinemas
Films from the two countries rocketed to the top of the opening-weekend admissions charts
Domestic audiences to pick the next European film for Czech distribution
Aerofilms has launched the Scope50 initiative in the Czech Republic
Film Europe launches Be2Can, its very own festival
The firm is to implement a hybrid distribution concept using various platforms
Domestic Czech films accounted for half of the country’s top ten movies in 2013
The most successful local production was light-hearted folk comedy Babovřesky, with 652,458 admissions
New Czech film law is finally approved
The parliament has out-voted President Václav Klaus and the Czech Film Fund should now be receiving an annual boost of approximately €12 million
Czech Republic box office down to six-year low
In 2011, while the number of screenings went up by 2,42%, attendance numbers dropped by a significant 20,29% (approx. 2,7 million less tickets were sold compared to 2010) with ticket prices going up only slightly - this is the first time since 2005 when the profits of Czech cinemas dropped compared to the previous year. Not even Czech films that are traditionally embraced by local audiences saved the day. Even the biggest blockbuster – Jiri Vejdelek's romantic comedy Muzi v nadeji (pictured)...
International Film Guide 2011: Czech Republic
A survey of the film culture and output in the Czech Republic published by the International Film Guide.
Czech Republic ups rebates to compete in Europe
Back in the mid-1990s, the Czech Republic sealed a reputation as a film-friendly venue , but its luster faded when other European countries introduced rebate schemes, while the Czechs didn't.With a new rebate program in effect since June, local crews and service providers are hoping foreign filmmakers will be back.
Good news, bad news for Czech filmmakers
In Prague, the State Fund for the Support and Development of Czech Cinema announced nearly CZK 60m (€2.4m) in production support in the second quarter of 2010 while simultaneously warning of reduced funding for production and other projects in the future. The largest production grant, CZK 7m (€279,000), went to Dawson Production’s So Far So Good. With a planned budget of €2.5m, director Tomáš Mašín (3 Seasons in Hell) plans to tell the true story of the Mašín Brothers, his relatives, who...
Facts and figures about Czech films
New incentive offers 20% rebate
The European Commission has approved a Czech stimulus plan for the film industry. The Czech Film Industry Support Programme offers qualifying productions grants worth up to 20% of eligible production costs. The programme goes into effect July 7, 2010. The measure was approved by the Czech government last autumn. The Ministry of Culture submitted it for Brussels' approval in January. Projects must fulfill a number of criteria before than can receive the money. Producers must have at least 75%...
Czech Republic - International Film Guide Survey
A survey of the film culture and output in Czech Republic published by the International Film Guide.
Local production plummets in 2008
The Czech film industry shrank last year, according to figures released Friday by the Audiovisual Producers Association (APA). Total direct spend in the Czech Republic stood at CZK 3.5bn in 2008, down 29% from the year before. The Czech film industry has shed more than 1,500 jobs since 2003 — 1,200 of those in the last year alone. “The figures are tragic. They could hardly be any worse,” said Negativ producer and APA president Pavel Strnad. There was some good news among the gloomy figures,...
State fund desperately seeking council members
The lower house of the Czech Parliament has chosen three new members to sit on the council that administrates the state fund which provides essential financing for Czech film. But deputies must fill at least four more seats on the council by the end of March in order to keep the funds flowing. Joining the State Fund for the Support and Development of Czech Cinematography are film historian Tereza Dvorakova, dramaturg Jiri Kubicek, and film distributor and pedagogue Milica Pechankova....
Czech Republic - International Film Guide Survey
Although the film industry in the Czech Republic is in the hands of private production companies and can rely only on limited support from public funding, the number of feature films increased to 29 titles in 2006. A further 23 full-length films, largely features, were in production in 2007. Read the survey published by the International Film Guide: Survey - Czech Republic
Czech presidency presents cultural and audiovisual priorities
The first Czech presidency of the Council presented the Czech priorities in the cultural and audio-visual field. Only 20 lines of the programme concern the field and most of the attention is placed on education…
Czech production levels reveal challenges
Representatives of the Czech Audiovisual Producers Association (APA) revealed 2007 production volume numbers to reporters at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Spend on Czech features dropped 23% to CZK 613m, but spend in 2006 was exceptionally high owing to investment in Juraj Jakubisko's CZK 324m historical thriller Bathory. The State Fund for Support and Development of Czech Cinematography has ballooned in recent years to its current level of €4-6m. As a result, the number of...
