16/12/2024 - Other changes include the introduction of a new 35% incentive for animated and digital projects

Blade Runner 2099, which is being shot on sound stages at Barrandov Studios in the Czech Republic (© Amazon)

The Czech audiovisual industry is bracing for the upcoming transformation of the Czech Film Fund into a more complex institution, the Czech Audiovisual Fund (see the news), from 1 January 2025. In relation to the changes tied to this shift, the country passed an amendment to its Audiovisual Act on 13 December, marking a change in its film and television incentive programme. The legislation, approved by the Senate, will take effect in phases, with the first changes to be implemented on 1 January 2025. One of the most notable updates is the introduction of a 35% incentive rate for animated and digital productions without any live-action components, while traditionally produced projects will benefit from an increased rate of 25%. Another major alteration is the increase in the maximum incentive amount per project, which will rise from the current €6 million (CZK 150 million) to €18 million (CZK 450 million), effective from 2025.

Next year, the application process will still consist of three phases – registration, recording and settlement – with a maximum duration of four years. Starting in 2026, the incentive process will be reduced to just two phases – registration and settlement – and the duration of the process must not exceed three years. These changes aim to strengthen the country’s appeal as a competitive shooting destination for a wide variety of projects. “The amendment to the Audiovisual Act has passed the Senate today [13 December] and will come into effect on 1 January,” said Pavlína Žipková, head of the Czech Film Commission, describing the final steps of the legislative process. “We are thrilled that this step deepens our cooperation with international partners, and helps us maintain and highlight our position as a leading filming hub in continental Europe. To be honest, we couldn’t wait any longer.” Further reforms will come into force in 2026, including the addition of a new category for documentary series, enabling these productions to access incentives for the first time. This expansion is expected to foster greater diversity in the types of projects filmed in the Czech Republic.

The new financing structure introduces a parafiscal levy on streaming platforms, with annual incentive budgets calculated as six times the amount raised through these levies, matched by equivalent government funding. The programme is projected to generate an annual budget of approximately €87 million, significantly bolstering the country’s capacity to support international and domestic productions. Helena Bezděk Fraňková, director of the Czech Film Fund, who will continue as the head of the Czech Audiovisual Fund, highlighted the programme’s relevance in a rapidly evolving industry. “We, like other European filmmaking hubs, also felt the impact of last year’s Hollywood strikes, and I firmly believe that the benefits of our programme will be advantageous for both our international partners and local filmmakers,” she said. The Czech Republic has long been a popular filming destination for high-profile productions. Recent projects include the sci-fi series and sequel to Blade Runner 2049 [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Blade Runner 2099, while other big series have also been shot in the Czech Republic, including Carnival Row (see the news), The Wheel of Time (see the news), the second and third seasons of Foundation (see the news), the Netflix series FUBAR, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and films like Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu and the Netflix adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Edward Berger
film profile] by Edward Berger (see the news), which was filmed entirely in the Czech Republic and garnered four Academy Awards in 2023. By adapting to industry needs, the Czech Audiovisual Fund aims to ensure sustainable growth and maintain the country's appeal to filmmakers worldwide.