Exclusive: As the 57th edition of the Czech Republic’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) kicks off Friday, there will be renewed interest in the central European country’s local industry, particularly the curious case surrounding its incentive program for international productions.
The Czech government suspended film production incentives in early 2022, citing strains on the public purse due to the cost of providing humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. Officials said the pause would be temporary, but the country went almost a year without a set incentive plan, meaning no new projects could register to film in the country for months.
The incentive program is back at 20%, with a new 150 mil czk ($6.8 mil) cap per project. The setup means the Czech Republic now lags behind the 30% in neighboring Hungary and Poland. Both houses of the Czech parliament have approved the plans and officials are writing it into the country’s law.
The Czech government suspended film production incentives in early 2022, citing strains on the public purse due to the cost of providing humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. Officials said the pause would be temporary, but the country went almost a year without a set incentive plan, meaning no new projects could register to film in the country for months.
The incentive program is back at 20%, with a new 150 mil czk ($6.8 mil) cap per project. The setup means the Czech Republic now lags behind the 30% in neighboring Hungary and Poland. Both houses of the Czech parliament have approved the plans and officials are writing it into the country’s law.
- 6/30/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The producers of Hollywood blockbusters and arthouse films alike are on the lookout for the most cost-efficient locations. Recent examples include several of the year’s Oscar nominees, from “Aftersun,” which shot in Turkey; “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” which went to Budapest; to “Elvis,” in Australia.
“Budapest offered an affordable alternative to both London and Paris,” says Jonathan Halperyn, managing director at Budapest-based Hero Squared and a co-producer on the film. “Hungary often comes up as a shooting destination when there is a budget crunch.”
He adds: “We applied for co-production status and support from the National Film Institute of Hungary during the Covid hiatus, and by the end of 2020, we were up and running. This is the kind of flexibility we have become known for.”
Oscar-nominated costume designer Jenny Beavan praises her Hungarian team: “It was my first experience working in Hungary, and with [wardrobe supervisor] Zsoka Hoka. I think...
“Budapest offered an affordable alternative to both London and Paris,” says Jonathan Halperyn, managing director at Budapest-based Hero Squared and a co-producer on the film. “Hungary often comes up as a shooting destination when there is a budget crunch.”
He adds: “We applied for co-production status and support from the National Film Institute of Hungary during the Covid hiatus, and by the end of 2020, we were up and running. This is the kind of flexibility we have become known for.”
Oscar-nominated costume designer Jenny Beavan praises her Hungarian team: “It was my first experience working in Hungary, and with [wardrobe supervisor] Zsoka Hoka. I think...
- 3/9/2023
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Following outrage from Czech and international producers, the Czech Republic is bringing back its film production incentives – but at a reduced rate that’s being called a stop-gap measure until a new law can fully restore them.
Czech President Milos Zeman has signed a new act to keep the incentives at 20 of rebate on cash spent – lagging behind the 30 rate now in play in Hungary and Poland and also trailing Slovakia and Germany, who each offer 25.
The new law also caps the fund available for rebates at about 6 million per project, a limit that the head of the Czech Film Commission, Pavlina Zipkova, says “is going against the pure sense of production incentives, which is to attract inward investment.”
Zipkova adds that industry officials are at work on an improved version of the incentives law to create more competitive conditions to keep the recent flow of mega-productions such as Netflix...
Czech President Milos Zeman has signed a new act to keep the incentives at 20 of rebate on cash spent – lagging behind the 30 rate now in play in Hungary and Poland and also trailing Slovakia and Germany, who each offer 25.
The new law also caps the fund available for rebates at about 6 million per project, a limit that the head of the Czech Film Commission, Pavlina Zipkova, says “is going against the pure sense of production incentives, which is to attract inward investment.”
Zipkova adds that industry officials are at work on an improved version of the incentives law to create more competitive conditions to keep the recent flow of mega-productions such as Netflix...
- 8/23/2022
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
The Czech Film Commission, the body that promotes the Czech Republic to the international world, had its website hacked last week by Russian hackers after posting an article promoting the country as a safe place to shoot in the context of the war in Ukraine. Speaking at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Odesa Film Festival at Karlovy Vary’s Industry Days section, Czech Film Commission head Pavlina Zipkova told delegates of the news and urged people not to visit its main site as it was attacked from a virus “from Russia” after the article, which clearly distanced the Czech Republic from the Russian Federation’s military activities, was posted.
Zipkova said that the Czech Republic is “ready to help [Ukrainian filmmakers] but a virus from Russia” targeted the site after publication of this article. Hackers infiltrated the website leaving one small sentence saying,“f**k, u ve been hacked!” on a white page.
Zipkova said that the Czech Republic is “ready to help [Ukrainian filmmakers] but a virus from Russia” targeted the site after publication of this article. Hackers infiltrated the website leaving one small sentence saying,“f**k, u ve been hacked!” on a white page.
- 7/4/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Hackers posted a message saying “fuck, u ve been hacked”.
Russian hackers have targeted the website of the Czech Film Commission, taking down a page that laid out details of safe film production in the Czech Republic, according to Film Commission head Pavlina Zipkova today in Karlovy Vary.
“Please don’t visit the Czech Film Commission website, because it has been attacked by a virus – actually from Russia,” said Zipkova, who was speaking on a panel about ‘The Impact of the War in Ukraine on the International Film Industry’, as part of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) industry offering.
Russian hackers have targeted the website of the Czech Film Commission, taking down a page that laid out details of safe film production in the Czech Republic, according to Film Commission head Pavlina Zipkova today in Karlovy Vary.
“Please don’t visit the Czech Film Commission website, because it has been attacked by a virus – actually from Russia,” said Zipkova, who was speaking on a panel about ‘The Impact of the War in Ukraine on the International Film Industry’, as part of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) industry offering.
- 7/4/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The market for international shoots in the Czech Republic is “on the edge of a precipice,” says Vratislav Slajer, the head of the country’s main industry group, the Assn. of Audiovisual Producers.
Speaking to industry colleagues on Sunday at the Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, Czech producers warned that they are witnessing the impending loss of more than a decade of progress in bringing in foreign shoots – and the prospect of witnessing billions going to other countries.
The Czech government suspended film production incentives this year, citing a spending crisis brought on by the need to rescue businesses hit by Covid losses and to accommodate over 300,000 war refugees from Ukraine.
But, says, Slajer, “It’s a false argument.”
Booming film productions would offer lots of jobs to Ukrainians, for one thing, he posits. “We can help solve the crisis – we can bring in more money.”
What the government has lost sight of,...
Speaking to industry colleagues on Sunday at the Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, Czech producers warned that they are witnessing the impending loss of more than a decade of progress in bringing in foreign shoots – and the prospect of witnessing billions going to other countries.
The Czech government suspended film production incentives this year, citing a spending crisis brought on by the need to rescue businesses hit by Covid losses and to accommodate over 300,000 war refugees from Ukraine.
But, says, Slajer, “It’s a false argument.”
Booming film productions would offer lots of jobs to Ukrainians, for one thing, he posits. “We can help solve the crisis – we can bring in more money.”
What the government has lost sight of,...
- 7/3/2022
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
The Prague shoot for Netflix’s German-English film “Transatlantic 473” has been temporarily shut down after an extra tested positive for Covid-19, Variety can reveal.
With the Czech Republic newly red-listed for travel by other European nations following a spike in infection rates — and quarantines now required for those arriving in the country — the shoot, produced by Germany’s Rat Pack and Czech shingle Sirena Film, has paused for two days, sources close to the show have told Variety. The cast and crew are being tested off-site while the extra has been isolated, but it’s understood that production is clear to resume on Monday.
Rat Pack and Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Pavlina Zipkova of the Czech Film Commission confirmed the incident, adding that the pause will be “only a couple of days, max.”
A set of safety rules and practices have been adopted by...
With the Czech Republic newly red-listed for travel by other European nations following a spike in infection rates — and quarantines now required for those arriving in the country — the shoot, produced by Germany’s Rat Pack and Czech shingle Sirena Film, has paused for two days, sources close to the show have told Variety. The cast and crew are being tested off-site while the extra has been isolated, but it’s understood that production is clear to resume on Monday.
Rat Pack and Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but Pavlina Zipkova of the Czech Film Commission confirmed the incident, adding that the pause will be “only a couple of days, max.”
A set of safety rules and practices have been adopted by...
- 9/11/2020
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
Film and TV production in the Czech Republic, one of the world’s leading destinations for international shoots, is to resume immediately after the government lifted restrictions on public gatherings, imposed as part of the fight against Covid-19.
Among the international productions that will be able to resume their shoots are season two of Legendary Entertainment/Amazon’s “Carnival Row” with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, the first season of Amazon’s fantasy series “Wheel of Time,” starring Rosamund Pike, Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and the Netflix movie “Transatlantic 473.”
The country reopened its borders to European citizens on April 27, and the European Union is expected to lift its recommendation that citizens from non-European countries are denied entry on May 15, but they do not have to wait for that date. “This is only a recommendation, not a prohibition, as in the case of the U.S. administration,...
Among the international productions that will be able to resume their shoots are season two of Legendary Entertainment/Amazon’s “Carnival Row” with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, the first season of Amazon’s fantasy series “Wheel of Time,” starring Rosamund Pike, Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and the Netflix movie “Transatlantic 473.”
The country reopened its borders to European citizens on April 27, and the European Union is expected to lift its recommendation that citizens from non-European countries are denied entry on May 15, but they do not have to wait for that date. “This is only a recommendation, not a prohibition, as in the case of the U.S. administration,...
- 5/7/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Czech Republic, host to major film and TV productions including Marvel’s The Falcon And The Winter Soldier and Amazon’s Carnival Row, wants the film and TV communities to know that it is ready for production “to be resumed”.
A press release from the Czech Film Commission, which includes quotes from the country’s Culture Minister and U.S. Ambassador, claims that international productions that were forced to interrupt their shoots will be allowed to return to the Czech Republic from mid-May.
These include season two of Legendary Entertainment/Amazon’s Carnival Row with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne, the first season of Amazon’s fantasy series Wheel of Time starring Rosamunde Pike, Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and the Netflix film 473 Transatlantic.
The Commission tells us that Carnival Row and 473 Transatlantic are prepping to get back into production. Wheel Of Time may be a little further off,...
A press release from the Czech Film Commission, which includes quotes from the country’s Culture Minister and U.S. Ambassador, claims that international productions that were forced to interrupt their shoots will be allowed to return to the Czech Republic from mid-May.
These include season two of Legendary Entertainment/Amazon’s Carnival Row with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne, the first season of Amazon’s fantasy series Wheel of Time starring Rosamunde Pike, Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and the Netflix film 473 Transatlantic.
The Commission tells us that Carnival Row and 473 Transatlantic are prepping to get back into production. Wheel Of Time may be a little further off,...
- 5/7/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Czech shoots, which have been robust in recent years as a steady stream of series decamps to Barrandov’s soundstages, were suspended over virus concerns this spring, but are expected to rebound, says the Czech Film Commission’s Pavlina Zipkova.
With the government beginning to ease lockdown restrictions, theaters opened May 1 — and the Czech Cinematography Fund adding flexibility for projects claiming incentive rebates while the Culture Ministry works on increasing the fund — she says: “Most of the affected productions we are hoping will come back. Everything is in negotiations.”
The two most affected major productions, the second season of Amazon’s “Carnival Row” and the first season of Amazon/Sony Pictures Television series “Wheel of Time,” starring Rosamund Pike, have both committed to resuming, Zipkova adds.
Netflix’s “Transatlantic 473,” the Peter Thorwarth-directed story of a hijacking with a supernatural twist co-written by Stefan Holz, is also expected to resume its Czech shoot,...
With the government beginning to ease lockdown restrictions, theaters opened May 1 — and the Czech Cinematography Fund adding flexibility for projects claiming incentive rebates while the Culture Ministry works on increasing the fund — she says: “Most of the affected productions we are hoping will come back. Everything is in negotiations.”
The two most affected major productions, the second season of Amazon’s “Carnival Row” and the first season of Amazon/Sony Pictures Television series “Wheel of Time,” starring Rosamund Pike, have both committed to resuming, Zipkova adds.
Netflix’s “Transatlantic 473,” the Peter Thorwarth-directed story of a hijacking with a supernatural twist co-written by Stefan Holz, is also expected to resume its Czech shoot,...
- 5/7/2020
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
May shoot for Who Will Write Our History about the Oyneg Shabes archive; Nancy Spielberg produces with support from Steven Spielberg-chaired fund.
Shoot will begin on May 5, 2016, on Roberta Grossman’s Who Will Write Our History, the feature documentary telling the story of the hidden ‘Oyneg Shabes’ archive of 30,000 documents buried in 1943 on the eve of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.
The film is executive-produced by Nancy Spielberg and has received support from the Righteous Persons Foundation which her brother Steven Spielberg set up with proceeds from his 1994 film, Schindler’s List.
Oscar nominee Joan Allen is to provide narration for the film which is based on Samuel Kassow’s well-received 2007 book of the same name.
The Oyneg Shabes archive is the extraordinarily revealing hoard of letters, confessionals, last testaments, poems and questionnaires compiled under the guidance of Jewish historian Emanuel Ringelblum in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation.
The documents...
Shoot will begin on May 5, 2016, on Roberta Grossman’s Who Will Write Our History, the feature documentary telling the story of the hidden ‘Oyneg Shabes’ archive of 30,000 documents buried in 1943 on the eve of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.
The film is executive-produced by Nancy Spielberg and has received support from the Righteous Persons Foundation which her brother Steven Spielberg set up with proceeds from his 1994 film, Schindler’s List.
Oscar nominee Joan Allen is to provide narration for the film which is based on Samuel Kassow’s well-received 2007 book of the same name.
The Oyneg Shabes archive is the extraordinarily revealing hoard of letters, confessionals, last testaments, poems and questionnaires compiled under the guidance of Jewish historian Emanuel Ringelblum in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation.
The documents...
- 4/25/2016
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
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