Czech Filmmakers Hope to Ride ‘Wave’ of New Audiovisual Law Toward More Breakout Hits

variety.com:

Christopher Vourlias One year ago, production in Prague had hit a worrying lull, with an uncharacteristic slowdown apparent on the usually booked soundstages and bustling streets of the Czech capital.

Normally one of Europe’s busiest production hubs, the Czech Republic was feeling the impact of both the Hollywood strikes and the turmoil at its rebate system, which was closed for new applications for most of 2023. “If you look back to this time last year, it was pretty dead.

The number of calls I was getting, the number of budgets I was doing, the number of scouts we were putting on was very [small],” says David Minkowski, head of production at leading production services outfit Stillking. “Cut to today, and it’s almost back to where it was pre-strike.” The turnaround is partly a consequence of Hollywood’s bounce-back from the 2023 labor stoppages, which impacted production globally.

But a bigger boost has come from the introduction of a new audiovisual law that its backers say will both modernize the Czech industry and make it more competitive with neighboring countries in the restless arms race to attract more foreign productions. “The Czech Film Fund had to adapt, as its original framework was no longer sufficient,” says Helena Bezděk Fraňková, CEO of the newly christened Czech Audiovisual Fund. “It was necessary to respond to the audiovisual policies of other countries.