Government supports Czech filmmakers

The government has decided to support Czech filmmaking by increasing this year’s budget at the Culture Ministry by 100 million crowns. Culture Minister Vaclav Jehlicka asked for the subsidy because a new film law securing funding for Czech film productions has not yet been approved. The State Fund for Support and Development of Czech Cinematography has regular financial sources only from the sale of film copyrights. It also receives one crown from each cinema ticket.

Last week, President Vaclav Klaus signed a so-called digital amendment, which will secure income from advertisements shown on Czech public television. The subsidies will be available from the beginning of 2008 until analogue broadcasting is switched off. It is expected to happen in October 2010 at the earliest. Altogether the subsidies should amount to at least 425 million crowns (24 million US dollars).