1. What are your hopes and expectations from Emerging Producers?
I expect to meet some interesting and talented young producers and hopefully to establish cooperation with some of them. And also to improve my networking skills!
2. What are YOU bringing to Emerging Producers?
High spirits, several interesting projects and Becherovka liquor!
3. What is the position of documentary film in your country?
It’s still quite strong. We have a lot of good directors who are known locally, some of them even internationally. In my opinion the Documentary Department at FAMU is the school’s strongest department, and talented and skilled directors come from it. There is some space for documentaries on television and TV stations sometimes invest in creative documentaries (Czech TV and HBO mostly). We have a film fund that supports it a lot. Each year, at least 10 documentaries are screened in cinemas, though attendance is not very high (but there are exceptions such as Helena Trestikova’s films).
4. What are the coproduction possibilities for documentary producers in your country?
It is quite similar as in other countries, I guess. Producers usually coproduce their films with one of the TV stations here and sometimes also with a producer from a foreign country. Czech producers most often cooperate with producers from Poland or the Slovak Republic. Before September, we had some problems with minority coproductions but from now on the Film Fund will support it regularly. I also have had some good feedback from TV stations regarding minority coproductions.
5. What are your thoughts on the system of funding of documentary films today?
I think the easiest way to finance your film is always to start in your own country where, if you have a good project, I believe you can collect quite a lot of money. If it is enough I would say keep it that way and do not look for international coproductions if it is not necessary, because to launch into an international coproduction is of course much more difficult; you have to find a partner and if you do not know him well, it can turn out to be hell. But on the other hand you can expand your audience and bring more attention to your film. It is much easier when you already have established partnerships with some producers. The big disadvantage that I see in this system is that the wait to close the budget (with the endless rounds of deadlines and regulations at the different funds) could cause a long delay in production and shooting and the project could become outdated.
But the most important question for me is the sense of public support for the films itself. People have learned to see it as a matter of course and do not think about it much, which I am not sure is good for the industry.
6. Which producer is your inspiration and ideal?
When I started to study film production my inspiration was definitely Czech producer Čestmír Kopecký, for his taste, his nose for people and his ability to make non-conventional films.
Contact information:
Nutprodukce
Umělecká 7, Praha 7, 170 00
Czech Republic
www.nutprodukce.cz
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420 605 256 190
