Estonian commercial TV channels exempted from licence fees
The Estonian parliament has passed a bill exempting all TV broadcasters who relay digital programming from paying licence fees beginning January, 2009.
Czech Republic distributor Premysl Martinek, Artcam
Premysl Martinek joined Artcam as managing director in February in order to merge his love for art house films with his distribution experience learned while working with regional giant Bontonfilm.
Bathory reaches one million admissions
Big-budget historical movie Bathory by Juraj Jakubisko reached one million admissions as of September 15, distributor Bontonfilm (www.bontonfilm.cz) announced.
Nova and Prima to go digital
TV Nova (www.nova.cz) and Prima TV (www.iprima.cz) , the two leading commercial broadcasters in the Czech Republic, have finally signed up to the country's digitalisation plan.
Fresh life for Nemec film
Jan Nemec's Holka Ferrari Dino will open the Fresh Film Festival in Karlovy Vary on August 27, following an internet premiere.
Brabec film opens August 21
F.A. Brabec's poetic film May has its world premiere in Prague on August 21.
Labyrinth finishes filming
Filming on Tomas Houska's psychothriller Labyrinth concluded this week, with post-production expected to be finished by the end of August.
Czechs grant €2.4 million for film production in 2008/2009
The State Fund for the Support and Development of Czech Cinematography announced CZK57.4 million (2.38 million Euros) in grants for 2008 and 2009.
New home for Czech National Film Archive
The Czech government decided on July 23 to construct a new building to house the Czech National Film Archive (NFA). Construction could begin as late as 2013.
Protector announces film start and cast
Director Marek Najbrt‘s CZK62 million (€2.6 million) Protector, one of the most anticipated Czech films of 2009, will start filming in early September.
Bathory draws 200,000 viewers in 2 weeks
The big-budget €11 million Czech-Slovak-Hungarian-British co-production Bathory by director Juraj Jakubisko hit a Czech domestic record in attendance since its opening on July 10.
Jakubisko retrospective at Czech Summer Film School
Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko and producer/wife Deanna Jakubisko will present their box office hit Bathory at the 34th Summer Film School (LFS, www.lfs.cz) in Uherske Hradiste, July 25-August 3.
Czech production still battling lack of incentives
The Association of Czech Producers (APA) announced results for 2007 that indicate production volume is still flat after a cramatic decline in 2004.
Czech film sales led by I Served the King of England
I Served the King of England by venerable Czech director Jiri Menzel was the Czech Republic's largest internationally successful film for 2007 through June of 2008, selling to 36 territories…
Terribly Happy wins Karlovy Vary grand prize
Danish entry Terribly Happy won the Crystal Globe at the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which concluded July 12. Jury president Ivan Passer presented the award to the film's…
Karlovy Vary film festival East of the West competition It´s Hard to Be Nice
Veteran writer/director Srdan Vuletic competes in the Karlovy Vary film festival East of the West section with the Slovenian co-production It´s Hard to Be Nice.
HBO to fund Czech feature documentaries
HBO announced it has chosen five documentary projects for development with the goal of beginning production on two feature length films in the fall.
Karlovy Vary film festival East of the West competition The Hollow
Russian director Marina Razbezhkina is in Karlovy Vary for the international premier of her film Jar (The Hollow) which is in competition in the East of the West section of…
Karlovy Vary festival East of the West competition Vogelfrei
The Latvian film Vogelfrei is the sole omnibus film competing in the East of the West section at the Karlovy Vary film festival, a joint effort from four of Latvia's…
France tops Czech box office
French family film Asterix at the Olympic Games led the Czech box office for the first five months of 2008, according to results from Czech distributors. The remaing seven slots…
