The number could rise to 13 before the end of the year.

"The film industry system does not yet have a tax rebate system that might attract more foreign productions and coproductions," said Alexandra Strelková, the director of the National Cinematographic Centre (www.sfu.sk). "We are still in the process of establishing the industry here in terms of services and other infrastructure."

It also lacks a well equipped local film studio since the privatization of Koliba Studios (www.kolibaproduction.sk) which is now occupied by commercial broadcaster JOJ television (www.joj.sk).

The rising trend toward Slovak majority shares in the films, is due to stronger financial support for Slovak audio-visual projects in the recent years.

Most Slovak coproductions are coproduced with the Czech Republic. Coproductions within V4 (the Visegrad Four countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary) are increasing Janosik. A True Story, directed by Agnieszka Holland and produced by Apple Film (www.applefilm.pl), the box office hit of this year in Slovakia, is the best example of Polish-Slovak-Czech-Hungarian co production.

Strelková said: "It is necessary for Slovak producers to join together, to organize and lobby in order to achieve tax rebates, just as it works in Hungary."