Barrandov Studio, the Czech Republic’s biggest film studio, wants to attract more Czech production. In the next few weeks, the studio will be preparing a special package of services that could amount to hundreds of thousands of crowns in discounts for local filmmakers.
“Czech producers will have special price offers, different from standard rates,” said Jana Vozárová, chair of the company’s board. Specific numbers and what the packages will include will be released in September.
Barrandov Studio, which is owned by a group of investors headed by entrepreneur Tomáš Chrenek, is thus trying to respond to decrease in the number of foreign productions working here. Over the last years foreign productions have moved to countries that offer tax relief, such as Hungary, Germany and Great Britain. “At a time when we don’t have business from foreign companies, we are turning to Czech filmmakers,” said Barrandov Studio producer Helena Uldrichová.
According to information available to E15, Barrandov is already offering special rates to Czech productions. Two films were shot on the hill of Barrandov in the last few months: Alois Nebel directed by Tomáš Luňák and Kuky se vrací, a new film for children by Jan Svěrák. Both were reportedly given special discounts from Barrandov. “It was based on individual agreements,” said Pavel Strnad, the producer of Alois Nebel.
The case of the Czech film Normal, which was distributed this March, illustrates how the situation in Barrandov has changed. The film could have been made in Barrandov studios, but producer Karla Stojáková and Barrandov Studio were unable to agree on a price. “Today we would have accepted their conditions,” says Uldrichová. Last year the company had to deal with an unfavourable economic situation. Profit in 2008 fell from CZK 36 million to CZK 22 million. Revenues fell by more than 6% year on year to CZK 600 million.
