Czech-ing in
Czechs & balances: Monika Charvátová reports new Czech film rebate
Czech producer Monika Charvátová, formerly of Film Studio Gatteo and now partner of US producer Steven North of Iskra Productions (Vukovar, The Last Butterfly), is in Sydney this week.
She reports that this month the Czech government has finally fallen into line with the rest of Europe by launching a 20 percent tax rebate for productions shooting in the country (Hungary had a similar incentive as early as 2004; Germany 2008 and France 2009.)
Films seeking to access the scheme must have 75 percent of their budget secured from other sources and must pass a broad test for Czech and/or European “culture point scale” – as required by the European Commission – that includes factors such as make-up of crews, script and local partners.
Locals are hoping it will help put the Czech Republic back on the map after the industry was seriously hit by a drop in ad production.
North is currently developing a project with Australian TV producer Paul Barron (Parallax), with Peter Andrikidis (East West 101, BlackJack) likely to direct.