31-07-2007

Budget cut hits Karlovy Vary

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    Just as the Czech film fund recently faced a budget cut that still needs to be fully resolved, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is also suffering a budget cut, according to the Czech newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes.

    There's no doubt that the festival will still continue, but the removal of its €1 million subsidy will undoubtedly affect the festival, although the extent of the damage remains to be seen.

    "We have to do that because I would not like to make cuts in case of smaller cultural events organized mostly by young people," Vaclav Jehlicka, the minister of culture.


    "
    The 2007 festival was even more successful than the previous one, and if they want to take money from us, so let [the Czech Ministry of Culture] do that," said Jiri Bartoska, director of the Karlovy Vary Film Fesival. "Let the state dissolve its cultural support for tens of no-name, unsuccessful events."

    The Czech Ministry of Culture wants to spend €240 million on culture in 2008, which is €43 million less than last year.