09-07-2008

Increased Slovak Ministry of Culture Funds Fuel Slovak Production Boom

By By Anna Franklin in Karlovy Vary
    KARLOVY VARY: Slovak film is experiencing its biggest production boom since 1989 with nearly 20 films in production this year.The increase in production has been the result of the Slovak Ministry of Culture's decision to nearly double film funding in 2006 according to leading Slovak film producer Marian Urban who heads the Bratislava based Alef Film and Media Group (www.afm.sk).

    Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival where the Alef production Muzika is competing in the East of the West section of the festival, Urban said that nearly 40 feature films had received support since the decision to increase film subsidies was taken two years ago.

    Slovak support for film production is about 6 million Euros this year. Urban said pubcaster Slovak TV was also beginning to invest in some co-productions. In 2008 eight Slovak features were released, and this year Urban says a similar number of releases are expected. This is a far cry from the previous one or two releases of Slovak films a year a decade ago.

    Muzika directed by Juraj Nvota is ranked in the top three at the Slovak box office since its release in April racking up 30,000 admissions so far this year. Urban said he was in discussions with Bavaria Media for world sales of the film during KVIFF and Bontonfilms plans to release the film on DVD In both the Czech and Slovak Republics.