While commercial Slovak television, led by CME's Markiza TV (www.markiza.sk), has seen a dramatic downturn in advertising revenues due to the global economic crisis in 2009, the Slovak film industry has so far been unaffected.
Subsidies from Audiovisual programme at the Ministry of Culture were comparable to 2008 (4.3 million Euro in 2008 and 4.2 million Euro in 2008). Banks have been cautious in extending credit generally. Zuzana Mistrikova, executive vice-president of the Slovak Film and Television Academy (www.sfta.sk) told FNE, "Except for Bathory, banks are not lending money to film producers at all."
Alexandra Strelkova, director of the National Cinematographic Centre (www.sfu.sk), told FNE, "Bank credits for film companies are not standard in the Slovak film industry."
Mistrikova warns, "The first contributions from television broadcasters, cable operators, cinema entrepreneurs and film distributors to the new Audivisual Fund will be in 2010. Revenue from TV advertising has decreased because of the financial crisis so their contributions to the fund will not probably reach the levels expected a year ago," Mistrikova said.
Slovaks have cut back their spending generally in 2009 but surprisingly the Slovak box office experienced a very good year. During the first seven months there were 2.35 million admissions compared with 1.75 million for the same period in 2008, a 34% increase, according to the Slovak Union of Distributors (www.ufd.sk). Among the box office hits was the Slovak film Soul at Peace directed by Vladimir Balko and produced by Forza Production House (www.forza.sk), which premiered in January and had 115,000 admissions.
The so called "Bathory effect" caused an increased interest in Slovak films that result in notably higher attendance than in the past.
Contact information:
UFD SR
tel.: +421 (0)2 4914 0030 - 36, fax: +421 (0)2 4445 0651, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Ing. Ivan Sollár (chairman)
Audiovisual Fund:
The winners of the awards of 11th Animated Film Festival ANIMATED DREAMS were announced on Saturday, 21 November at the award ceremony in Sõprus Cinema.
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When: 26-27 November 2009 Warsaw
Where: Krakowskie Przedmiescie 7
What is it About??
Development of civil society and cultural cooperation through creating an ongoing platform for cooperation between film culture journalists and students and professionals in the Vsisegrad (V4) countries. The Forum will create a dialogue between V4 countries and encourage cooperation, coproduction and joint distribution of films between V4 countries.
Explore how V4 films can be a vehicle for cross border cooperation and promotion of V4 countries internationally. Explore the relationship between film and media and to provide the platform for the launch for the FNE Visegrad Prize for Best Central European.
Who should attend??
Journalists and student journalists who are interested in film and its interaction with media
Film producers, directors, festival directors and other film professionals who are interested in the role media plays in cultural identity and its interaction with film both culturally and commercially.
Discussion Groups
Filmmakers will have a chance to discuss and learn how best to interact with the media to achieve their goals.
Interviews
Film journalists will have the chance to meet and interview filmmakers and decision makers from other V4 countries outside their home country and broaden the base of their understanding of regional cooperation in culture.
Workshops
Bring together film journalists for training on how to recognize economic and cultural benefits of film production
Networking
Meet with experts in regional film production
Discuss issues of promotion and media
Registration From: Participation is Free of Charge but you have to Register: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Advance Registration Information: Name: Email: Profession: (Journalist, Student Journalist, Film Critic, Academic, Film Producer, Director, Scriptwriter, Film Promotion, Etc.) Forum participation is free and includes all coffee breaks, breakfasts and lunches as well as festival cocktail on Thursday evening. A limited number of registrations will also be accepted on the day of the forum provided space is available. To avoid disappointment and secure your place register online NOW !! |
Forum participants will also be accredited to both the Art of the Doc and Euroshorts film festivals which are running concurrently to the forum and will have free admission to all festival screenings.
Participants will also have admission to the Art of the Doc festival club Club Kamieniołomy.
Agenda
Thursday 26 November
9:30- 10:15 | Registration and Networking Breakfast |
10:15 | Speaker: Discussion panel: Jana Kadlecova/ David Dercsenyi Media View from Visegrad neighbours: Slovakia and Hungary Q&A |
11:15-11:30 | Coffee break |
11:30 | The Role of Festivals in International Promotion of Film: Aleksandra Biernacka Aleksandra Biernacka: The Role of Film Festivals in the international Promotion of Films Biernacka is head of international festivals relations for Polish pubcaster TVP Q&A |
13:00-14:30 | Lunch break and networking |
14:30 | Afternoon Session Cathy Meils Workshop on how to write for the film industry: First Session Meils who is a former bureau chief for Variety in Prague and presently new editor for Film New Europe will be conducting a practical experience workshop with film journalists who will have the chance to have their work critiqued by Ms Meils and other participants on the second day of the Forum. Participants will also have their work published on FNE. |
15:45-16:00 | Coffee break |
16:00 | Discussion group led by Anna Franklin general director of FNE Launch of the FNE Visegrad Prix for Best Central European Film. Do we need another film prize??? What should be the role of festivals and prizes in extending the cultural identity of the countries the films represent and forging a cross border cultural identity?? |
17:30 | Finish |
18:00-20:00 | Happy Hour Cocktail and networking session: Pub Plotka Café, Krakowskie Przedmieście 7 |
Evening:
Participants have access to Art of the Doc screenings at nearby cinemas. See http://www.sztukadokumentu.pl/ for schedule.
Participants will have access to Euroshorts screenings and events throughout the Forum. http://www.euroshorts.pl/ for schedule
Where: Dom Spotkan z Historia, Karowa 20 (near Krakowskie Przedmieście)
20:00 | Student and journalist workshop participants will attend screening of SOLIDARNOŚĆ, JAK ZRYWALIŚMY ŻELAZNĄ KURTYNĘ PL, 2000, 63' (pl - en) |
21:00 | Q&A with dir. Krystyna Mokrosińska prod. Mirosław Chojecki, Piotr Weychert |
21:30 | Q&A with dir. Wojciech Maciejewski followed by screening of SŁONECZNA GROMADA PL, 1983, 18' (pl) |
22:00 | Forum Participants will have to opportunity to visit the Art of the Doc Festival Club at Klub Kamieniolomy Ossolińskich 7 (near Krakowskie Przedmieście) |
Friday 27 November
9:30- 10:15 | Networking Breakfast |
10:15 | Panel: Release of CEE regional coproductions across borders: Is there a CEE regional identity?? A pan-regional hero such as Janosik?? What is the common denominator?? How do releases have to be tailored for different countries?? Marta Lamperova:Managing Director Film Media Janosik Case Study/ Presentation Applefilm: Violetta Kaminska Q&A |
11:30-11:45 | Coffee break |
11:45 | Discussion Panel Short films and documentaries: Daruisz Kowalski General Director of Ragusa Film and Director of Boat Doc Film Festival: Poland Discussions of cooperation between neighbouring countries on production of shorts and documentaries. The importance of film prizes and the media especially in support of documentaries. |
13:00 | Lunch break and networking |
14:00 | Afternoon Session Cathy Meils Workshop on how to write for the film industry: Second Session Meils who is a former bureau chief for Variety in Prague and presently new editor for Film New Europe will be conducting a practical experience workshop with film journalists who will have the chance to have their work critiqued by Ms Meils and other participants on the second day of the Forum. Participants will also have their work published on FNE. |
15:15-15:30 | Coffee break |
15:30 | Closing remarks and summing up of Forum conclusions: Anna |
16:00 | Finish of Forum |
The Baltic Event Co-Production Market celebrates its 5th Anniversary from November 29 - December 2, 2009 in Tallinn, Estonia.
We are honoured to inform, that film "GLASS TRAP" directed by Paweł Ferdek is a European Film Award Short Film Nominee (http://www.glasstrap.pl/)
The 19th edition of Cottbus FF as “key element” of German-Russian film cooperations:
Festivals 13-11-2009joint agreement initiated
Russian actress Elena Liadova in BUBEN BARABAN shines as young bibliothekcary who witnesses the love
Festivals 13-11-2009The 11th International Film Festival Bratislava reveals the main highlights of its programme.
Festivals 13-11-2009Bratislava, Nov. 3rd 2009 - New talents and renowned filmmakers. Timeless thematic and new points of view. Discoveries and rediscoveries. Visitors of the 11th International Film Festival Bratislava will have the opportunity to watch feature films, documentaries and short films presenting what nowadays drives the world cinema.
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