25-04-2011

Czech and Slovak Blockbuster Bathory Continues International Success

By Anna Franklin

    PRAGUE: Juraj Jakubisko's Czech and Slovak production Bathory continues its winning streak both commercially and on the festival circuit. Bathory was awarded the top prizes at Houston Worldfest which took place 8-17 April 2011. Bathory won the REMI Special Jury Award which is the highest prize awarded by the festival as well as a Gold REMI Award for Best Art Direction.

    In the UK the film became one of the only Czech and Slovak productions to ever hit the top 20 on a local mass market release. Jezz Vernon, head of distribution at the London based Metrodome Group who released Bathory in the Uk said that the film's performance was unique. Bathory was released on 7 March 2011 on DVD and was racked by supermarket giants ASDA and Sainsburys as well as HMV. The film hit number 17 on the Sainsbury top sellers charts that week.

    "We were very happy with the overall results," said Vernon, "Bathory hit 77 on the aggregate DVD charts on its first week of release and sold 12,000 copies overall. We positioned it as a big epic film in the horror genre. And of course Anna Friel in the leading role brought the film a lot of prestige."

    Produced by Jakubisko Films (www.jakubiskofilm.com) Bathory topped both the Czech and Slovk box office which it was released three years ago.

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