As always, at a press conference during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival this year the Audiovisual Producers’ Association presented overviews of its members' turnover in the individual areas of the film industry for the year 2015.
For the sixth year running, Czech film is recovering from the 2009 crisis. "The turnover of Czech production companies associated to the APA has increased by 13% compared to 2014, which represents more than doubled growth compared to 2009," said APA Board Chairman Pavel Strnad, opening the conference on a positive note.
Growth was also seen in the advertising sector: "Czech advertising production turnover increased by 12% compared to 2014. The main reason for this was the economic revival, as well as the Czech National Bank's pro-export fiscal policy," added Board member Monika Kristlová. Television work is beginning to establish itself boldly in the area of incentives.
Cinema attendance last year broke records, but Czech film saw a decline. "Compared to the year before last, 1.4 million more viewers (a total of 12.958 million) came to cinemas in the Czech Republic, which represents growth of approximately 12%," noted Radomír Dočekal of production company Milk & Honey Pictures. This is the second highest post-communism attendance rate. Of the 262 premieres 51 were produced domestically, but not one of these was among the ten most popular films of the year. The proportion of domestic production in the overall attendance rate dropped by more than 5%.
Last year, the domestically produced film Life is Life was the most popular among cinema-goers. The three most popular films at Czech cinemas were all American - The Minions, Fifty Shades of Grey and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
