Activities
I. Informational Activities
- Gathering and providing information on the current state of Czech cinematography and the Czech film industry (about film productions currently starting up, projects in preparation, statistical data on Czech productions, etc.)
- Mediating information about local and international festivals and markets and on the possible participation of Czech representatives at these events (closing dates of shows, festivals and markets, educational programmes, international forums and seminars)
- Help when creating the conception of Czech film policy and Czech cinematography
- Database of contacts – gathering and updating contacts in the area of cinematography (producers, artists, salesmen, institutions, organisations, distributors, schools, etc.)
- Monitoring local film productions – information on Czech films since 1991.
II. Publication Activities
- Catalogue of Czech Films – released at the beginning of each calendar year, it contains information on film productions over the previous year (feature films with a distribution premiere, selected documentaries and short films, feature films with the premiere planned in the first half of the subsequent year), including a synopsis, technical information on the film, information on the creative team, photos from the film, filmographies and a portrait of the director; print run of 3000, Czech-English version
- DVD of Czech Films – annually issued simultaneously with the annual catalogue, it contains information on the feature and documentary films from the previous year, including interviews with the creators and snippets from the films; in addition to this the entire catalogue is on the disc in electronic form; print run of 4000, Czech-English version
- Brochure of New Czech Feature Films – based on the Presentation of Czech Feature Films in Preparation, which the CFC organises in the framework of the Finále Plzeň (see below); it contains information on the feature film projects in preparation divided into three categories according to the phase of preparation (completed screenplay, project in production, film in postproduction), in addition to information on the synopsis and creative team, it also presents tentative information on the planned premier and the budget; it has a circulation of 1000 and is published in a Czech-English version
- Brochure of New Czech Documentary Films – Similarly to the Brochure on Feature Films, it is prepared for the Panel on Documentary Films in Preparation (see below) and it contains information on the Czech documentary films in preparation, which are not only divided into the phase of preparation they are in, but also according to the runtime (documentaries up to 30 minutes, up to 60 minutes and over 60 minutes in length); 1500 bilingual (Czech, English) brochures are issued
- Newsletter – a quarterly publication in the English language containing information on news in the area of Czech cinematography and the Czech film industry, information on the current premieres of Czech films and an overview of news interesting for foreign film productions; print run of 1000, meant primarily for festivals and film markets
- Other occasional materials (see the PUBLICATIONS chapter, where all the materials are available for download)
All press materials are distributed in printed and electronic form. According to the CFC’s distribution lists, they are sent to professional organisations, associations and the press both in the Czech Republic and abroad and they are also placed on the CFC’s web pages in electronic form (see PUBLICATIONS to download)
They are also distributed in printed form through the CFC at film events in the Czech Republic and abroad, where they are a comprehensive source of information on Czech film productions that have been completed or are in production and on current events in Czech cinematography.
III. PR and Media Relations
- The circulation of press reports to the local and foreign media on the current events in the area of the Czech film industry and the CFC’s activities
- The active creation of the image of Czech film through cooperation with important Czech and foreign periodicals (Hollywood Reporter, Screen, Variety, Cahier du cinema) and by providing information, advertising and PR articles to them
- PR events during participation at foreign festivals and markets
IV. Participation in Festivals and Markets
Participation at important festivals has a multifunctional and multiplying effect for every film that is selected for the festival’s official programme. Such participation can have a great influence both on a film’s commercial benefits (for the producer), especially for films from “small” countries, which the Czech Republic with its limited market is, as well as on the overall image of Czech cinematography.
For the last several years, the CFC has been representing the Czech Republic and its cinematography at important film events such as festivals and especially the film markets that are associated with the largest festivals and that are the commercial and professional ticket to the world of the international film industry.
a. IFF Berlinale and the European Film Market
The IFF Berlinale is one of the four most prominent European festivals and it has a professional film market (The European Film Market), which is one of the most important after the market in Cannes.
It takes places annually in the second and third week of February. The CFC has been representing Czech cinematography here since 2003.
Since 2006 a joint Central European Cinema stand comprised of Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia along with the Czech Republic has been operating along the lines of the Scandinavian countries’ stand (Scandinavian Films), which has been effectively presenting its cinematography together for a number of years now. The stand, measuring 77 m2, offers promotional counters for the individual countries, numerous poster surfaces and a common area for meetings, presentations and social events.
The CFC pays the most attention to the following at the festivals and markets
- Events held at the stand and elsewhere, such as the traditional welcome drink, etc.
- Activities around the Shooting Stars event – the CFC is a member of European Film Promotion (EFP), one of whose activities is the presentation of young acting talents from the member countries to the international public in Berlin (see below)
- Films that are selected to the festival's official programme
- Films that have their sales projections at the market
- Media relations and contacts with foreign and local reporters
- providing continuous information to market-goers on the current state of Czech cinematography and the Czech film industry
b. MFF Cannes and Marché du Film
The Cannes IFF, and the Marché du Film film market connected with it, is the largest film event held within Europe. It is held annually in the second half of May.
The CFC represents the Czech Republic in the prestigious Czech-Slovak pavilion measuring 50 m2 with 50 m2 of adjacent terrace by the beach with a view of the sea, in the immediate vicinity of the main festival centre.
The CFC has been participating in the film market at Cannes since 2004.
The CFC’s operations are similar to those in Berlin.
In addition to these large, regular events, the CFC also takes part in other important film festivals and markets such as the Toronto IFF, Pusan IFF, etc. The participation at these events, however, is not annual and depends on the participation of Czech films at these festivals and the possibility of holding other CFC activities during the festival.
c. Foreign Co-Production Markets
“Co-production” markets, which are oriented on the search for co-production partners from other countries, are held at the same time as several of the aforementioned festivals. Seeing that an international co-production means expanding a film’s possibilities for commercial use and also serves for the international propagation of Czech cinematography, co-production markets are an important part of the international industry’s operating mechanism.
- Berlinale Co-Production Market
- Connecting Cottbus - Cottbus (East European film)
- CineMart at the Rotterdam IFF
- Marché du Clermond-Ferrand (short films)
d. Festivals in the Czech Republic
- The CFC annually organises a Presentation of New Feature Film Projects in the framework of the Finále Plzeň festival. Here producers, writers and directors present their projects in various phases of development (completed screenplay, production and postproduction). The goal of the event is to introduce local and foreign film festival visitors to the film projects in preparation. A brochure about feature films in preparation (see Publication Activities) is published for the use of the panel, sent to local and foreign reporters and professionals, posted on the CFC’s web pages and distributed to other festival markets. The CFC also occasionally organises closed projections within the framework of the festival to show freshly-completed films to festival delegates.
- The CFC is part of the Film Industry Office during the Karlovy Vary IFF. It also arranges meetings dedicated to Czech film in regular Industry Meetings in cooperation with the Film Industry Office. The CFC publishes an informational pamphlet in order to promote the Czech films presented at the festival.
- In the autumn the Presentation of Documentary Films in Preparation is held in Prague, supplementing the spring panel of feature films organised in Plzeň. The CFC organises the presentation of documentaries in connection with the Jihlava IFF and in cooperation with the Institute of Documentary Films and the Jihlava festival. The objective of the event is to introduce the local media to the current state of Czech documentaries, thus providing them with the space necessary for presentation. Once again, a bilingual brochure on the forthcoming documentaries is published (see Publication Activities) for the purpose of presentation, and it is once again sent to foreign reporters and festivals and distributed throughout the year.
- The CFC also participates in other film festivals and presentations held in the Czech Republic (AniFest, Zlín IFF , Summer Film School, Fresh Film Festival, FAMUFest, Jihlava IFF, Prague Short Film Festival etc.), where it participates in professional events on Czech cinematography and collects information on new Czech films for its publication activities.
V. Membership in International Organisations
The CFC is a member of the European Film Promotion (EFP) organisation, which promotes European film production at important festivals such as the Berlín IFF, Cannes IFF and Pusan IFF. Its members are the 25 European national film institutions and promotional organisations. The main goal is to improve the visibility of European cinematography in the world.
Membership brings many benefits, primarily in the area of connecting the structures of the Czech film industry to the international mechanisms of producing and promoting films abroad. It makes it easier to obtain personal contacts to the distinguished personalities of the international film industry (funds, sellers, festivals), which whom European Film Promotion regularly works and can therefore mediate the contacts. EFP events are:
- At the Berlin IFF, EFP organises the prestigious Shooting Stars promotional event, which introduces young European acting talent from the member countries to the international media and film professionals. So far Taťána Vilhelmová, Aňa Geislerová, Jan Budař, Pavel Liška and Klára Issová have represented the Czech Republic. The selection of the actors adheres to a number of rules (language skills – a minimum of English, a new film with international potential which is travelling with the actor in the given year) and it is consulted with the CFC’s advisory committee made up, every year, by one film festival representative, director, producer, actor and reporter.
- Producers on the Move is an event during the Cannes IFF that introduces young producers that were selected from the individual member countries. These take part in three meetings during which they are mutually introduced, present their new projects and, in a "Co-Production Lunch,” have an opportunity to meet more than 100 invited European producers. Pavel Strnad, Vratislav Šlajer, Helena Uldrichová, Karla Stojáková and Martin Vandas represented the Czech Republic. The selection of the producer is also approved by the CFC’s advisory committee. Contacts made at the Producer on the Move event help producers when looking for possible European co-production partners.
- As part of the Karlovy Vary IFF, EFP organises a presentation under the name of Variety Critic’s Choice under long-term cooperation with the American magazine Variety.
- Film Sales Support – membership in EFP makes it possible to participate in this programme, which originated in 2004. It is a programme to support the sales of European films outside of Europe and provides producers and sellers financial resources for marketing expenses connected with the promotion of the films in 7 festivals outside of Europe (Toronto IFF, Pusan IFF, Sundance IFF, Mar del Plata IFF, Buenos Aires IFF, Shanghai IFF and Rio de Janeiro IFF). If a Czech film makes it to any of the aforementioned festivals, the relevant producer or seller can ask for a grant at EFP.
- Picture Europe! - a week-long presentation of the most successful national films held each year in three European cities (Madrid, Berlin, London, Munich, Copenhagen).
The CFC – Film Commission is also a member of the European Film Commission Network (EuFCN), which was established in 2007 and associates 55 film commissions representing 18 European countries. Through its activities, the EuFCN wants to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of Europe in the worldwide film industry and to promote and present European films at professional film events. In addition to this, the members of the association want to cooperate more closely on international projects and to actively exchange experience and information.
VI. Other Activities
The CFC is also involved in other activities in addition to the ones mentioned above, such as:
- Cooperation with prominent film festivals – selection of Czech films
Since it began operations, the CFC has been cooperating with many of the world's festivals. Due to the number of film festivals held worldwide, the main part of the cooperation consists in providing information about new Czech films and presenting tips and information on the owner of the rights to a given title. The CFC’s web pages, where it is possible to find information about the films, is also used for this. The CFC also works more closely with some of the larger festivals by informing specific festival representatives about the new Czech projects and also by organising projections of freshly-completed (or almost completed) films for individual consultants who are entrusted with the pre-selection for the festival’s selection committee. Such projections are regularly held in the autumn in Prague (for the Berlin IFF), in the spring at the Finále Plzeň festival (for the San Sebastian IFF and Venice IFF) and also now for the IFF in Cannes.
- Presentations and mini-distribution of Czech films abroad – the CFC makes a regular effort to organise presentations of Czech films abroad in order to partially patch up the lack of Czech titles in foreign distribution.
A travelling presentation of Czech films took place in Germany in 2004. A presentation entitled Rare Bohemians took place successfully in the USA and Canada in 2005 and 2006. In 2007 Czech films made their way to German and Austrian cinemas under the name Czech on Tour and to Great Britain (Made in Prague: New Czech Cinema). Ireland, Argentina and other countries are in preparation.
By organising similar presentations, the CFC also wants to support the creation of more language mutations for Czech films.
- Seminars and other educational activities – the CFC regularly holds various professional seminars oriented on acquiring the skill of presenting a film project in a preparatory phase (“pitching workshops”), seminars dedicated to financing a film, the possibilities of international co-production, etc. During the preparation of these seminars, the CFC cooperates with many European education programmes (EAVE, Strategics) that are involved in the given issue. MEDIA Desk ČR and FAMU are traditional partners here on home ground.
Activities and projects implemented by the Film Commission office also belong to the Czech Film Center’s activities. More information at http://www.filmcommission.cz.
