The Czech Film Industry Support Programme offers filmmakers rebates of up 20% on their production-related costs when they film in the Czech Republic. The programme is effective as of 21 June 2010.
Projects that qualify can receive a 20% rebate on eligible local spend on goods and services paid to companies or individuals registered to pay income tax in the Czech Republic. Projects can also receive a 10% rebate on costs paid to individuals who pay withholding tax in the Czech Republic but who are not registered to pay income tax. Eligible spend is capped at 80% of the total budget.
The support programme is available to feature, TV, animated and documentary films with a runtime of at least 70 minutes and to TV episodes with a runtime of at least 40 minutes per episode.
To qualify, projects must pass a cultural test for European cultural and production criteria and achieve a minimum spend in the Czech Republic: CZK 15m (approximately $720,000) for theatrical features and TV films, CZK 3m (approximately $150,000) for theatrical documentaries, and CZK 10m (approximately $480,000) for each TV episode.
Rebates are issued at the end of production upon submission of audited statements of costs incurred and paid out as cash grants.
The support programme has CZK 400m (approximately $19m) available to disburse in 2010. Grants are awarded to qualifying projects on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no per-project cap on grants.
The scheme is administrated by the Ministry of Culture, Media and Audiovision Department. Further information and application forms are available at www.ppfp.cz.
Producers interested in more information about shooting in the Czech Republic should contact Ludmila Claussova at the Czech Film Commission on +420 724 329 956 or by email at ludmila@filmcommission.cz.