Czech producers enter winter of content

There's acertain cockiness in the Czech film industry at the moment. Maybe it's theholiday spirit or the professional-strength optimism that is required in thebusiness - but Prague is definitely feeling its oats.

Don't call it a comeback, insiders caution. The dip in foreign orders during 2004 was,local producers say, a coincidence of shooting schedules and betrayed no lackof confidence on the part of producers in the Czechs' ability to deliver.

Even before James Bonddefected to the former Eastern Bloc, Prague's studios were at capacity thisautumn. And Omen 666 and YoungHannibal will scarcely be off the lot before Martin Campbell and crew turn upfor a six-month shoot in the New Year.

Riding high on Eon'sdecision to shoot much of Casino Royale in Prague, the owners of BarrandovStudios finally approved the construction of new backlots,a plan that had been on the drawing board for years but for which the financingstill looks opaque. Bond will be gone before the earliest date that any newspace can be completed, but it's impossible to avoid the field-of-dreamsconceit that, if you build the stages, the productions will come.

In addition to Casino Royale,international films shooting in Prague this winter include Czech-French-UK co-productionLa Môme, anEdith Piaf biopic starring Marion Cotillardas the French chanteuse.

Also shooting is theambitious $12m Love Story Bathory, another period piece, this time focussing onthe ill-famed Elisabeth Bathory. Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko reportedly beganshooting on December 17, but has not released details on his cast. ProducerSilver Screen has already dismissed reports that French actress Julie Delpy was involved in the project.

International productionscontinue to stream to the Czech Republic despite the continued lack of statesupport. The Czech Ministry of Culture has commissioned Olsberg-SPI to conduct study of the economic effect the film industry has on the Czecheconomy, the results of which should be published early in 2006.

If the study recommends thegovernment take steps to make the country more attractive to international film-makers- and if the government acts on these - then the country could be posed for aproverbial great leap forward.

Meanwhile homegrown productions continue to benefit from theirtraditional backers, with the State Fund For The Support OfCzech Cinematography backing one film in production and seven films in post.

Czechs are also seeing a resurgence in the involvement of public broadcaster Ceska televize, which alarmed producersin 2004 by announcing that reduced revenues would limit its ability to supportfilm production. As with the state fund, most of the films supported by thebroadcaster are in post-production, and no upcoming projects are as yet underthe broadcaster's patronage.

But new backers have enteredin the market. Power utility RWE Transgas is backing The Rafters and Riding Crocodiles, while savings bank Postovnisporitelna is backing The Experts. The Ro(c)k Of The Pariahs is drawing on support from Apple's iPod music player, Pepsi and Czech brewer Bernard. Thesebackers join private broadcaster TV Nova as new sources of funding that haveemerged in the past year.

Corporate sponsors arejumping on film projects in light of last year's runaway hit Snowboarders. The Rafters, a sequel to the teen sex comedy, will open in thepost-holiday season. The Ro(c)k Of The Pariahs and Virginity Sucks also seek to capitalise on the youth market.

Meanwhile, other film-makersare proceeding quietly, making the kinds of films that Czech audiences havecome to suspect and visit cinemas for, albeit in more modest numbers. Czech filmsrarely travel, but 2005 San Sebastian winner Something Like Happiness proved that astrong story, director and cast can lead a small film on to great things.

Also in this vein are anumber of auteur-driven works: Grandhotel from David Ondricek (One Hand Can't Clap, Loners); Still Living, adapted from an award-winning stage play; Nice Moments With No Guarantee from NewWave alum Vera Chytilova; Tourists Crusaders, based on a Czech bestseller; and Beauty In Trouble, from Oscar-nominated JanHrebejk (DividedWe Fall).

Other notable upcoming Czechproductions include World War II drama Tobruk. Producer-director-screenwriter Vaclav Marhoul drew his inspiration for the $2.4m Czech-Slovakco-production on Stephen Crane's The RedBadge Of Courage. Marhoulis considering a third-country sponsor and plans to begin principal photographyin the second half of 2006.

Also eagerly awaited is Jiri Menzel's I Served The Kingof England, which continues to inch ever closer to production. Menzel most recently told the press he intends to beginshooting in March.