Report on the Slovak Audiovisual Situation in 2020
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REP ORT ON THE SL OVAK AUDI OVIS UAL SIT UATION IN 2020 REPORT ON THE S LOVAK AUDIOVISUAL SITU A TION IN 2020 > CONTENT – Introduction ...................................................................... 03 – Legislation ....................................................................... 04 – Film Education ................................................................. 05 – Film Production ................................................................ 07 – Audiovisual Fund .............................................................. 10 – Literary Fund ................................................................... 14 – Eurimages ....................................................................... 15 – MEDIA ............................................................................. 16 – Cinema Distribution ......................................................... 17 – Videodistribution ............................................................. 25 – Cinemas ........................................................................... 27 – Film Clubs ....................................................................... 31 – Domestic Festivals and Reviews .......................................... 31 – Awards for Slovak Films and Filmmakers in Slovakia ........... 34 – Awards for Slovak Films and Filmmakers Abroad ................. 36 – Slovak Film Institute ......................................................... 39 – Television ......................................................................... 42 – In Memoriam 2020 ........................................................... 47 – Contact Points – Institutions, Companies and Other Organisations Operating in the Slovak Audiovisual Industry .......................................................... 48 – This project has been co-funded by the European Union. – This publication reflects the views only of the author. REPORT ON THE S LOVAK AUDIOVISUAL SITU A TION IN 2020 > INTRODUCTION – The area of culture and, in particular, audiovision was excessively affected – Cinemas in Slovakia were closed for 116 days, representing almost a third of by the impacts of the pandemic. After fifteen years of more or less continuous the year and, even when they were able to open, they faced a number of problems growth, we have recorded dramatic drops across the entire industry. The limita - – a lack of films, restricted capacities and renewal of the trust of viewers. Multi - tion on possibilities to make films, the closure of cinemas and the transfer of plexes were the most affected as they essentially depend on blockbusters and the many activities into the online space resulted in an almost total disruption of the sales of refreshments; for instance, the CINEMAX chain was closed for 169 days. classical production and distribution model of cinematography (production – dis- The decrease in the number of film releases was reflected most markedly in the tribution in cinemas – distribution on media – pay TV – free TV). number of premi e`res of American movies. Hence, in general, it may appear that – There is no single chapter in this Report which did not feel the impacts of the during the pandemic the following rule applied: “The bigger the player, the grea - pandemic. All entities, from film schools to television companies, had to cope ter the problems”. with this situation. The losses caused by the pandemic had to be compensated – On the other hand, the pandemic also became a challenge and brought in se - by institutions, whether domestic ones such as the Ministry of Culture, the Au - veral positive facts: Slovak films were extremely successful in cinemas, being the diovisual Fund, the Art Support Fund, or European ones such as the Creative Eu - leading three top films with regard to cinema attendances. Scumbag was the rope programme. And even if audiovision returns to normal and audiences to ci - best attended film, with specifically 395,604 viewers. A number of, mainly pri - nemas, we will still have to cope with debts, either investment or operating debts. vate, companies reacted remarkably flexibly to the pandemic. Several very inte - The production of films has decreased by one third. In 2020, 28 Slovak full-length resting and attractive, for viewers, online distribution platforms were established films were made, as compared with 44 films made in 2019. Nevertheless, we (Kino doma/Cinema at Home, Kino z gauča/Cinema from the Sofa, Kiná may consider this to be something of a miracle if we take into account all the dif - spolu/Cinemas Together) and the offer of VOD services was also significantly ex - ficulties, limitations and risk that filmmakers had to work with. Many premi e`res tended (ASFC, Filmtopia, Film Europe – Edisonline). At the same time, no bricks- of Slovak films were postponed until 2021 and it is generally expected that they and-mortar cinema actually ceased to exist. will be released this year. – And, in conclusion, an optimistic forecast: the pandemic is in retreat and life – We have recorded the greatest losses in cinema distribution: the number of is slowly returning to normal and all those of us who love film believe that cine - premi e`res in cinemas decreased by 40% year-on-year, the number of premi e`res mas will be re-opened and that audiences will return. I think they have already of domestic films by 53%. Altogether, 2,364,814 viewers attended cinemas, a fi - been experiencing withdrawal symptoms; certainly, I myself can admit to feeling gure almost 64% lower than in 2019. Gross box office takings dropped by 62% them quite intensively. to EUR 13.996 million. Of course, these figures declined all over Europe, speci - Vladimír Štric fically, for instance, cinema attendances by 70%. Head of Creative Europe Desk Slovakia 3 REPORT ON THE S LOVAK AUDIOVISUAL SITU A TION IN 2020 > LEGISLATION Audiovisual Fund and on the Amendments and Supplements to some other Acts became effective. – On 10 September 2019, the Slovak National Council adopted Act No. – Also on 1 November 2020, Act No. 299/2020 on the Provision of Grants 304/2019 which amends and supplements Act No. 516/2008 on the Audiovi - within the scope of the Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic became ef - sual Fund and the Amendments and Supplements to some other Acts as fective. amended, and which amends and supplements Act No. 40/2015 on Audiovi - – This Act regulates the purpose, conditions and method of providing grants sion and the Amendments and Supplements to some other Acts as amended . under the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter only “Ministry of The aim of this Act is to boost the competitiveness of the system of support for the Culture”) and supervision over the use of the grants provided. audiovisual industry in Slovakia and to accelerate the economic instrument of – Pursuant to this Act, the Ministry of Culture may provide a grant from the na - stimulation of private investments in the audiovisual industry with an essential in - tional budget in the respective budget year for the following purposes: fluence on the development of the given economic environment. One of the most a) restoration, protection and development of cultural heritage in the monu- significant changes brought about by the Act concerns the application for au - ment collection area; diovisual industry support. On the basis of these changes, the Fund will provide b) support for culture of disabled persons or otherwise disadvantaged groups money for support of the audiovisual industry in the form of a grant totalling of the population; a) 20 % of eligible costs paid by 31 December 2019; c) making cultural values accessible to primary school pupils, secondary school b) 33 % of eligible costs paid from 1 January 2020 . students and teachers of primary and secondary schools; This Act became effective on 1 January 2020. d) activities in culture, art and the creative industry; – On 30 May 2018, the European Commission published the draft Regulation e) elimination of the consequences of extraordinary events or reduction of ne- of the European Parliament and Council establishing the Creative Europe Pro - gative effects of a crisis arising out of wartime and state of war (hereinafter gramme (for 2021 to 2027) and repealing Regulation (EU) No. 1295/2013. only “crisis”) on the area of culture; Following this, on 11 July 2018 the Ministry of Culture submitted for inter-mi - f) support and development of media education, including the fight against nisterial comment procedure the draft regular preliminary position on the disinformation. draft Regulation in question . The Creative Europe Programme (202 1–2027) – On 1 January 2021, Act No. 394/2020 amending and supplementing Act Regulation was adopted in the second reading by the European Parliament (EP) No. 308/2000 on Broadcasting and Retransmission and on the amendment on 19 May 2021 and upon its signing by the Presidents of the EP and Council of Act No. 195/2000 on Telecommunications as amended, and amending will come into force when published in the Official Journal of the European Union. and supplementing Act No. 220/2007 on Digital Broadcasting of Programme The Creative Europe Programme (202 1–2027) follows up on the structure and Services and the Provision of Other Content Services by Digital Means, and success of the Creative Europe Programme 201 4– 2020 which was stipulated in on the amendment and supplementation of certain Acts (Digital Broadcas - Regulation of the European Parliament and Council (EU) No. 1295/2013 of 11 ting Act)