International film spending in Czechia dropped by 40 percent in 2024, pulling down the country’s overall audiovisual industry revenue by more than a quarter. According to the Audiovisual Producers’ Association (APA), total spending in the Czech screen sector fell to just under CZK 10 billion last year, with the decline mainly driven by a reduced influx of foreign productions.
In response, Czech lawmakers and industry leaders pushed through long-planned reforms to revamp the incentive system and bolster the domestic film infrastructure. While 2024 marked a difficult year for Czechia’s film sector, new legislation and increased public funding suggest a more optimistic outlook going forward.
Incentive shortfall led to international production decline
Czechia’s long-standing appeal as a location for foreign film and TV shoots took a hit in 2024. Total spending by international productions dropped by 40 percent, a steep decline compared to the record-breaking year of 2022, when foreign productions accounted for CZK 11.3 billion in local expenditure. That year marked a high point for Czech film servicing, with a total industry turnover of CZK 15.4 billion.
The drop in 2024 was widely anticipated. The country’s film incentive scheme at the time offered only a 20 percent rebate, which APA said could no longer compete with other European nations. Neighboring countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, had already adopted more attractive systems, drawing international productions away from Czechia.
As a result, even though Prague hosted two major international projects in 2024—Amazon’s Blade Runner 2099 and the latest season of Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov’s series of novels—the overall volume of foreign shoots declined significantly. Compounding the issue, both productions occupied key studio space for extended periods, highlighting a broader capacity shortage that forced other projects to look elsewhere.
Legislative reforms and funding increases drive 2025 recovery
In October 2024, the Czech Parliament approved a major amendment to the Audiovisual Act, setting the stage for a recovery in 2025. The updated legislation increased the basic rebate for eligible film and TV productions from 20 percent to 25 percent, with higher rates—up to 35 percent—now available for animation and digital production. The cap for incentives per project was also raised to CZK 450 million.
More significantly, the new legislation created a dedicated pillar for animation and gaming, while streamlining administrative procedures to ensure faster disbursement of funds. “The 2024 decline reflects what APA had long warned about,” said APA chairman Vratislav Šlajer. “Without a reform of the audiovisual system, Czechia risked stagnation or decline. Fortunately, that’s not the case now.”
Since January 2025, the restructured Czech Audiovisual Fund has operated with double the previous budget and enhanced flexibility. Additional funding came through the Ministry of Culture’s creative vouchers, which injected another CZK 200 million into the audiovisual sector via the National Recovery Plan.
The changes aim to attract additional foreign film productions to the country, and may already be yielding results. During the first half 2025, the Amazon series Ride or Die shot extensively in Prague, while the indie horror movie The Face of Horror is slated to begin production in the Czech capital this month. A new Resident Evil film has also registered to film in the country, with production slated for later this summer.
Early indicators from 2025 suggest a renewed interest from foreign productions, and APA reports a rising number of inquiries. However, returning to pre-2023 levels will likely take more time, and further infrastructure expansion may be needed to accommodate demand.
Despite the temporary slump, the Czech Republic remains a key destination for international filmmakers. With new funding in place and broader reforms underway, the country’s audiovisual industry may be poised for a new period of growth.
Lead photo: Still from season three of Foundation, which filmed in Prague in 2024.
